The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

THE FNM is “not satisfied” that a loss of confidence in the Bahamas’ commitment to human rights is limited to activists in South Florida – despite assertions by Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell, St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman said yesterday.

In a statement, Mr Chipman said the FNM “agrees” with Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe that the ramifications of the ongoing protests over Cuban abuse allegations are “far-reaching”.

He said Prime Minister Perry Christie’s leading of the United Nations delegation is welcomed by the FNM who believe, given the Bahamas’ foreign affairs “challenges”, there is a demand for a leader with a “greater appreciation” of international relations.

Mr Chipman said the FNM trusts the UN visit will represent a “new turning point” in the conduct of the Bahamas’ foreign policy.

“The Free National Movement has taken note that Prime Minister Perry Christie has assumed responsibility for leading The Bahamas’s delegation and presenting the Country Statement at the sixty-eighth regular session of the United Nations General Assembly,” he said.

“We commend the Prime Minister for that decision, coming as it does at a time when the challenges in foreign affairs here at home demand a leader with a greater appreciation of the complexities of international relations, a soft touch when appropriate and a modicum of diplomatic dexterity when seeking to resolve difficult problems.”

Mr Christie is scheduled to deliver the country’s national statement to the UN General Assembly, today, as was confirmed by Mr Mitchell on Sunday.

Advising Mr Christie to “remember the words of his predecessor”, Mr Chipman recalled former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s 2011 address to the UN when he spoke on the country’s “commitment” to human rights, dignity, and “freedom for all”.

Mr Chipman said: “We do trust that the Prime Minister will take advantage of this valuable opportunity to once again reaffirm The Bahamas’s commitments to the fundamental principles of human rights.

“Despite the assertions of his Minister of Foreign Affairs, we are not satisfied that the perceived loss of confidence in this nation’s commitment to these high principles is limited to a small number of activists in two counties in South Florida. We agree with Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe that the ramifications of the ongoing protests are far-reaching.

“We trust also, that the Prime Minister’s visit to the United Nations will represent a new turning point in the conduct of our nation’s foreign policy.

“In this regard, Mr Christie has a valuable opportunity to press the ‘reset’ button when it comes to his pre-retirement agenda here at home. He can follow Mr Ingraham’s lead.”

On Monday, Mr Wilchcombe suggested that Bahamians will end up suffering for the latest actions of the Miami-based Cuban exile group, The Democracy Movement, who, he said, seem intent on harming the Bahamas’ reputation and economy in view of abuse allegations at the Detention Centre.

“The minister has assured that investigations are underway, but what they are doing is attacking our country unnecessarily and making the Bahamian people suffer for it,” Mr Wilchcombe said.

“The impact of this will have on our economy will not be good and I think it’s so totally wrong.”

However, on Sunday, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell had said there has been no fallout for the Bahamas’ reputation due to the controversy: “My judgment is that there has been no impact and there is no fall-out. This is a matter that is largely confined to Dade County and Broward County in Miami.”

Most recently, National Security Minister Bernard Nottage has also said there is “no evidence” the matter has damaged the Bahamas’ number one industry: “There’s no evidence to date that what has been said by persons in Florida or elsewhere about this matter has had a dampening affect on tourism in the Bahamas.”

He announced on Tuesday afternoon that proceedings against the Defence Force officers implicated in the Cuban abuse allegations at the Detention Centre will begin “imminently.”

That announcement came after persistent protests – including a hunger-strike – by members of The Democracy Movement over the abuse allegations.

In leaked Defence Force documents, a young marine admitted that on the direction of superiors, he punched, kicked and beat unresisting Cuban detainees with a stick until they screamed, in what is described in official investigation documents as a “frenzied” attack at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.