THE COMMONWEALTH: WHAT’S IT TO US?
The Commonwealth is 56 nations that were mainly former British colonies. They are a voluntary association but held together across the value platform of democracy and the rule of law. The Commonwealth and its members often fall short of those values but it has managed to stay together. For us, The Bahamas is in because of the technical cooperation that it offers in many fields including the environment, law, business, social service and youth. We also find it the most efficient way to conduct our diplomacy: a country that is unable to put an embassy in every corner of the world.
THE FNM PRAYING FOR CROP FAILURE
Michael Pintard and Dr. Duane Sands of the Free National Movement are developing quite a reputation for being merchants of doom and gloom. Every word that comes out of their mouth is a prayer for crop failure. They are hoping that whatever the PLP plans to do for the country will fail. The latest is the call for Alfred Sears to resign as National Insurance Minister. Resign for what? They claim he misled the country on the national insurance hike; They based that on the fact the Prime Minister issued a statement which indicated that the 1.5 per cent increase that we were advised to do each two year period for he next twenty years may not be the decision to follow. But if they examine it with a logical eye, what the FNM is saying does not make sense. The Minister read what the actuaries said. The Prime Minister simply said we may not do that. Bottom line though is if we do not do something to fix it, the fund will be broke by 2028. So fix it we must. The role of Mr. Pintard and Dr. Sands is sow confusion and mix up. Praying for crop failure.
The Ides Of March
Shakespeare’s play Julius Ceasar engrained the assassination of the Roman Emperor in 44 BC into western culture. The soothsayer had told Caesar: “ Beware of the Ides of March”. He was warning Caesar of the danger of assassination. Caesar ignored it. As he walked to the Senate that morning, he said to the soothsayer ”the Ides of March have come”. The soothsayer responds: “Aye but not yet gone”. By evening Caesar was dead, stabbed to death by Senators including his friend Brutus. The Ides of March passed last Friday 15 March 2024. On that day each year for years Zendal Forbes, the lecturer at the University of The Bahamas and Fred Micthell, the Minister exchange the lines from Shakespeare as a marker. This year was no different.
Fred Mitchell Commonwealth Day Reception
Fred Mitchell with Queen Camilla and Secretary General of the Commonwealth Baroness Patricia Scotland 11 March 2024. The Commonwealth Day reception at Marlborough House in London.
Meeting The Mayor OF Bristol
Fred Mitchell with Mayor of the city of Bristol in the United Kingdom Marvin Rees to discuss his plans for urban development. 14 March 2024
Fred Mitchell with Lord Marland of Odstock at the House of Lords in London. 13 March 2024. Chair of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.
The State Visit Of The Prime Minister To Botswana
The advance team for the state visit of Prime Minister Philip Davis to Botswana: Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell and Director General Jerusa Ali at the Sir Sretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, capital of Botswana. 15 March 2024. The Prime Minister arrives at the capital of Botswana Gaborone on Monday 18 March 2024.