GOVERNMENT
REGRETS CLOSURE OF BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
December 15, 2004
The Minister
of Foreign Affairs has advised the Prime Minister, who has informed the
Cabinet of a statement by the British Government announcing the closure
of its High Commission in The Bahamas. The Minister has expressed
his regret and concern on behalf of the Government to the British High
Commissioner in Nassau, particularly in the circumstances of anticipated
increased trade in tourism between The Bahamas and the UK over the next
year. The Bahamas High Commissioner in London has
been to the British Foreign Office to deliver a statement expressing
similar concern.
The Minister
thanked the British for the good relations between the two countries and
notwithstanding this recent decision believes that those good relations
will continue.
While the
decision is disappointing, the announcement was made in the context of a
financial review by the British in an attempt to effect savings within
the larger budget of their Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It also
represents, according to the British statement, a shift and evolution in
their policies toward a more European focus. When
seen in this context, the Bahamian public can now understand why the
Minister of Foreign Affairs has been speaking about the need for The
Bahamas to evolve its foreign policy to better suit the world that
exists today and has been actively engaged in promoting change in the
foreign policy of The Bahamas.
The world in
which we live is one of increased globalisation marked by membership in
regional groups. The Bahamas continues with the evolution of its
own foreign policy and a comprehensive statement of the reorientation of
our missions abroad is expected to be issued by the Minister when the
House of Assembly resumes in January.
Next year,
the Minister assumes the chairmanship of the Council of Foreign
Ministers of CARICOM and The Bahamas will then be expected to fully
embrace its leadership role in the Caribbean region.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
15th December, 2004
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