Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, fellow Bahamians.  It is a privilege and an honour to attend this service of thanksgiving to mark the 29th anniversary of the independence of our country. On behalf of the Prime Minister the Hon. Perry Christie, the Government and the people of The Bahamas, I want to thank all of those who have so ably and capably organized this service and the occasion.
 Back in Nassau, I am a member of St. Agnes Church in Grants Town.  That church has links with this church in Miami and our late Rector Archdeacon William Thompson was known to the priest and people of this parish.  Having missed Sunday mass this morning, I can now report that I did indeed spend Sunday in St. Agnes, only St Agnes in Miami as opposed to my home church in Nassau. I will ask the officiant here to sign a letter confirming that I did indeed attend church.
 Just as there are links between the church in South Florida and the church in The Bahamas, there are more all encompassing links.  It is well known the contributions that have been made over the years by Bahamians who have come to the city to work, to settle, to buy and to trade.   As Minister, I hope that these opportunities can be expanded and enhanced.
 I have always said that while we would welcome all Bahamians back home, we know that this is not practical for a variety of reasons. But I have no fear, because wherever there is a Bahamian living and working that person is making a contribution to The Bahamas.  I wish to thank the Bahamian community of South Florida for their contribution to the growth and development of this region, and to the enhancement of our own country by your contributions from afar to the homeland.
  The official point of contact for The Bahamas in Miami and South Florida is of course the Consul General’s office.  And it is only fitting that I congratulate Ms. Vernita Johnson and her staff for the stellar work that is being done in Miami on our behalf.  The presence of the consulate has recently been upgraded with the ability of the consulate to issue Bahamian passports right here in Miami rather than Bahamians having to travel home to get a passport renewed or replaced.  We will be moving to machine readable passports shortly.  And next year, I hope to be able to report that the machine readable capability also allows us to have direct computer access to the central date bank in Nassau.  Approvals for all services will then be quicker and faster.
 Consular services are of course important as they are the practical interface of the foreign policy of The Bahamas with the people of the Bahamas and our friends abroad.  The machine readable capability should also allow a faster service for the delivery of visas to persons wishing to visit the country from countries that require visas.
 As Minister, I have announced it as a priority the conclusion of visa abolition agreements with other countries. The principle is reciprocity.  I believe that these visa abolition agreements can more readily be concluded once we have moved to machine readable, tamper proof passports.
 Bahamians will need in my view enhanced consular services both in Nassau and in Miami particularly as it relates to the thorny issue of the visa rules and granting of visas to Bahamians by the United States of America.  As you know, there is at present a pre-clearance facility that makes it unnecessary for Bahamians to have to have visas  if they are making a simple tourist visit from Nassau.  This does not apply when a Bahamian is returning to the United States from a boat cruise. And it would seem to this Minister that if  the citizens of the developed countries are able to have that visa free access to the United States, the same ought to be available to The Bahamas.
 We have raised at an official level the  problems related to the willingness of the U.S. authorities to forgive and forget past infractions of Bahamians who have gone on the straight and narrow for long periods of time but who can not exercise their internationally guaranteed right to travel from one country to another as a tourist because the system as it presently stands appears not to be as forgiving as  it should be  when requests are made.  It has the difficulty of inhibiting the free movement of people and inhibiting trade. In the year 2000, Bahamians spent some $684 million dollars in Miami. We are concerned about the denial of visas to persons who have this history of no problems with the law for long periods of time or in cases where infractions occurred when they were juveniles.
 But I remind all Bahamians, those who work and live here in the United States and those who wish to enter from The Bahamas, that they must comply with the laws of the United States.  As Minister, I too frequently am asked to intervene in situations where Bahamian citizens have inflicted U.S. immigration problems upon themselves when there is a clear requirement to follow the laws of the United States of America, just as we require their citizens to follow our law if they wish to enter our country.
 The problem of visa issuance for Bahamians and work permits for Bahamians in the U.S. is one that  now requires a section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advise Bahamians on  what they ought to be doing to enhance their opportunities to travel, work and go to school in the United States so as to lower even further the incidence of rejections of visa applications and cancellations of visas.  I am to issue instructions upon my return to Nassau to look into the feasibility of such a section within the Ministry.
 May I add here, however, that relations are excellent between the two countries and we have much to thank the United States for at all levels and I do so here today.
 I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.  I am looking forward to increased cooperation with the Bahamians who live in South Florida.  I especially look forward to the celebration of  the 30th anniversary of independence next year.  And I hope I will be invited back.
 In the mean time, may almighty God bless you all and God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.