British Minister David Rutley, UK Minister for the Americas and Caribbean, visited The Bahamas to attend the state reception, joining the 50th anniversary celebrations of Bahamian

independence.

He congratulated the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Cornelius Smith, and Prime Minister Honourable Philip Davis, on 50 years of economic development, national growth, and democratic strength.

Minister Rutley told the Prime Minister that the UK would digitise its National Archive materials relating to Independence, for the people of The Bahamas. The flag of The Bahamas also flew above Westminster Abbey, London, during a special service celebrating the 50th anniversary of independence.

As well as attending the state reception as official representative of the British Government, Minister Rutley met with Tony Myers, President of British company BHM, which will construct the new Freeport Airport, financed by UK Export Finance. Minister Rutley discussed the project and the jobs it will create locally, and the links it will strengthen with the UK. As part of the company’s dedication to support the long-term growth of The Bahamas, the Minister formally thanked Mr Myers for creating a Chevening Partnership, which allows Bahamians to study Masters courses in the UK with a full scholarship.

The Minister also met with the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Her Excellency Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Honourable Charles Washington Misick. The Minister discussed the opening of the new office of the Turks and Caicos government in The Bahamas, and congratulated the Premier on his initiative to connect with the diaspora of Turks and Caicos in The Bahamas. The Minister congratulated the Governor on her appointment. They discussed the islands’ preparations for hurricane season, and the presence of HMS Dauntless in the region, the UK’s designated hurricane-response ship this season.

This visit follows meetings with Prime Minister Philip Davis in London before the Coronation, and in Trinidad and Tobago during the 50th anniversary celebration of CARICOM. During their meeting at the State Reception, they discussed bilateral relations and the recent debate at the Security Council about Haiti, which the UK organised and chaired.

Americas Minister David Rutley said:

In the 50th year of Bahamian independence, it is my privilege to represent the British Government in celebrating your many achievements over the past decades.

The UK is committed to deepening our historic ties in areas of shared interest, including trade, security and climate, to ensure The Bahamas’ continued prosperity and success in the years ahead.

Over the last 50 years, it is clear that The Bahamas is a strong, safe, democratic nation, whose contribution to the world has been great. Throughout the last 50 years, and for the next 50 years, our partnership endures, built on a common language, common history, common legal system, common education, and common understanding of one other.

I very much enjoyed attending the state reception hosted by HE Sir Cornelius Alvin Smith, Governor General of The Bahamas at Government House, congratulations Bahamas – march on!

British High Commissioner Thomas Hartley said:

I was so pleased to welcome Minister Rutley to The Bahamas today, and meet many of the wonderful Bahamians who make this nation so great. Today I am pleased to announce, with Minister Rutley, that later this year the UK will publish over 60 documents from the-then Foreign Office’s and No10’s historic archive that reference The Bahamian journey to independence.

As pioneering archivists such as Gail Saunders have taught us all, we have a shared responsibility to help every citizen of Britain and The Bahamas to have the opportunity to access the documents that have recorded moments of history. We hope these documents will help underpin the knowledge and teaching of history, and honours the memory of Gail Saunders. Photo by Bryce Edwards from San Jose, CA, USA, Wikimedia commons.