The Tribune

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Fred Mitchell, recently spent two days in Washington, DC, participating in meetings at the US State Department and with Members of Congress who serve on committees with oversight on matters of special interest to the Bahamas and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Mr Mitchell, who arrived in Washington on Tuesday, April 8, on Wednesday morning met William Brownfield, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the State Department to discuss security matters affecting the Bahamas, and the region.

Underscored during the meeting was the relationship between the US and the Bahamas. The ongoing challenges of narcotics trafficking, emerging trends of drug abuse and threats posed by the drug trade were also discussed.

The meeting followed the recent signing of an amendment to the Letter of Agreement on Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (ALOA) between the Bahamas and United States Governments, which provides $1,850,000 in US assistance under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

Following discussions with Assistant Secretary Brownfield, a meeting was held between Minister Mitchell and Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador-at-Large of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP).

Mr Mitchell informed the ambassador of the efforts made by the Bahamas Government in addressing human trafficking in the Bahamas, noting the country’s first conviction of a trafficking offender on March 27.

Mr Mitchell also commented on the commitment of the Bahamas Government to effective and sustained 
anti-trafficking measures, and relayed the Government’s desire to achieve Tier 1 status, given the recent conviction of Jamaican national Chevaneese Sasha Hall. The Bahamas is currently categorised as Tier 2 under the TIP Tier scheme.

The US Government applauded the efforts of the Bahamas in seeking to prosecute human traffickers and commended the government for its diligence and dedication throughout the investigation and trial of Ms Hall.

The Bahamas Government is currently in the process of drafting a National Plan against trafficking in persons.

Later that day, the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister met Congressman Eliot Engel, representative for New York’s 16th Congressional District, the Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and who also serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

The congressman reiterated support for security co-operation between the US and The Bahamas and commented on the particular success of the OPBAT programme.

Mr Mitchell advised the Congressman that there was a particular need for greater co-operation on ensuring that the reintegration of deportees from the US could be done in a sustainable manner, particularly those who had little psycho-cultural ties to the country, as this was a challenge for the Bahamas and the region generally.

There was agreement that there were numerous opportunities, beyond security, for US engagement with the region and that these areas should be prioritised for exploration. The congressman particularly highlighted assistance with energy security and renewable energy technology as an area where cooperation could be advanced quickly and for mutual benefit, in the context of the hemispheric energy policy currently being developed by the US.

On Thursday morning, Mr Mitchell met Congressman Gregory W Meeks, Representative for New York’s Fifth Congressional District, Senior Member of the House Financial Series Committee and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit. A member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Meeks also is a former chairman of the Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade.

Discussions focused on greater US engagement with the Caribbean Region. Mr Meeks, who sits on the Western Hemisphere Sub-Committee, noted the close geographic proximity between the USand the Bahamas, alluding to the economic impact of the US on Caribbean countries.

Mr Meeks is seeking to further US involvement and efforts in the Caribbean Region.

Both Congressional meetings resulted in a commitment to talk on a more consistent basis and a conveyance of support for assisting the interests of the Bahamas.

Later that morning, Mr Mitchell was back at the State Department for an 11am meeting with Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S Jacobson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central America and the Caribbean Francisco Palmieri, Director of Caribbean Affairs Juan Alsace, and Bahamas Desk Officer Gianni Paz.

Mr Mitchell took the opportunity to signal that the relationship with the US was generally very positive; however, there were several areas where co-operation between both countries could be enhanced for mutual benefit and that ongoing dialogue was fundamental to ensuring the relationship with the Bahamas, and CARICOM in general, continued to progress from strength to strength.

Minister Mitchell further underscored the recent progress made by the Bahamas regarding the prosecution of an offence for Trafficking in Persons.

Assistant Secretary of State Jacobson advised that willingness to prosecute was a strong signal of the efforts of the Bahamian Government.

The Minister also engaged in discussion with the Assistant Secretary of State on the trajectory of US drug policy, in light of CARICOM decisions to explore regional drug policy.

Minister Mitchell also highlighted that significant progress was being made regarding the streamlining of repatriation processes in the Bahamas and that the investigations into alleged incidents at the Detention Centre and avenues for the centre’s improvement were ongoing.

Both sides also agreed on the need to discuss any challenges that might exist in consular relations between both countries with a view towards improving the process and addressing any impediments that may exist.

Before leaving for New York Thursday afternoon, Mr Mitchell visited the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago, where he signed the Book of Condolences to Arthur Robinson, the former President of Trinidad and Tobago, who died recently at the age of 87.

At his meetings, Minister Mitchell was accompanied by Dr Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States; Mr Chet Neymour, Deputy Chief of Mission; Ms Krissy Hanna, Second Secretary; and Mr Mikhail Bullard, Third Secretary.