NASSAU, Bahamas – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to implement Foreign Service Orders, a career path tapered to the specialised needs of foreign service officers at the country’s overseas missions.

The document, which is before Cabinet for approval, is expected to take effect shortly, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Brent Symonette.

The move toward a career path for Foreign Service Officers is part of the overall internal reorganisation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It also includes a systematic review of the diplomatic and consular offices to determine if staffing and funding levels are appropriate to allow the officers to perform effectively and efficiently.

"We are looking at internal reorganisation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that when we bring in the Foreign Service Orders, the head office reflects what we want to happen," Mr. Symonette said.

He added: "We want to make sure they have a career path that is not restrictive to who the minister, permanent secretary or head of the mission, is."

Under the Foreign Service Orders, Foreign Service Officers would be governed differently from the General Orders Regulations of the Public Service.

Mr. Symonette said it would take into consideration the various overseas posts, specifically those deemed "hardship areas."

Implementation of the Foreign Service Orders would also take the ministry another step further in realising its goals, including the implementation of the E-Passport system and the relocation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from East Hill Street to the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre, West Bay Street.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains nine overseas offices – four in the United States (the Embassy in Washington, the Consulates General in Miami and New York, and the Mission to the United Nations), the High Commissions in London, United Kingdom; and Ottawa, Canada; and Embassies in Haiti, China and Cuba.

His Excellency C. A. Smith was appointed Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS); former Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; Mike Smith, High Commissioner to Canada; Carlton Wright, Ambassador to Cuba; and Sandra Carey, acting Consul General in Miami.

The diplomatic posts in New York, China and Miami are to be filled shortly.

"The Miami office is a very busy office where passports and visas are processed. We are looking at upgrading that with a number of changes," Mr. Symonette said.

Former Ambassador to the United States, Joshua Sears, now serves at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Special Advisor to the Minister.

"He brings with him a great depth of knowledge in the Foreign Services. He is well respected," Mr. Symonette said.

Another goal completed by the ministry is the relocation of headquarters from East Hill Street to the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre on West Bay Street. The former headquarters will undergo extensive renovation and upgrade and is expected to become the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Ceremonial and Protocol Building.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is subdivided into seven technical areas -- Internal Relations Division, Legal Affairs Division, Drugs, Crime and Maritime Affairs Section; Technical Assistance and Economic Affairs Division; Consular Division and the Passport Office.

Meanwhile, a new state-of-the-art facility for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is being envisioned. Officials within the ministry have already drafted plans for the structure.