News Statement by Hon. Fred Mitchell MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs & The Public Service

 March 18, 2006 

It is important for me to set the record straight on the opening of the embassies in Cuba and in China as a result of the deliberate misinformation by the opposition Free National Movement. 

The reasons for embassies in Cuba and China are different but both compelling. 

Cuba is our immediate neighbour to the west.  In our history, we had a serious military incident involving Cuba, which came as a result of two neighbours not knowing each other.  The result was a serious military mistake for which Cuba apologized but it led to the death of four Bahamian sailors.  Relations have been further formalized to avoid that from happening again, and to protect the interests of our country and its citizens who have been traveling to Cuba in large numbers within the last five years.   

The embassy in Cuba was opened in response to the rising complaints of Bahamian citizens who were requesting the services of Bahamian diplomats in Havana.  The FNM would have us fail the Bahamian people.  

As for an embassy in China, everyone knows that China will be the most powerful economy in the world within ten to fifteen years.  It is right now a source of significant investment and tourism business.  It is also a source of products for Bahamian businessmen.  The China embassy was opened in response to the pleas of Bahamian business people and ordinary citizens for the services of Bahamian diplomats in Beijing.  The FNM would have us fail the Bahamian people.  

The story is similar one for India where there is significant capital and tourist potential. 

What the FNM expects now is for an embassy building to be remodeled, repaired, furnished and outfitted, security cleared by the diplomats sitting in Nassau and it all being done in their absence, then parachuting into an empty embassy.  That shows what little they know and they seem to think that the Bahamian people are short of understanding.  

Clearly, in order to establish an embassy one has to have the diplomats on the scene setting up the premises.  This is elementary and all that has happened.  To do otherwise would in fact be irresponsible, spending thousands of dollars of public money on renovations; sight unseen.   

The fact is that both embassies are open for business and both ambassadors are at work in Havana and Beijing, just as they are in Washington, New York, Ottawa, London and in the Caribbean.    

When the embassy of China was opened here, the Ambassador worked for several months out of his residence in Sandyport. 

During the FNM’s time, their foreign policy was to be asleep at the wheel; a policy which resulted in The Bahamas being blindsided by international developments.  We promised the Bahamian people in our platform to have an active and progressive foreign policy.  That has been positive for our country in the nature and dynamism of our international relationships.

On Monday of next week, we will be hosting all the Foreign Ministers of Caricom and the Secretary of State of the United States for two days of meetings.  That is the clear result of a proactive foreign policy.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
March 17, 2006