MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                            MANDATE OF THE MINISTRY  

            In keeping with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Act, its portfolio allocation and responsibilities as principal co-ordinating Ministry within The Bahamas Government for the conduct of foreign policy and foreign relations both at home and abroad, and to protect the national interest in international affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to place primary focus on: 

·        the Minister’s role as Principal Adviser to Government and Government Spokesperson on foreign policy and foreign affairs; 

·        the conduct of Government’s relations with other states, as the customary channel through which all representations should be made to Government by another state or its diplomatic representatives, and through which Government’s representations should be made to other governments and their representatives; 

·        the provision of Protocol Services to Government, the resident diplomatic and consular corps and in respect to the accreditation of foreign government representatives accredited to The Bahamas and Bahamas Government representatives accredited to foreign countries, and of advice and assistance, as appropriate to civil society; 

·        the maintenance and updating of a register of international instruments to which The Bahamas is a state party, monitoring the development of new international instruments that are in The Bahamas’ national interest, analyzing such instruments (from an international political perspective) for consideration by Government; and coordination of treaty implementation; 

·        functioning as the channel of communication for the receipt and transmission of extradition requests between foreign governments and the appropriate Ministry/Department of Government; 

·        the reinforcement of the Ministry’s framework for, and work in the area of, Law of the Sea, particularly in respect of maritime delimitation; 

·        the coordination of technical assistance from regional and international organisations and other states, for capacity building in areas including education, the professions, special technical areas and the foreign service; 

·        assisting in the control of the borders of The Bahamas through the issuance of visas and recommendations on visa policy and entry requirements; 

·        instructions to and co-ordination of the work of Ministries/Departments of Government and The Bahamas Missions and Honorary Consular Corps abroad in the interest of achieving coherence in the implementation of foreign policy choices, and accomplishing The Bahamas’ objectives in foreign affairs; 

·        the co-ordination and provision of information and materials, as appropriate, to other Ministries/Departments of Government having direct responsibility as principal representatives for international specialized technical and legal bodies or meetings; 

·        the issuance of national identity documents including passports, Certificates of Identity and Emergency Passports, through the Passport Offices in New Providence and Freeport, Grand Bahamas, and by Family Island Administrators and Foreign Missions;

The Ministry’s Portfolio Allocations are as follows: 

·  Foreign Missions

·  Protocol matters

·  Extradition

·  Treaty Succession

·  Coordination of Applications for Technical Assistance

·  Law of the Sea

·  CARICOM Affairs

·  Passports

·  Visas 

            The Ministry has nine (9) functioning Divisions/Units: International Relations, Trade and Economic Affairs, Administration, Consular, Protocol, Legal Affairs, Drugs Control, Crime Prevention and Maritime Affairs and Technical Assistance and Cooperation.

 Functions of the Divisions/Units 

(1)          International Relations Division (IRD)  

            The International Relations Division is responsible for co-ordinating the Ministry’s responsibilities in international political affairs.  In that regard, the IRD monitors, researches, analyses, reports and provides policy advice on political developments worldwide, as well as in international organizations, particularly the United Nations system, the Organisation of American States, and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CARICOM).  The IRD is the Division principally responsible for liaising and passing advice/information to Bahamas delegations to the United Nations and OAS General Assemblies and other regional and international meetings, and for preparation and co-ordination of briefs for such meetings. The IRD is also responsible for the co-ordination and management of lobbying efforts for the election of The Bahamas’ candidatures in regional and international organizations, and for advice in respect of the election of candidates from other countries.

           In carrying out its functions, the IRD liaises with Ministries/Agencies, non-governmental organisations and the private sector concerned with issues such as social affairs, health, labour, human rights and democracy and the rule of law, as well as with regional and international organizations to ensure that The Bahamas position in these areas is articulated and its contribution made towards addressing political issues of an international character.  The IRD is also responsible for co-ordinating with Rotary Clubs, the Model United Nations for Bahamian schools. 

(2)          Trade and Economic Affairs Division (TEAD)

             The Trade and Economic Affairs Division (TEAD) is responsible, from an international perspective, for the co-ordination and as appropriate, representation, of Government in the areas of trade and economic affairs.  In implementing its co-ordination function, the Division liaises with other Bahamas Government Ministries/agencies, as well as with those of other countries, and with international organizations, to improve The Bahamas’ prospects for advancing its economic potential through international cooperation and collaboration.

