NASSAU, The Bahamas – The historic meetings between The Bahamas and the Caribbean, and President George W Bush “were more productive than any other meetings,” according to Prime Minister the Rt Hon Hubert A Ingraham.
He was addressing a press conference at the VIP Lounge of the Lynden Pindling International Airport, upon his arrival from Washington D. C., where he attended The Conference on the Caribbean – a 20/20 Vision, held June 19 to 21.
“The meeting with President Bush was a very good meeting. He was very respectful of our points of view,” Prime Minister Ingraham said.
“It was very good that a country the size of the United States would have its president spend two full hours with us in the Caribbean and we are such a small part of the population of the world.”
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon Brent Symonette; Secretary to the Cabinet Wendall Major; former Bahamas Ambassador to Washington Joshua Sears; and other Government officials.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of the proposed implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy by 2008. It was said to be the first time that policy makers, representatives of international financial institutions, academic community, and the private sector met in one conference to examine the growth and development of the Caribbean Community for a regional perspective.
“Discussions with the United States president were very good, very cordial, and very frank,” the Prime Minister said. “He stated very clearly those things which the United States could and would do. All Heads of Government were pleased with the results of the those discussions.”
Talks also focused on wide-ranging matters of interest to the region, and specifically for The Bahamas – trade, the Caribbean Basin Initiative, drug trafficking, immigration and removal of the Black Hawk helicopters from Exuma, which aided in the Operation Bahamas America Turks and Caicos drug interdiction efforts, disaster preparedness, and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
The Prime Minister also met with two senators from Florida – Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, the Black Caucus, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of Haiti, Rene Preval.
At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Brent Symonette attended meetings relating to other bilateral matters.
Regarding Haiti, Prime Minister Ingraham noted that the Inter-American Development Bank has made available $50 million grant per year towards the stabilisation of Haiti.
“We expressed our interest in causing Haiti to have additional primary schools, primary health care facilities, and safe drinking water,” said Mr. Ingraham said. “I undertook to continue to do all we can to assist Haiti.”
He said he also expressed concerns about drug trafficking taking place from Haiti to The Bahamas on small boats.
As to perception that the relationship between the United States and Caricom is waning, Prime Minister Ingraham said: “There were very, very frank exchanges between the United States president and some of the leaders of CARICOM over the question of their relationship with Venezuela and Cuba. The U.S. put their position clearly and so did the Caribbean put their position very clearly.
“I think both sides left the meeting understanding that there were differences of opinion that were not bridgeable in the short term.”
The Prime Minister noted that the United States is concerned about the extent to which Cuba is developing influence in the region.
Concern was expressed that Cuba is making available to Caribbean and Bahamian students university education at which families find “quite affordable”.
On the question of appointing a new Bahamas Ambassador to Washington, Mr. Ingraham said that as soon he concluded all the other “essential elements” of the takeover of the government, he will direct his attention toward that.
