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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
- Minister for Grand Bahama Dr. Michael Darville, left, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell at a press briefing Wednesday to announced the staging of the 9th UK-Caribbean Forum in Grand Bahama April 29-30,
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Freeport, Bahamas – Prime Minister Perry Christie is expected to officially open the 9th
United Kingdom-Caribbean Forum in Grand Bahama tonight signaling what is
expected to be two days of exhaustive talks on hot topics such as
education, migration, energy, security and foreign policies.
The
high-level Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meeting, which includes the
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, CARICOM Heads of Government from 22
countries, High Commissioners of The Bahamas, Ambassadors, Bahamas
Cabinet Ministers and other CARICOM delegates, will take place April
29–30, 2016 at the Grand Lucayan Hotel.
In addition to the
aforementioned issues, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred
Mitchell said at a press briefing Wednesday he expects that there are
two central issues the 150 delegates will discuss.
“One is the
fact that Financial Services is front and centre now for our concerns,
given the Panama Papers and what is happening in the United Kingdom; and
the second being the issue of de-risking which has become an important
issue for Caribbean countries where local banks throughout the region
are now having difficulties having corresponding banking relationships
in developed country markets,” Minister Mitchell said.
“This is imperiling the ability of these banks to be able to survive and trade overseas in foreign currency.”
The
forum, which is staged bi-annually, is being held under the theme:
“Building A Strong Partnership for Sustainable Growth and Development.”
The first UK-Caribbean forum was held in Nassau in 1998. The last one was held two years ago in London.
Minister
for Grand Bahama Dr. Michael Darville is honoured to host the delegates
over the next two days and stressed the importance of the forum.
“I’m
excited of the economic impact that this conference will have on our
local economy and I’m thanking to the organizers of this event for
choosing Grand Bahama again,” Minister Darville said.
“Finally, I
would like the Honourable minister and the entire team from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs for giving us in Grand Bahama another
opportunity to demonstrate what Grand Bahama has to offer. To all of the
delegates who are arriving, welcome, and for all the residents in Grand
Bahama this is a very important forum that will definitely put Grand
Bahama once again on international display.”
A number of the delegates began arriving on Wednesday and internal meetings are set to take place this morning.
The
opening ceremony is slated for 6:00 pm and will include remarks from
Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM Secretary General; Sir Louis Straker,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Commerce
and Regional Integration of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Rt.
Honourable Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom; and Minister Mitchell.
The
all-day meetings Saturday are expected to conclude with a joint
communicae that will outline all of the areas of collaboration and
cooperation which the Caribbean and United Kingdom have agreed to over
the next two years, to include the Agenda 2030 which was adopted by the
United Nations General Assembly in 2015.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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