By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell yesterday led a group of representatives to St Lucia for a CARICOM heads of government conference.
This meeting would have been Prime Minister Perry Christie’s official reintroduction to his Caribbean counterparts, however he was forced to forgo the trip due to the death of his mother-in-law, Mrs Trixie Hanna.
Speaking with The Tribune while in St Martin, on his way to the country hosting the meeting, Mr Mitchell said one of the main objectives for attending this session is to re-establish the PLP as a political body that is back in the league.
Mr Mitchell said: “We as a political party and the present government of the Bahamas believe it is fundamental to establish functional operations with other bodies and countries, especially with common issues among us, including law, education, culture, sports and the economy.”
State Minister of Finance Michael Halkitis, Damian Gomez, State Minister for Legal Affairs, and two Foreign Service workers, Nicole Archer and Charmaine Williams are accompanying Mr Mitchell.
The session, Mr Mitchell said, officially began today and will continue to Friday.
Representatives are expected to discuss a range of topics, including the regional economy along with Trinidad and Tobago’s bid to have the Treaty of Chaguaramas amended to allow them to access the criminal side of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
“This is especially important because there are people who believe the Bahamas should take the same approach, so we will be keeping an eye out for that,” Mr Mitchell said.
The St Lucia gathering would be the thirty-third meeting of the conference.
The Bahamas joined CARICOM on July 4, 1983 and has been an active member, chairing the conference three times on July 1984 to June 1985, July 1 to December 31, 1993, and most recently from July 1 to December 31, 2001.
Comments
Concerned 11 years, 9 months ago
So Mr. Mitchell admits that his reason for traveling so much so quickly is to announce to the world that the PLP was back in power. ....Exactly who would this be good news to? I guess the same people who Mr. Mitchell was defending when he blasted the U.S. Government for using anti-drug trafficking spy drones in the Bahamas.
TalRussell 11 years, 9 months ago
PM Christie was the first to acknowledge that the finances of our Bahamaland is in trouble. Then, let the PLP pay for this trip; "to re-establish the PLP as a political body that is back in the league."
PM Christie just cause thousands voted to return you back as PM it ain't mean they is all; "going buy reckless spending by your government."
Personally, I would like to see an itemized list of every red penny any minister, or official, of this government is spending on trips, entertainment, limousines rentals, gifts, outfitting their offices, etc.
We nosy, so we needs know exactly how ya ordering your steaks, rare, medium, or well done, and how much they costing Bahamaland's public treasury?
by TalRussell
Concerned 11 years, 9 months ago
I can't believe it - I actually agree with your comment. It is not only a great day that we agree, but even greater one that you actually had something sensible to say. HAHAHA!!!
242352 11 years, 9 months ago
Yes, I read that as kind of strange, I would have thought that he would have said that he was repersenting the Bahamas - but he said that he is gong there repersenting the PLP.
Not good...
242352 11 years, 9 months ago
Good points Tal Russell.
I would think that there would be some prioity trips that need to be attended and some that would be nice to attend but not when we are hurting for funds.
This is a nessessary trip, I just hope the correct message is put forward.
Perhaps we can lobby for a list of what it thought to be nessessary trips.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 9 months ago
what i can,t believe is 5 people have to go ,1 minister ,2 minister of states and 2 ladies from the foriegn service ...i,m telling you they don,t give a sh***t ..they got thier thumb on their nose waving their fingers at us the public , they not only think we are stupid they tolds us we are ....................................
Concerned 11 years, 9 months ago
A slap in that face and a kick in the butt - that's what we are receiving from these guys.
TalRussell 11 years, 9 months ago
Comrades I have been the light on here all along, just took you time to come around. You know what they say; "It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness."
And, there's no denying that Decision Day 2012, all but extinguisher your once so bright Torch. Welcome out of the darkness of the "original" Hubert A. The leader that said he was the mostest qualified to lead, yet he couldn't find his way back to Parliament Street?
by TalRussell
MartGM 11 years, 9 months ago
Can you explain the relevance of this please???
nationbuilder 11 years, 9 months ago
He is going to the CARICOM HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING not to represent THE BAHAMAS, but to represent THE PLP??? No commentary is even necessary for this kind of statement. This crew is sickening and an embarrassment.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 9 months ago
5 people gone first class to caricom ,we haven,t seen nothing yet ,wait till fly away fred starts opening these foriegn service offices,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,more jobs overseas for old party blowhards ,sweethearts and boyfriends .................
mynameis 11 years, 9 months ago
"...one of the main objectives for attending this session is to re-establish the PLP as a political body that is back in the league.
Mr Mitchell said: “We as a political party and the present government of the Bahamas believe it is fundamental to establish functional operations with other bodies and countries, especially with common issues among us, including law, education, culture, sports and the economy.”
QUOTE, UNQUOTE!
Seriously, the Minister must have said something more than this which related to the country and governance as a whole! It couldn't be true that taxpayers (no distinction for party affiliations) are paying for this five-man crew to go to a regional and international organization meeting to talk about a single political party? The Minister's full statement must not have been recorded!
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