BY SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG | OCT 12, 2022
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, presents a gift to High Commissioner of The Bahamas, Leslia Miller-Brice, at their courtesy call, yesterday. (S. Forde-Craigg/BGIS)
Barbados and the Bahamas are seeking to foster deeper bilateral relations.
This was discussed when Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, was paid a courtesy call by the High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas; Mrs. Leslia Miller-Brice, yesterday at the ministry’s Culloden Road office.
Minister Walcott congratulated Mrs. Miller-Brice on her appointment as High Commissioner to Barbados and pointed out that the diplomatic relations between Barbados and The Bahamas are nearly half a century old, having been established since July 10, 1973.
He noted that over the years the relationship had been cordial but he believed it was time to enhance those ties.
High Commissioner Miller-Brice pointed out that The Bahamas had a special bond with Barbados that they valued, given so many Bahamians could trace their roots back to Barbados.
Minister Walcott agreed and noted that many “Bajan” teachers, policemen and public servants had migrated to The Bahamas.
The two officials discussed possible areas to deepen bilateral relations in trade, air services, culture and tourism as well as collaboration in the financial and business services sectors.
Discussions also centred on climate change and the upcoming COP 27 to be held in Egypt from November 7 to 18, the two countries’ cultural festivals, Crop Over and Junkanoo, respectively and the need to highlight each other’s country through educational programmes on television.
Also present at the courtesy call were: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Head of CARICOM/Caribbean Affairs Division, Sandra Gittens; Foreign Service Officer, Janaé Kellman, Honorary Consul of The Bahamas, Selwyn Smith; Foreign Service Officer (Bahamas), Antonio Butler; and Aide to The Bahamas’ High Commissioner, Livingstone Barr.
