From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Host First Diplomatic Week
By Lindsay Thompson, BIS
Oct 17, 2014 - 1:15:21 PM
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration is staging the first ever ‘Diplomatic Week –The Bahamas 2014.’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Hon. Fred Mitchell made the announcement during a press conference at the Majority Room of the House of Assembly on October 15, 2014. Pictured are Mr. Mitchell and Permanent Secretary Philip Miller, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration. (BIS
Photo/Letisha Henderson)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Immigration is staging the first ever Diplomatic Week aimed at fostering
closer ties between the Diplomatic and Consular Corp and The Commonwealth of
the Bahamas.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Hon.
Fred Mitchell made the announcement during a press conference at the Majority
Room of the House of Assembly on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.
Also present were His Excellency Picewell Forbes,
Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM; Permanent Secretary Philip Miller;
Parliamentary Secretary Cleola Hamilton and other Ministry officials.
Underscoring the importance of the initiative, Mr.
Mitchell said, “This will give Diplomats the opportunity to interact with
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Government officials so that they can get an
understanding of The Bahamas’ goals in foreign diplomacy.”
He explained that many Bahamians do not think about
foreign affairs unless they are “stuck” in another country and have to call on
a Bahamian Embassy or Consulate office for assistance.
Another goal of ‘Diplomatic Week -- The Bahamas 2014’
is to build relationships and to provide a “seamless” system when Bahamians
have to travel abroad, Mr. Mitchell said.
The week of Sunday, October 19 to Saturday, October 25
is designed to bring to the capital The Bahamas’ 12 Heads of Missions abroad
and an estimated 50 foreign diplomats accredited to The Bahamas, be they
resident or non-resident.
Also during this week, three Ambassadors-Designate
from Germany, South Korea and France will present their Letters of Credence to
the Governor General.
The activities planned, as outlined by Mr. Mitchell
are:
· Sunday, October 19 – Church Service at Christ Church
Cathedral at 11am. All diplomats and Government officials are invited.
· Monday, Tuesday, October 20 & 21 – Officials from
the American Embassy to appear on Bahamas at Sunrise at 6:30am.
· Wednesday, October 22 – A meeting of the 12 Heads of
Mission with the Minister and Permanent Secretary. This will see the reemerging
of the annual meeting between these officials to devise strategies on improving
the work and goals of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
· Thursday, October 23 – The Official Opening Ceremony
of Diplomatic Week will take place at 9am at the Meliá’ Nassau Beach Resort,
Cable Beach. The Official Welcome
Reception will be held at Luciano’s of Chicago, East Bay Street at 7pm.
· Friday, October 24 – which is recognized as United
Nations Day will see a Flag Raising Ceremony at the Meliá’ and the reading of
the UN Declaration. At 7pm, the Rt. Hon Perry Christie, Prime Minister will
host and address a meeting at Balmoral Club, Sanford Drive – during which
awards will be given to outstanding members of the Bahamas Foreign Service.
· Saturday, October 25 – A State Reception and Cultural
Show at Government House at 7pm.
The week will also focus on student outreach, with
Bahamian Ambassadors and Consul Generals along with Foreign Service Officers
visiting schools in Nassau and Grand Bahama, Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera.
“The various Heads of Mission will come in to explain
the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in social and economic development
and the importance of Foreign Policy in advancing the interests of The Bahamas
in the international arena,” Mr. Mitchell said.
Also during the week, there will be presentations by
officials from The Bahamas Investment Authority and the Ministry of Financial
Services; and a Bahamian European Union dialogue on political and economic
development, crime and security, climate change, natural disasters, Human
Rights, the Economic Partnership Agreement, and The Bahamas’ accession to the
World Trade Organization.
A signature event of the week will be the official
launch of the re-election of The Bahamas to the International Maritime
Organization at Grayclliff, hosted by the Minister of Transport and Aviation the
Hon Glenys Hanna-Martin.
The Foreign Service Act, which would incorporate the
Foreign Service Orders for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expected to be
implemented December 15, will also be discussed.
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