MINISTER MITCHELL HOLDS TALKS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

October 29, 2004

Bahamas Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell met with Mr. Carlos Morales the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, 27 October, in Santo Domingo  

A major issue discussed was the need for a halt to the poaching of Bahamian fish stocks by Dominican fishermen.  Both Ministers agreed that a programme of public education in the Dominican Republic on the poaching of juvenile groupers, conchs and lobsters would be of great value; and they agreed that The Bahamas and the Dominican Republic would put together a technical team to work out agreements on these issues.  The question of border delimitation will be included in the fisheries talks. 

There was also discussion on tourism and trade including the sale of products from the Dominican Republic such as cement, tobacco and precious stones.  There is to be a follow up by the technical teams of both countries.   

There was a frank exchange of views on Haiti; and both side expressed concern that the situation in Haiti seemed to be spinning out of control.   

The Bahamas expressed its intention to set up an Embassy in Santo Domingo and administer Haiti from the Dominican Republic rather than the other way around, because of the deteriorating situation in Haiti; and both Ministers agreed to a mutual accreditation of Ambassadors in the very near future. 

Minister Mitchell promised also to review the request for streamline procedures for the granting of visas for persons Dominicans visiting The Bahamas.