Prime Minister Perry Christie pictured with Haitian president Michel Martelly yesterday. Photo: Peter Ramsay/BIS
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
GOVERNMENT leaders yesterday declared historic progress on combatting irregular migration with the signing of three agreements with the Republic of Haiti.
Prime Minister Perry Christie and Haitian president Michel Martelly signed a framework agreement for bilateral co-operation, an agreement for trade and technical co-operation in agriculture and fisheries and an agreement on the promotion and protection of investments.
The agreements are expected to bolster opportunities for economic development in Haiti through Bahamian investment in a bid to stem the flow of migrants illegally entering the Bahamas in search of jobs.
Mr Christie said: “The framework agreement for bilateral co-operation allows for enhanced co-operation between the Bahamas and Haiti with respect to the exchange of information between law enforcement agencies in our two countries, joint projects between relevant agencies pertaining to security initiatives and border control, and legal migration.
“It forms an umbrella agreement under which enhanced trade and commerce, academic exchanges including research and other projects of mutual interest can be created and developed,” he said.
The signing followed trilateral talks on migration issues between the Bahamas, the Republic of Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands held at the Melia Hotel yesterday.
Heads of government discussed shared challenges concerning illegal migration and committed to strengthened co-operation in information and intelligence sharing and increased assistance on interdiction efforts to curb drug trafficking and illegal fishing.
Consideration was also given to the possibility of formalising co-operation with the Turks and Caicos in a Memorandum of Understanding.
During his remarks, Mr Christie underscored the significant contributions of Haitian migrants to the Bahamas, and the lineage of its founding fathers.
Mr Christie said: “The mother of the Bahamas’ ninth governor general Sir Arthur Foulkes was Haitian. Stephen Dillet, our first black Member of Parliament, was Haitian and several prominent businessmen in the Bahamas are Haitian. Although the migration of Haitian nationals to the Bahamas is often seen in a negative light, it is important to note the positive impact of legal migration.”
He added that while the two countries had established diplomatic relations in 1977, there had been a Bahamian consular presence in Haiti since the early 19th century.
In keeping with his government’s mission to distance itself from dependence on foreign aid and negative global stigma, Mr Martelly also met the business community during a luncheon at the Hilton.
Jointly organised with the Chamber of Commerce, potential investors raised concerns over security and infrastructure capacity, and available incentives.
Mr Martelly highlighted key areas for investment as energy production, construction and agriculture.
Comments
GrassRoot 9 years, 8 months ago
"The agreements are expected to bolster opportunities for economic development in Haiti through Bahamian investment ", ok, let me think - that could be a way out for Webshop money, else? still thinking....
GrassRoot 9 years, 8 months ago
nice suits, btw, Gentlemen. I wonder who pays for those.
DEDDIE 9 years, 8 months ago
The Bahamas miss out on a grand opportunity in 2007 when BTC was given permission to bring cellular to Haiti. Today, Digicel makes over 600 million dollars per year(2 times the amount BTC ever made) and growing. The change in government in the Bahamas put the plans on hold and now Digicel has a foot hold in Haiti.Imagine 600 million coming into the Bahamas. That amount would be second only to tourism.The Bahamas need to stop looking at Haiti as a basket case and take advantage of the opportunities she provides.
ChaosObserver 9 years, 8 months ago
Haiti is definitely no longer a "basket case" but rather an "opportunity yet tapped" by companies and individuals. History shows that during the 30's to the 50's, Haiti was THE PLACE TO BE for celebrities, dignitaries, wealthy, etc...now with their billions of spending for tourism, resorts etc, it will in short measure, overtake Bahamas as "the place to be"....(and no, i'm not haitian)
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 8 months ago
Dat Haitian fella gat much more upstairs den Christie do, so he mostly likely gat da better of Christie an' da Bahamian people. Da Haitian fella alsa probably gat more workin' fa 'em downstairs den Christie gat too!
242 9 years, 8 months ago
Brothers!!! Except the much larger forehead on President Martelly. Same ears, fake smile, squinted eyes.....
sheeprunner12 9 years, 8 months ago
More details needed ............................... then maybe we may see a light at the end of the nightmare Haitian situation for The Bahamas ..... drugs, guns, illegals, social services, PMH, education, ghettos, disease, creolization, prostitution, gambling, voodoo, cheap votes, cheap labour, moonshine, cockfights, eddies and plantains, flagday, merange etc ...................... sigh
SP 9 years, 8 months ago
sheeprunner12......What is merange?
Are you referring to "Merengue" which is a style of Dominican music and dance?.....Touché.
SP 9 years, 8 months ago
Which one is the Haitian?
TheMadHatter 9 years, 8 months ago
Wow - an agreement on the migration problem? Does that mean that we can send Haitians back from the detention center in less than 6 month, without having to fill out all sort of paperwork, without having to obtain special permission for our plane to land?
I doubt it.
It sounds like he is saying "pay us off with silly investments that will only yield more children to grow up and migrate, and we will pretend like we are doing something as long as ya money keep flowing."
Of course, we are stupid enough to fall for it.
Does anyone know when Haitian Flag Day is? I need to start celebrating now - to be ahead of the game.
TheMadHatter
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