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REMARKS BY
THE HONOURABL FRED MITCHELL,
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICES
THE 10th
INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL WEEKEND
Saturday & Sunday, 16th & 17th October,
2004
Botanic Gardens Chippingham, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
On behalf of the Government, Prime Minister Christie and all my
colleagues, I am pleased to be here today to open this International
Cultural Festival. I am
sure that in its 10th year this will be better than ever.
I encourage all persons to come and share in this wonderful
event. I know they will
enjoy good clean fun, fun for the family that is in a safe and clean
environment.
I would like to thank James Catalyn and his entire
team including Ambassador Leonard Archer for all the fine work that has
been done in making this year an the past events a huge success.
I encourage all to visit the art exhibition of art
pieces from around the globe now mounted at the Central Bank and which
was organized by Mrs. Janet Bostwick who was my predecessor in this job.
The Bahamas continues to have good relations with
all nations of the world. People
from all nationalities come here, helping us build and develop our
country. This is an
important initiative toward ensuring that we share the wealth of the
cultures of each country that is here, even as we build and develop our
own way of life. I thank all countries that are participating.
This year, I believe that Japan is represented here for the first
time. Bangladesh and the Turks and Caicos Islands are also here for the
first time. I welcome them and all the others who are back from years
before.
I thank Ireland fro the kind donation of $2500 to the Hurricane
relief effort. I promise
that we shall conclude within a few short weeks a formal agreement on
diplomatic relations between The Bahamas and Ireland.
You know that during the past year, the Prime
Minister made a state visit to the people’s Republic of China. That was a successful visit and as a result a new stadium as
a gift of the Chinese nation to the Bahamas has been promised.
The Chinese are also here today. I wish to announce that we are
planning to open an embassy in Beijing in 2005/06 and that as of
yesterday the consulate general of The Bahamas in Hong Kong close its
doors, and consular services will no longer be available there except
when an honorary consul is appointed.
I wish at this time to pay special mention for our
Haitian brothers and sisters who are suffering from the hurricane and
who are suffering from the dislocations of conflict and social change. They have always participated in this festival. I note also
that Grenada, Caricou and Petit Martinque, that nation is also here and
we identify with their suffering.
Our friends to the north the United States of
America are here. This year
we welcome the new U.S. Ambassador to the ranks of the festival
Ambassador John Rood. Welcome
Ambassador.
I wish to say that there is soon to be a resident
diplomatic presence in Havana and that the representatives of Cuba are
here today and I am sure that those who come today will enjoy the food.
I wish to thank you all then in sum for making this
a successful event. I am
sure that you will fully enjoy yourselves.
And it is now my pleasure to officially declare the festival
open.
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