Nassau, Bahamas – Bahamas Prime Minister in his capacity
as CARICOM Chair leaves for Martinique
on Saturday for high level discussions with
French President Francois Hollande ahead of the Conference of Parties scheduled
for Paris during November and December of this year.
Accompanying the Prime Minister will be Foreign Minister
Fred Mitchell. During his Martinique meeting with President Hollande, Prime
Minister Christie is expected to advance the policy position of CARICOM on
climate change as the Community seeks a consensus, actionable commitments and an
implementation plan on this critical global issue.
Known
as “Paris 2015,” France will play host to the 21st Session of the Conference of
the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(COP21/CMP11) to be held from November 30th to December 11th.
COP21 will seek a new international agreement on the climate with the aim of
keeping global warming below 2°C. France and the European Union will play key
roles in securing a consensus by the United Nations in these critical climate
negotiations.
Prime Minister Christie told the media that he is hopeful
of returning to Nassau
on Saturday to participate in the conclusion of the
inaugural 2015 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.
Mitchell meanwhile joins local reparation committee
chair Philip Smith in Guadeloupe
on Sunday for the unveiling of a memorial to
the transatlantic slave trade and to participate in further discussions on
reparations and other matters in connection with this historic event.
The Foreign Minister is due back in Nassau
on Monday.
