There are “grave security implications” for The Bahamas, which is caught in the middle of the cold war between the United States and Cuba, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell during his address at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin on Monday.
Addressing the topic, “US-Bahamian Relations in a Changing World”, Minister Mitchell said that The Bahamas, as a country steeped in more than two centuries of uninterrupted democracy, has made it clear that it does not support the form of Government in the Republic of Cuba.
He said that The Bahamas, however could be seen as a bridge to democracy for that nation, and is prepared to partner with CARICOM in continued dialogue with Cuba about the values of democracy and freedom that its citizens could enjoy.
Although The Bahamas has diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba, and also a policy of practical cooperation with the Cuban Government, as does the interest section of the US government in Cuba, the U.S. should not be overly sensitive to Cuba’s presence in Nassau, Minister Mitchell said.
There is a Cuban Consulate General in Nassau, he said.
He noted that the issue of foreign policy between the United States and The Bahamas must be approached with the greatest degree of transparency.
“It is our observation, as a neighbouring country, that notwithstanding the official policy of the Government of the United States, US citizens are voting with their feet for rapprochement with Cuba. Many are speaking freely of the day when there will be a dramatic shift in US policy towards Cuba, which some would argue, will likely come without notice or consultation with The Bahamas,” said Mr. Mitchell.
“We believe it would leave our country at a distinct disadvantage politically and economically, as we did not ready ourselves for that day, and changed the relationship it would bring between Cuba and the US,” he said.
He said that Bahamians have a strong sense of sovereignty, which is not offended by the aggressive pursuit of American interests abroad.
However, he said, some Bahamians are perplexed at the appearance of an unrelenting public pressure on small states like The Bahamas in areas which do not seem vital to the interest of America.
“Our people argue that almost every dollar earned in The Bahamas is spent right back in the United states. That our society is an open economy, that there are not barriers to trade and that it has always been so. Perhaps it is simply a feature of American diplomacy everywhere that pressure is applied where pressure is not needed and could be counter-productive. We recognize clearly what our interests are and who the big influential player is and respond appropriately to protect our interests. Some times, quiet diplomacy works much better than public pressure,” he said.
“Our friends must come to appreciate who we really are and how to deal with us, small though we are, as the realities of the world as we know it, continue to change,” he said.
By Vanessa Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
