The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

BAHAMIAN-born, Chicago-based lobbyist Michael Fountain said he “cannot wait to get started” in his duties as newly appointed Bahamas Honorary Consul for the Midwest region of the United States.

In his acceptance speech at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, Mr Fountain called his commissioning an “unprecedented opportunity” and vowed to do his best to strengthen ties between the US and the Bahamas.

“I look forward to the ongoing conversation and dialogue,” he said. “I look forward to the work; I look forward to supporting every Bahamian that lives, works, and exists in the Midwest, because I intend to find them all and connect them to what it is we want to get accomplished in terms of our short and long term goals.

“This is a world of war and strife and conflict, and it seems like we are not going to achieve any peace anywhere, so the time for diplomacy is now. The time to work together, cooperate, be in conversation and discussion is now. I take the opportunity to engage the United States of America in that conversation with the commonwealth of the Bahamas, a place that they love whether they have been here or not.”

Mr Fountain, a Bahamian who was born overseas, is now the 26th Honorary Consul for the Bahamas. His consular responsibilities cover the entire Midwestern region of the US, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and North and South Dakota.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said that with Bahamians going “farther and farther afield”, the need is there for them to be “tied somehow to the country in an official way to look after their interests.” He said Mr Fountain was “well connected” and the fact that he’s a Bahamian who resides overseas only strengthens his capability to be Consul for the Bahamas.

“I think he’s brilliant – being Bahamian helps a lot,” he said. “He’s well connected, so I think he’s off to a good start and will do well. He’s also well connected in the society in Chicago and I think that is very important.”

Mr Fountain is also currently a Lobbyist for Capitol F Consulting, LLC based in Chicago, Illinois and was born to a Bahamian father and an American mother. He is also married and has two sons.

According to Mr Mitchell, more Consuls are to be appointed shortly in Los Angeles, California; Houston, Texas and Colorado.