A letter writer, one Steve Simmons, published in your newspaper on Tuesday October 5th, under the headline ‘Try Gabon, Mr. Mitchell, Haiti is wrong dead horse’, addresses the subject of The Bahamas’ recent statement to the United Nations delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell.

Anyone who follows public affairs in The Bahamas would have seen that letter for exactly what it was: a vicious attack against an individual Minister, Fred Mitchell, and the Government by a known FNM professional writer, posing as an independent public commentator.  I am a PLP, and proud of it, and I invite anyone who reads this to take my comments in that light, but facts are facts and Steve Simmons just got it wrong.

“What has Fred Mitchell done for Bahamians lately, especially on the international frontier?”  If the letter writer had been paying attention, he would have acknowledged that Fred Mitchell has made the case internationally to all who would listen and to some who would rather not, that no matter our small size, The Bahamas has a right to our way of life and our distinct, sovereign and independent culture.  Fred Mitchell has worked hard to give The Bahamas a face, a place and influence at the power tables of the world so that we are never again blindsided like the FNM government allowed with our blacklisting by the OECD.

Some other important things about Mr. Mitchell’s address to the UN seem to have escaped the letter writer's notice. What about the fact that Mr. Mitchell:
· Publicised the devastation suffered by The Bahamas from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne?
· Told the world that Nassau tourism is open for business, despite the hurricanes?
· Complained on our behalf and on behalf of the region that hurricane aid offered so far by the developed countries is inadequate?
· Pointed out that scientific evidence suggests that polluting countries are making hurricanes worse in this part of the world and cautioned them against such behaviour?
· Complained about the difficulty of Caribbean people and others in travelling from place to place in the world since 9/11?
· Called on other countries to stop transshipping nuclear waste through the Caribbean Sea, putting The Bahamas and others at risk?
· Made the case for countries to trace and control the illegal handguns and automatic weapons that find their way into The Bahamas through the drug trade?

I have read the address, and this is only a sample, but let's get back to the letter, which is full of inaccurate information.  Firstly, the statement made by Fred Mitchell is not his personal statement as the letter writer wrongly supposes.  It is not even the statement of his Ministry.  Mr. Simmons is either ignorant or just plain malicious by not knowing or not saying that Mr. Mitchell's statement to the United Nations was the statement of this country.  It is a matter of public record that such statements are reviewed by the Cabinet in advance and approved by the Cabinet as they reflect the formal position of the Government.

Secondly, when Mr. Mitchell talks about The Bahamas policy on Haiti, the historical facts are what they are.  I believe the UN statement simply restated those facts.  The government has made any number of statements saying that it continues to engage with Haiti and its interim government as the only practical position for a country in our situation as a close neighbour of Haiti.

As Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell is only an agent of Prime Minister Perry Christie and The Bahamas government, which seems to recognise that we do not exist in a vacuum and that we are part of a region in an interdependent world.

What happens in Haiti clearly has an effect - for better or for worse - on The Bahamas and it is obviously in our best interest to remain engaged in talking with them, if only to be able to solve problems between the two countries like immigration matters among others.  I wonder whether Mr. Simmons even noticed a photograph (in another newspaper) showing a recent meeting in Miami between Mr. Mitchell and the interim Prime Minister of Haiti with the Minister working on behalf of the Bahamian people?

The writer's suggestion that Mr. Mitchell should go to bat for the people of the former French African Republic of Gabon was entertaining, but Bahamians are surely much more closely concerned that the powers of the world don’t think that ignoring the democratic will of peoples in the Caribbean is acceptable behaviour.

One can only hope that The Guardian in its commitment to good journalistic practices will see fit to publish in full the Minister's remarks to the UN made on behalf of the Bahamian people as you saw fit to publish Steve Simmons’ partisan attack veiled as independent public comment.  Otherwise, I found the address on the United Nations web site at www.un.org by linking to that, then ‘UN Webcast,’ then ‘Archives’, then ‘59th General Assembly debate’, then ‘Address by the Hon. Frederick Mitchell’.

Open debate on matters of this kind is healthy in a democracy, but the public in general should know the facts, and newspapers in particular should make them available.

I, for one, support this country's leadership in foreign affairs matters in the region, and I encourage Prime Minister Christie and his Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell to keep up the good work for the future well-being and sovereignty of The Bahamas and all Bahamians.

Sincerely,
TROY WARD