The Tribune

By Senator Darren S Pickstock 

“Innocence abroad,” remarked the American satirist and literary giant Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. Those words still shape how nations and cultures appreciate their similarities, pursue common goals, and navigate their differences.

On Monday, February 10, the Senate passed two landmark Bills: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bill, 2024, and the Bill for an Act to establish the Department of the Foreign Service, administer the Foreign Service, and create the Alrae Ramsey Institute of Foreign Affairs, 2024. These Bills now stand as law.

Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell, in a dispatch from Abu Dhabi while en route to the opening of the Bahamas Embassy there, to be headed by Ambassador Tony Joudi stated: “Now comes the harder part, and that is the execution of what Parliament has passed.”

As I expressed in my debate supporting these Bills, I believe they represent the most structurally significant transformation of a key pillar of governance. They mark the long-overdue independence of the Foreign Service and further modernise the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With their passage, our nation is now better suited to strengthen its standing and expand its influence on the ever-evolving global stage.

The Bill establishing the Foreign Service provides a clear career path for Foreign Service officers, ensuring continuity and professional growth. It aligns with the aspirations of those who have long sought recognition and structural support in their field.

As with all transformative legislation, there will be concerns about integrating the old with the new. Change often brings hesitation, especially among those uncertain about their roles, performance expectations, and how to reconcile public service traditions with the fresh air of reform. However, these adjustments are necessary for progress.

The work of the ministry is a testament to our national progress. Since 2023, The Bahamas has established diplomatic relations with 16 additional states, bringing our total to 142. Our passport now provides visa-free access to 161 countries, up from 145 in 2019, ranking 25th globally, on par with Brazil, Argentina, and Barbados.

Since 2022, the Ministry has signed over 20 bilateral agreements and MOUs, enhancing technical cooperation, diplomatic engagement, and visa waivers. A recent highlight was the signing of an Education Agreement with Brazil, granting Bahamians access to scholarships and Portuguese language training.

All heads of bureaus in the Foreign Service have over a decade of experience as career diplomats, hold master’s degrees, and speak at least one foreign language. Yet, despite these qualifications, their public service ranks range from assistant secretary to first assistant secretary, with many going unpromoted for ten to 18 years. This legislation ensures their expertise is appropriately recognised and rewarded.

The evolving landscape of international affairs demands a Foreign Service that is agile, professional, and aligned with global best practices. The Bahamas must have a Foreign Service capable of maximising its diplomatic presence and protecting our sovereign interests.

Transformation requires inclusivity. Those directly impacted must be brought along to ensure a smooth transition. Some may question why the Foreign Service is no longer tethered to the outdated structures of the public service. The answer is simple: under the previous system, Foreign Service officers had only one path for career advancement, eventually reaching permanent secretary. This legislation introduces multiple pathways, allowing officers to achieve promotions, titles, and responsibilities in line with international diplomatic standards.

Notably, the Official Opposition in the Upper and Lower Houses did not support these Bills. The former Foreign Affairs Minister under the Minnis administration, now Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Darren Henfield, dodged key issues during the debate. Instead of putting on the record a number of questions he collected from staff in the ministry of their concerns on the legislation, the FNM resorted to political mischief, empty rhetoric, and character attacks. The Bahamian people are not surprised over the antics and behavior of the persons who now control the party opposite.

Gone are the days of the astute, principled FNM of Whitfield, Isaacs, and Ingraham and even Minnis. Today, the party appears as a fragmented group, struggling to present informed and meaningful contributions to national discourse. It is no surprise that the streets now refer to one of their key figures as “electric motor mouth”.

At times the new FNM seems to be a loose cadre of personalities holding seats in the Parliament who can’t seem to navigate the near four years they have been on training wheels; and have yet to step up to the plate and deliver critical and informed debate expected of an organisation which has had 24 years in governance. The FNM today is a pale and irrelevant figment of the FNM the country knows.

To hear the puerile and bait mongering amateurish conjecture of the FNM today and to compare their performance and their pseudo intellect to that of the Bostwicks, Solomon, Isaacs, Orville Turnquest, Whitfield, Ingraham, McCartney, Laing and Foulkes; is apples and oranges. It is no wonder todays FNM leadership seems to be in such disarray, quandary, physical and verbal abuse of their own; and unable to properly offer solutions to the issues of the nation. Today’s FNM prefers to trade in cynicisms, wedge issues and hyperbole

A significant highlight of this legislation is the establishment of the Alrae Ramsey Foreign Officers Institute. This institute will train and prepare current and future Bahamian diplomats and those engaged directly and indirectly with the Foreign Service.

Alrae Ramsey was a bright and ambitious Foreign Service officer who tragically lost his life in Italy while vacationing under the Minnis administration. He was the grandson of Leopold Garth Wright Sr, a distinguished former Secretary-General of the FNM and a trade union organiser and colleague of Sir Randol Fawkes in the earliest days of modern trade union organisation in The Bahamas. This fact was of course lost on the current FNM, rather than honouring his legacy, the current FNM engaged in offensive distractions during the debate, a glaring contrast to their predecessors who understood the value of diplomacy and governance.

Every era brings new challenges, and as the saying goes, “When the United States sneezes, The Bahamas catches a cold.” The shifting tides of global politics, trade disputes, and heightened security measures demand a Foreign Service that is strong, agile, and well-trained and equipped to navigate these complexities. Outdated administrative protocols and bureaucratic red tape must give way to a modernised, efficient approach, one that ensures our nation’s voice is heard clearly on the world stage without compromising an inch of our sovereignty, customs, or expectations.

Yet, instead of engaging meaningfully in these crucial discussions, the opposition has reduced the debate to trivialities—quibbling over how our ambassador in Washington, DC, gets to work. At a time when trade tensions, shifting alliances, and border security measures directly impact our nation, our Foreign Service must stand as our frontline defense, negotiating in The Bahamas’ best interest. One can only imagine the disappointment of great Bahamian statesmen like Kendal Isaacs, Cecil Wallace Whitfield, and Arlington Butler.

These Bills are finally addressing long-standing inefficiencies by equipping the minister and ministry with the necessary tools to strengthen our diplomatic presence. The establishment of corporations sole within the Ministry and the appointment of a highly skilled Director General of the Foreign Service are not merely bureaucratic changes—they are essential steps toward enhancing our global engagement. These reforms reflect the sharp intellect and adaptability of the Bahamian people, replacing the rigid, outdated practices inherited from the British Civil Service. What worked 150 years ago no longer serves us today.

Through the years, many distinguished Bahamians have upheld the highest standards of excellence in the Foreign Service. Their dedication, competence, and unwavering service have been the backbone of our nation’s diplomacy.

History will not be kind to today’s FNM; which chose to vacillate and pontificate rather than to reach across the aisles in this debate to put The Bahamas first. In a moment that called for unity and vision, they opted waver and grandstand. The world is watching, and while this Davis administration forges ahead to strengthen our nation’s global standing, the FNM’s failure to stand with The Bahamas will not be forgotten.