11th February 2006

I have just returned from two days of talks with my colleague Heads of Government of the Caricom nations.  This intercessional meeting took place in Port of Spain, Trinidad from Thursday 9th February to Friday 10th February.

The main importance for the meeting as far as The Bahamas was concerned were the arrangements for the restoration of Haiti to the Councils of Caricom.

As you know following the departure of President Jean Bertrand Aristide in questionable circumstances in February 2004, Haiti was suspended from the Councils of Caricom.

It now appears that there has been a successful, free and fair election in Haiti.  This means that on 20th March at the inauguration of the new President and provided the election is pronounced free and fair by the electoral observers including the Caricom observers, then Haiti will be invited immediately to resume its seat at the table with us.

This is of importance to The Bahamas.  It suggests that Haiti is on the road to trying to stabilize its political and economic development.  This can only work to the benefit of The Bahamas.

There was a Bahamian observer who took part in the elections as an official observer.  I want to thank Corporal Kevin Louis for his contribution to the mission.

At the meeting, I was also able to brief colleagues on The Bahamas and its relations with Cuba, and the Cuban American community in South Florida.  Our country has as you know been the subject of the focus of advocates in South Florida for Cubans in the Detention Centre in New Providence.  I believe that these attacks have been unfair and are unjustified.

Caricom Heads reviewed the region's technical preparedness for the single market and sought the consent of The Bahamas to formally proceed to the single market without our participation as the original treaty envisaged.

As you know The Bahamas is not a part of the single market and at this meeting we signalled and signed our consent to allow the other member nations to proceed formally to implement the market without our participation, while protecting our pre existing rights to participate in the political and technical co-operation organs of the Community.
 

I also took the opportunity to personally thank President Barratt Jagdeo of Guyana for his country’s generous gift of $50,000 to The Bahamas for hurricane relief to the victims of Hurricane Wilma.

When one considers that Guyana itself has suffered over the past two years significant damage to its economy from natural disasters, this is an even more extraordinary gift.

The meeting was also the final opportunity for colleague Prime Ministers to say farewell to the Prime Minister of Jamaica the Most Honourable P.J. Patterson who attended his final Heads of Government meeting as a Prime Minister.  He demits office on 11th March of this year.

I conveyed the best wishes of the Government and people of The Bahamas, and wish him well in his retirement.  I expressed our nation’s appreciation for his assistance to our country over some 30 years of service to the region.

I would be happy to take any questions.