 (3)          Administration and Human Resources Division

             The Administration and Human Resources Division (AHRD) is responsible for the implementation of policies established by relevant authorities relating to the organisational, administrative and human resources matters of the Ministry (Headquarters and Missions and the Passport Office).

            AHRD is also responsible for recommending to the Permanent Secretary policies (regarding human, physical and financial resources and issues and relevant systems e.g. information systems) that would improve the organization, administration and operations of the Ministry, Missions and Passport Office.

 (4)          Consular Division

             The Consular Division is responsible for the issuance of visas and authentication of documents for use in foreign countries, both are revenue earning services.  The Division is also responsible for; the issuance of diplomatic and official passports, and administration of the control system of release and return for official passports; liaising with those British Consulates General abroad which render visa and other consular services on behalf of The Bahamas Government; and registration of Bahamian students studying abroad.

             The wide range of services that the Consular Division performs also include the management of matters related to the deportation of Bahamians from abroad, particularly from the United States; the welfare of Bahamian prisoners abroad, particularly those in Cuba; and Bahamians in distress.  The head of the Division also chairs the Passport Office Investigative Committee.

 (5)          Protocol Division

             The Division is responsible for providing Protocol Services in respect of Government’s business at Government House, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Ministries/Departments of Government, and the accreditation of foreign and Bahamian diplomats and consular officers.  The Division also provides advice and guidance on ceremonial protocol, is responsible for the administration and management of the VIP Lounge at Nassau International Airport, and is the Liaison with Foreign Missions and Offices of international organizations accredited to The Bahamas.

 (6)          Legal Affairs Division (LAD)

             The Legal Affairs Division (LAD) is responsible for the co-ordination of; negotiations on bilateral and multilateral agreements between The Bahamas and other countries; matters relating to the signature, ratification and accession of international instruments; international aspects of The Bahamas’ policy on terrorism; matters relating to refugees and asylum and child abduction; repatriation exercises; Bahamian prisoners abroad and prisoners exchange; ship/aircraft/research clearances and liaising with the United States Embassy on matters concerning illegal migration flows, search and rescue operations, and illegal drug trafficking in Bahamian territorial waters and airspace.  The LAD is also responsible for preparing Credentials for Bahamas delegations to international meetings.

 (7)     The Passport Office

             The Passport Office (Central Passport Office, New Providence and Passport Office Freeport) is responsible for the processing and issuance of national identity documents – passports, Certificates of Identity and Emergency Passports – in accordance with the Constitution, the Passport Act and related laws and regulations of The Bahamas.

             The Central Passport Office, Nassau, co-ordinates and oversees the administration of passport services in seventeen (17) Family Island Districts and by The Bahamas missions which issue passports abroad.  It also participates in the work of the Passport Investigative Committee, which reviews passport applications of individuals who have changed their names by deed poll, and cases in which Bahamian citizenship is in question.  The Chief Passport Officer advises the Permanent Secretary, and assists in the briefing of the Minister, on Passport issues.

 (8)     Drug Control, Crime Prevention and
          Maritime Affairs Unit (DCMU) 

            The Drug Control, Crime Prevention and Maritime Affairs Unit, is a new entity, attached to the Office of the Permanent Secretary.  The objective of the Unit, still in its formative stages, is to implement Government’s functions in respect of international drug control and crime prevention and criminal justice, and particularly for meeting Government’s international obligations in these areas.  The Head of the United Currently serves as The Bahamas’ Representative on the Organisation of American States Inter-American Drug Control Commission (OAS/CICAD).  The Unit is responsible for the semi-annual US/Bahamas Joint Task Force Meeting on Drug Control, and represents the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in respect of the co-ordination of drug control matters at the national level. 

            The Unit is also charged with the reviewing and updating of The Bahamas’ international obligations in resp0ect of the Law of the Sea, particularly its maritime delimitation with the US, UK (Turks and Caicos Islands), Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.  The Unit is also responsible for monitoring and reporting on issues on international co-operation in crime prevention and criminal justice.

 (9)               Technical Assistance and Cooperation Unit (TACU) 

            The TACU administers the technical co-operation and assistance flowing to and from The Bahamas, bilaterally and multilaterally, by virtue of its membership in international/regional organisations and through its diplomatic relations with other states.  Technical cooperation takes the form of capacity building training opportunities, professional exchanges, fellowships/scholarships and national development projects, provision of consultants, materials and equipment.  The TACU co-operates with both the public and private sector and the general public in implementing its technical cooperation/assistance work.