Bahamas Committed to Caribbean Integration
 By Bahamas Information Services 

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas’ presence at the Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting in Barbados demonstrated its commitment to developing the region’s sustainability within the context of the international community, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Brent Symonette. 

Mr. Symonette, who lead the Bahamian delegation to the Caricom conference held July 1 to 4 in Bridgetown said the country was “well received”, particularly on the heels of General Elections held May 2, 2007.  

He was accompanied by High Commissioner to Caricom, His Excellency A Leonard Archer, former Ambassador to Washington Joshua Sears, Minister of State for Finance the Hon Zhivargo Laing, and other government officials. 

The conference is said to be the supreme organ Caricom and it determines and provides policy direction for the community and is the final authority on the conclusion of treaties and for establishing relations between the community and the international organisations and states. 

The sessions addressed key areas of the proposed Single Market and Economy initiative, which would include, inter alia, the operationalisation of the Caricom Development Fund, the establishment of the Regional Development Agency, the free movement of skilled community nationals and the issue of the Caricom passports. 

Other related issues for the meeting included energy, air and maritime transportation, external trade negotiations, governance of the Caribbean Community. The conference also considered security issues related to the hosting of the Cricket World Championship 2007. As a result of that cooperation, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago proposed a draft Caricom (Maritime and Airspace) Security Cooperation Agreement as well as a draft Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty. 

The meeting also reviewed developments in the area of health, particularly combating HIV/AIDS, and the Conference on the Caribbean – a 20/20 Vision, which was held in Washington D.C., June 19 to 21, 2007. 

“The Bahamas’ presence at the meeting demonstrated our commitment to Caricom and our interest in developing the region’s sustainability within the context of the international community,” Mr. Symonettte told a press conference on Thursday, July 5 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre. 

As for The Bahamas’ joining the CSME – a one currency for the Caribbean – Mr. Symonette said, “our partners understand our position on the CSME.”