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.
Background - publishing of Archives.
Documents referring to the independence of The Bahamas were declassified previously, and held in paper copy at The National Archives in Kew. Representing several thousands pages of historic documentation, these are being digitised now and will be available in The Bahamas later this year to allow audiences direct access.
This project comes after Prime Minster Philip Davis visited The National Archives in London before the Coronation. It follows a formal request made by the late George Smith MP to the High Commissioner, earlier this year.
The British High Commissioner will visit the Bahamas Archives on Tuesday 11th July to discuss the project with Director Patrice Williams.
Examples of some of the documents include (in alphabetical order):
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Bahamas Independence Constitution
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Bahamas independence celebrations
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Bahamas Independence Conference
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Bahamas: independence defence issues; United States bases in the Bahamas, Tripartite…
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opposition to Independence by Greater Abaco Action Committee of Bahamas
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'Bahamas Independence', despatch from Charles James Treadwell, British High Commissioner, Nassau
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visit of Prince of Wales to Bahamas for Independence celebrations, 10 July 1973
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appointment of Sir Milo Broughton Butler as Governor-General of the Bahamas after independence
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'The Bahamas: Ten Years of Independence', despatch from Peter Heap, British High Commissioner, Nassau;
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valedictory despatch by Sir John Paul, Governor of the Bahamas
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briefs for visit of Dr H Kissinger (Assistant to US President) to UK
Background - Chevening
Chevening is the UK Government's global scholarship programme that offers future leaders the unique opportunity to study in the UK. These scholarships are awarded to professionals from all over the world to pursue a one-year master's degree in any subject at any UK university. Since 1983, when the Chevening Scholarships programme commenced, over a hundred Bahamian students have been selected for the award and have subsequently returned to The Bahamas to become leaders in such diverse fields as law, medicine, diplomacy, law enforcement, and the military.
Link: https://www.chevening.org/scholarship/bahamas/
Applications have closed for courses starting in 2023. I strongly encourage Bahamians who are interested in leadership and climate action next year to apply for the Chevening Scholarship during the August to November application period. Winners of 2023 scholarships will be announced soon.
BHM is the latest partner to fully fund a scholarship in The Bahamas. In April this year The Hayward Foundation also announced a full Chevening scholarship. The Charles Hayward Foundation Chevening supports a Master's degree in Ecological / Sustainable Development, Oceanography, Marine Biology, Natural resource management or any other subject that is related to climate/environment at an accredited UK University.
