28th October 2003

Mr. Chairman, Ministers and Heads of Delegations, Mr. Secretary General, distinguished delegates.

Please allow me to place on record my thanks to my CARICOM COLLEAGUES and the distinguished Representatives to this Conference for the confidence shown in electing me as Vice President of this conference.

I pledge my support to you, Mister President, in the discharge of your duties.

Firstly I wish to join those who have spoken before me in extending appreciation to you and the Government of Mexico for the exceptional hospitality extended to me and my delegation since our arrival here and for the excellent arrangements made for this important conference. I bring you warmest greetings from Prime Minister Perry Christie and the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Secondly, let me commend the Committee on Hemispheric Security and particularly the working group who prepared for this special conference under the leadership of Mexico’s Ambassador to the OAS,  Miguel Ruiz Cabañas, for its diligent work , the results  of which we have before us today.

MR. CHAIRMAN

The convening of this special Conference on Security, here in Mexico City, fulfils an important mandate of the Quebec Summit and the adoption of the Declaration on Security in the Americas.  The conclusion of our deliberations will be another important milestone for the Inter American System.

MR. CHAIRMAN

We meet at a critical time when our hemisphere and indeed the global community confronts many challenges. These challenges have tested us and will continue to test our individual and collective resolves. They compel us to engage in even greater levels of consultation and cooperation. This will insure that we create and maintain an environment of safety and security in which our member states and people can continue along the path of orderly development and improve their standards of living.

MR. CHAIRMAN

The attacks of 11th of September 2001 brought heightened awareness of  this Hemisphere’s  vulnerability and of the need  to re-evaluate our approach. I believe this hemisphere has risen to the challenge. Unprecedented steps were taken by all member states of the hemisphere and we continue to examine ways of increasing the effectiveness of our efforts. Indeed, in The Bahamas, a comprehensive Terrorism Bill is presently before Parliament and when enacted into law will provide The Bahamas with a modern and more effective mechanism in our fight against this scourge. We therefore reaffirm our commitment to joining the member states of this hemisphere, in further strengthening all hemispheric and global efforts to combat and eliminate this scourge but we also note the importance of paragraphs 22 and 23 of the draft declaration.   In both paragraphs, there is a reaffirmation of the commitment to acting in the fight “with full respect for the rule of law and international law.”

Mr. Chairman, this proviso is important for us since it recognizes that as we proceed to fight crime, we must not lose sight of the ultimate aim to protect the civilization which we now enjoy and the freedoms and rights of the individual that come with that civilization.

MR CHAIRMAN

At the 33rd regular session of the General Assembly of the OAS at Bridgetown, this hemisphere adopted resolution 1886 which gave formal recognition to the multi-dimensional scope and character of security. The draft declaration before this special conference has addressed security in all of these aspects. The ultimate achievement of peace stability, political economic and social development and security in the hemisphere depends upon how we as member states approach our tasks.

Traditional and non-traditional threats to the security of the hemisphere must be given equal weight. Indeed, from the point of view of small states, non-traditional threats pose the greatest challenge to security, economic and social development, and the rule of law. The illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, the traffic in illegal arms, mass migration, threats to the environment, natural disaster HIV/AIDS, and under-development are amongst the most important. The draft declaration under the head:  SHARED VALUES AND COMMON APPROACHES, identifies in a very comprehensive way the broad framework of principles. It also very clearly demonstrates their integral nature to the whole issue of security.

Mr. Chairman, the respect for the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for national sovereignty, respect for the democratic process and access to resources, which permit governments and societies to fulfill their development goals, are indispensable to maintaining order.  We fully accept the responsibility to assist in the achievement of hemispheric security but this hemisphere must also  be mindful of the costs of these new demands on small states.

Small states like The Bahamas are best able to bear any costs if our economies continue to be viable.  In this regard we take note of paragraph 30 of the draft text which speaks to the issue of money laundering and seeking to eliminate the ability of international criminals to use the international monetary system to attack our civilizations.  We note in this regard the point of balancing competing societal interests that we made earlier in our statement. In seeking to eliminate the use of illegal money, we must not also eliminate the legitimate acts of wealth creation that exist in offshore financial sectors such as those in our country and in our sub-region.

MR. CHAIRMAN

I refer now and have referred particularly to paragraphs 8, 22, 25, 28, 29 and 30 of the draft declaration as they touch and concern matters of special interest to The Bahamas and the Caribbean. The special security concerns of small states require a focused attention on the commitment of resources to give practical expression to these commitments.  In this regard, I note in paragraph 28 of the draft text, reference to the production and use of firearms.  This is of particular concern to every CARICOM state including The Bahamas.  We believe that a special responsibility is placed on producer states of firearms to seek to limit their export to countries in CARICOM where these weapons wreak havoc on our people with subsequent damage to our economies.

MR. CHAIRMAN

The Declaration on security in the Americas is an important statement.  Its ultimate fulfillment will require a critical look at our organization and institutions. In addressing INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES, the follow up to the Declaration will require careful attention not only from the point of view of resources but also from the perspective of management. Particular care must be exercised to avoid the creation of additional structures and mechanisms which duplicate existing ones. We salute all the institutions for their involvement in the collaboration of this document. And trust that as we move forward all countries in the hemisphere, without exception, will become in part of our Dialogue on this important subject.

I wish again to commend the Committee on Hemisphere Security for its work, the full and sustained implementation of which will undoubtedly result in a safer and secure hemisphere.

Thank you