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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Philip Brave Davis met with the Royal Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, HE Peter Beckingham on Monday, 28th July 2014 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nassau. The Governor was in town for trilateral talks on migration with The Bahamas and Haiti.
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On the
Foreign Policy front, Turkey and Japan lobbied Bahamian support for a possible seat on the all powerful Security Council of the United Nations (UN) while the Bahamas began an early campaign for support for a seat on the International Maritime Organization Council (IMO). Further, bilateral agreements, trilateral talks, and constitutional reform presentations, debates and delayed debates around the emotive issues of citizenship and gender equality rounded out yet another eventful week in The Bahamas. Matters of public policy and the rule of law clearly reigned supreme (pardon the pun with the constitution being the Supreme Law and all).
Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Fred Mitchell is pictured with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a special called meeting between the Prime Minister and the CARICOM Heads of Government held in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, 27th July 2014
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Foreign Policy
Fresh off his trip to Istanbul, Turkey and a Basic Agreement with the Dominican Republic signed here in Nassau, Foreign Affairs Minister Mitchell represented Prime Minister Christie in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday at a special called meeting between Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan and the CARICOM Heads of Government. During both meetings, an important theme prevailed: the desire of both Turkey and Japan to sit on the Security Council of the UN and The Bahamas wanting to return to the IMO Council in 2015. The international politicking, lobbying and campaigning continues.
he entire Bahamian delegation is pictured during the trilateral talks on migration and other issues at the Melia Resort in Nassau on Tuesday, 29th July 2014. Prime Minister Christie is center with Deputy Prime Minister Davis to his right and Foreign Affairs Minister Mitchell to his left. The Prime Minister delivered the formal policy statement on behalf of The Bahamas
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Migration and International Trade
Making good on its promise at home and in CARICOM to more substantively address the vexing challenge of illegal migration with an integrated approach, the Bahamas government held bilateral talks with the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) and trilateral talks including the Republic of Haiti this week. Acting as Foreign Affairs Minister, DPM Philip Davis met with the Royal Governor of Turks and Caicos HE Peter Beckingham on Monday 28th July to advance discussions that will conclude with a trilateral agreement on migration between The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the Republic of Haiti.
The trilateral talks took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Melia Resort on Cable Beach and concluded with the signing of three agreements between The Bahamas and the Republic of Haiti. They were the Agricultural Agreement that allows for the direct importation of agricultural goods from Haiti into The Bahamas; a MOU on the Promotion and Protection of Investment; and an Agreement for Bilateral Cooperation. The Bahamian delegation was led by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie; the Haitian delegation was led by President Michel Martelly and the Turks and Caicos delegation was led by the Royal Governor, HE Peter Beckham.
I wish to comment succinctly on two of the three agreements: The
agreement on investment protection and promotion is critical to the survival of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) that has admitted to playing catch up and not being fully prepared for competition in a liberalized telecommunications environment. The entry of a second communications company in the Bahamian market will automatically siphon off one third of BTC’s customers, forcing it to become a multinational corporation for its very survival. It was reported that President Martelly has asked Leon Williams, BTC’s chief, to invest in Haiti and coupled with this investment agreement, spells good news for BTC as Haiti has 10 million customers. Further, Mr. William’s decision to connect The Bahamas to Haiti via fibre optic cable turned out to be a wise and visionary corporate decision as part of BTC’s growth strategy. It is unfortunate that the entire strategic plan of BTC was not fully executed for if it had then Cuba and its market of millions of potential customers would also be in play. In the end and as a 50% stakeholder in BTC, the government of The Bahamas made the right decision with this investment agreement to protect the value of the BTC stock and the Bahamian people’s investment in BTC.
As for the
Agricultural Agreement, there are two facts I wish to point out. Firstly, The Bahamas currently imports agricultural products grown in Haiti via the United States. Direct importation reduces the cost and the national food bill. Secondly, the internationally recognized and approved phyto sanitary standards that the products are currently held to before leaving Haiti or entering the United States will continue under this new trade arrangement. It is an insult to the Bahamian government and people to suggest that agricultural products would be allowed into The Bahamas without subjection to international phyto sanitary standards to protect the public health and wellbeing of Bahamians and the reputation of The Bahamas. Those who have a public platform must use it responsibly to promote public education through the dissemination of facts and sound reasoning based on empirical data.
Later that evening at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel, the Constitutional Commission hosted a Information Forum for Parliamentarians as part of the public education campaign spearheaded by the Commission. Pictured are members of both chambers listening attentively to the Commission's presentation on the four Bills currently before Parliament.
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Constitutional Reform (Equality Under the Law)
Equality under the law was the united message of House Parliamentarians as we entered the great debate scheduled for Wednesday, 30th July on reforming The Constitution to remove vestiges of discrimination connected with citizenship and gender. The Constitutional Commission hosted an Information Forum for Parliamentarians on Tuesday evening, 29th July at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel on Bay Street. Constitutional Law expert and fellow Commissioner Loren Klein of the Attorney General’s Office delivered the presentations on all four Legislative Bills before Parliament. Commission Chair Sean McWeeney and Commissioners Retired Justice Rubie Nottage and Brandace Duncanson were on hand to answer any questions or queries posed by the Parliamentarians.
The following day the
Great Parliamentary Debate was delayed for one more week at the request of the Leader of the Opposition to allow for further consultation. The new date is Wednesday, the
6th of August. Over the next week the
Constitutional Commission is
scheduled to host two Information For a – one for the Council of the Free National Movement on Tuesday 5th August at the COB auditorium and another presentation will be delivered to the National General Council and Branch Executives of the Progressive Liberal Party on
Thursday, 7th August at the BCPOU Hall, Farrington Road. Justice Rubie Nottage, head of the Commission’s sub-committee on public education, made it clear that the Commission stands ready to assist where and whenever this body is called upon to offer greater clarification and treatment to any specific aspect of the Bills.
During the House debates next week, I wish to explore the individual House Bills in detail with a view to explaining what the government hopes to achieve with these Constitutional Amendments.
Constitutional Commission Chairman Sean McWeeney QC addresses Parliamentarians during the forum. Pictured next to him are Commissioners Loren Klein, Brandace Duncanson and Justice Rubie Nottage (Retired)
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