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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com International
High Commissioner Eldred Bethel and Deputy High Commissioner Allison Booker met with the All Parliamentary Group for The Bahamas to discuss important matters. The meeting was the first held since Mr. David Morris, M.P, assumed the Chairmanship of the All Parliamentary Group for The Bahamas this past year. Mr. Morris grew up in The Bahamas as his father, Capt. A. L. Morris, who was a former Director of Maritime Affairs. High Commissioner Bethel gave a general briefing on the current state of affairs in The Bahamas citing the upcoming Constitutional Referendum on Gender Equality to be held on 7 June and the BahaMar project. He also provided an update on the UK/Caribbean Forum to be held in Freeport, Grand Bahama and informed that Foreign Secretary The Rt Hon Phillip Hammond will be in attendance. High Commissioner Bethel also raised the issue of delays being experienced in the granting of student visas by the UK High Commission in Jamaica and expressed the wish for the UK to perhaps consider re-establishment of an office in The Bahamas or to provide alternative means to expedite the process. Mr. Morris reiterated his commitment to working more closely with The Bahamas in his capacity as Chair, as well as given his personal and deep appreciation for The Bahamas. He offered to assist in highlighting the issues of concern to The Bahamas with his Parliamentary colleagues and to perhaps seek some assistance in drug/crime prevention, should The Bahamas Government wish him to do so. He suggested that consideration be given by the All Parliamentary Group to a cross-party familiarisation trip to The Bahamas before the General Elections in 2017. The meeting concluded with Mr. Morris and HC Bethel agreeing to engage on a regular basis and to enhance relations.
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