The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell expressed condolences on behalf of the country over the loss of lives in the Malaysia Air flight 370, which was confirmed to have plunged into the Indian Ocean.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Mitchell communicated “our profound sorrow over the loss of life to the governments of all of the countries with nationals on board the Malaysian Air flight 370 which was confirmed lost this afternoon”.

He said that the Bahamas “joins in collective prayers for the repose of all the souls who perished in this tragedy.”

“Our missions abroad have been asked to communicate the messages to the various governments,” Mr Mitchell added. The minister spoke with Chinese and American government representatives in Nassau and said that “our Ambassador in Havana has been tasked with communicating the message to the Ambassador for Malaysia to The Bahamas who is resident in Havana.”

According to international reports, Malaysia’s prime minister revealed that a new analysis of satellite data indicated the missing Malaysia Airlines plane plunged into a remote corner of the Indian Ocean.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the news in a brief news conference on Monday.

“It is ... with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” he said. He said Malaysia Airlines has informed the families of passengers of the plane’s fate.
“For them the past few weeks have been heartbreaking,” Razak said. “I know this news must be harder still.”

Najib said the information was based on an unprecedented analysis of satellite data from Inmarsat. Malaysia Airlines also released a statement on its website, saying “our prayers go out to all the loved ones of the 226 passengers and of our 13 friends and colleagues at this enormously painful time.”