The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HUBERT Chipman, Opposition Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, criticised the government yesterday for opening an “unnecessary” Consulate General Office in Washington, DC.

His comments came after Paulette Zonicle, Bahamas Consul General to Washington, recently opened the first Consulate General’s office in the US capital.

The new office, located in the downtown Washington area, will provide coverage to 23 states as it supports and services Bahamians abroad for emergency or lost passport processing, visa inquiry and assistance, consular matters for students and other Bahamians.

Mr Chipman said: “I have nothing against Ms Zonicle, but at this particular time, why are we doing what we are doing? Why are we opening another office when we have an office already?”

Mr Chipman said to rent the new office, the government will probably have to pay in excess of $100,000 a year.

“The office is totally unnecessary,” he said. “We own a building in Washington. Why are we opening another one? It’s not that we don’t have space for a Consulate already.

“All this is being done at a time when the government is trying to raise funds and when there is serious deficits.”

Mr Chipman said he questioned Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell over financial issues relating to his ministry during a recent sitting of the House of Assembly. He said he asked the Minister why Foreign Affairs staff overseas has increased by 300 to 400 per cent in some instances.

He said that though the Minister promised to get back to him on operating costs associated with everything in his Ministry, Minister Mitchell has yet to address his concerns.