The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell is in Singapore for a High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit on supporting Singapore as the country seeks to become a member of the International Maritime Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation – both specialised agencies of the United Nations.

Alongside Mr Mitchell and Irwin LaRocque, the Secretary-General of CARICOM, are ministers and senior officials from 10 CARICOM countries.

The meetings will continue until Friday.

Discussions about establishing stronger financial services relationships between Singapore and Caribbean countries are expected to take place as well.

In a press statement yesterday, Mr Mitchell said the Bahamas will arrange to have its support for Singapore reciprocated.

“This high level ministerial, fully sponsored by the government of Singapore is designed to leverage the 14 votes which the CARICOM group, including the Bahamas, have in the UN.

“Singapore is interested in our support for election to the International Maritime Organisation’s council, headquartered in London.

“The Bahamas is also a candidate and we have arranged what is called a reciprocal on this: we support them and they support us,” he said.

“Singapore also wants to get on the council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) governing body headquartered in Montreal. We have traditionally supported them. Both IMO and ICAO are specialised agencies of the UN. In exchange, Singapore offers a wide programme of technical co-operation, including scholarships to their universities and training courses in their maritime and civil aviation institutes.

“There is also the scope for them lending experts which they already do in the field of IT. Singapore is also a centre for good governance. We can learn from them here as well.”

Mr Mitchell added: “We are exploring developments with the Financial Services sector to see how we can co-operate together and to establish a presence here with an honorary consul in the first instance.”