‘Fred Mitchell – Minister of Foreign Affairs 2002 - 2007’
A Photographic Retrospective

Friday 10th August, 2007
Fox Hill Parade
 

Ladies and Gentlemen: let me take a moment to allow us all to reflect on our surroundings and to appreciate our privileged place in this world.

Here we are on a beautiful August evening in Fox Hill Village.
We are under the same Fox Hill sky into which the ancestors of this village gazed almost 175 years ago on the eve of their emancipation.

We are probably within the comforting shadow of the very same Silk Cotton Tree.

Only now, we are the masters of our fate; we are the captains of our soul.
 
These facts will become brilliantly evident as you take the time to look at Fred Mitchell’s retrospective of his tour of duty as Foreign Minister in my administration.

We determined early on in our policy planning for the first PLP government in a decade that we would be aggressive in showing the positive face of The Bahamas to the world.

Fred played a major role in our promise to heighten the profile of The Bahamas in international affairs.

On my own behalf, on behalf of the Progressive Liberal Party and most of all, on behalf of the Bahamian people, I want to thank Fred Mitchell for his meticulous preparation, his tireless dedication and his near flawless execution in carrying out my Government’s policy in matters of foreign affairs.

History will record that under my administration, the voice of The Bahamas was heard as never before in the international arena.

With Fred as my right hand in foreign affairs and foreign trade, I was able to focus on our economic future and our domestic challenges with confidence that the nation would be well prepared and well recognized when the presence of the Prime Minister became necessary overseas.

Each time that I traveled as Prime Minister to meet world and regional leaders; I found that they already knew my positions on the issues.

I found that my international colleagues were familiar with the special interests of The Bahamas.

This was because our Foreign Minister had gone before.

I hope that tonight’s display will be preserved for posterity and more detail added over time as the need for confidentiality and official secrecy permits.

It is vital information for the country.

Indeed, the story of my Government’s actions and interactions on the world stage is not only fascinating, but it is necessary study for anyone who would understand the key events and developments in the region during our time.

We must tell our story, that it can be heard and not misunderstood.

We must tell our story and not leave our part of history to those who would revise it for reasons of their own.

We must tell our story so that 175 years from now, they will know what we did on their behalf; and they will remember.

Thank you Fred; and thank you Fox Hill for supporting him as he carried out this important duty for our country.

It is my pleasure to join this impressive group of Fox Hillians, well-wishers and Bahamian intellectuals policy thinkers here this evening for this display.

The exhibition is entitled: