On Wednesday, March 26, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i. John L. Armstrong and a team of senior representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), led by Ms. Carey Fagan, Executive Director of the Office of International Affairs engaged senior Bahamian government officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration to discuss The Bahamas’ airspace management. Ms. Fagan is responsible for developing international policy and providing guidance across the various disciplines of the FAA. She also oversees the FAA’s international offices in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The Bahamas’ delegation was headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Philip Davis and the Minister of Transport and Aviation The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin. The purpose of the comprehensive one-day dialogue was to determine the Government of The Bahamas’ position on the operation of its own airspace and to encourage the signing of an Air Navigation Services (ANS) agreement that would allow the FAA to continue providing air navigation services in Bahamian airspace.
In her remarks, Ms. Fagan noted that the meeting offers an important chance to engage in meaningful dialogue on airspace management challenges.
“We recognize the Government of The Bahamas’ keen interest in taking a more active role in the management of the airspace.” She added, “today’s discussion is the first step in a dialogue that will allow us to find mutually beneficial solutions to the challenges we face: increased air traffic, new carriers and the need for improved oversight, and radar and safety data sharing.”
Chargé Armstrong expressed his hope that both countries continue to work together as aviation partners and that the dialogue would further strengthen the aviation bilateral relationship.
“We hope that this meeting will serve as an opportunity for our nation to begin to regularize our aviation partnership and lay the foundation for continued collaboration on air navigation issues of mutual interest.”
Other members of the FAA team that participated in the bilateral discussions included Mark Bury, Assistant Chief Counsel, Kevin Chamness, Director of the Air Traffic International Office, Michael Polchert, Manager of the Americas Division in the Air Traffic International Office and Ed Rodriguez, the FAA senior representative to the Caribbean from the Office of International Affairs.
United States Embassy, Nassau
Captions:
Top: U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i. John L. Armstrong, FAA executive Ms. Carey Fagan, Minister of Transport and Aviation, Glenys Hanna-Martin, Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Philip Davis and Minister of State for Transport and Aviation, Hope Strachan.
Center: Ms. Fagan gives opening remarks during the airspace management discussions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bottom: U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i. John L. Armstrong, FAA executive Ms. Carey Fagan, Minister of Transport and Aviation, Glenys Hanna-Martin, Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Philip Davis and Minister of State for Transport and Aviation, Hope Strachan with other senior U.S. and Bahamian officials.
