The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a farewell reception for His Excellency José Luis Ponce Caraballo, Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, on Friday, September 30, 2011 at the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino on Cable Beach. Pictured are Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Brent Symonette, and Ambassador Ponce.
(BIS Photo/Kris Ingraham)
Nassau, Bahamas – The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and
the Republic of Cuba will participate in a Signing Ceremony for the
Delimitation of Maritime Boundaries Agreement, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
on Monday, October 3, 2011 at 2 p.m.
Experts from both countries have been engaged in
negotiations at the technical level since 1998.
Outgoing Cuban Ambassador, His Excellency Jose Luis Ponce
Caraballo, will sign the agreement on behalf of Cuba, before his official
departure on Wednesday, October 5, 2011. An official farewell reception was
held Friday, September 30, 2011 at the Wyndam Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace
Casino.
\Cabinet gave its approval on Thursday, September 29, 2011,
for the agreement to be signed.The agreement calls for waters between The Bahamas and Cuba to be
clearly marked and defined. Amongst other things.
Further details of the agreement will be discussed with the
media during a press conference following the signing ceremony at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs headquarters in the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre, West Bay
Street.
Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Brent Symonette (left) and Cuban Ambassador Jose Luis Ponce Caraballo smile broadly and shake hands after signing an agreement for the Maritime Delimitations between the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Republic of Cuba at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 3. (BIS Photo/ Kristaan Ingraham)
Bahamas says farewell to
Cuban Ambassador
Nassau, Bahamas -
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a farewell reception for His
Excellency José Luis Ponce Caraballo, Resident Ambassador of the Republic of
Cuba to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, who ended an acknowledged five years
of distinctive diplomatic service.
The reception, which attracted high ranking government
officials and members of the Diplomatic Corp, was held Friday, September 30,
2011 at the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino on Cable Beach.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the
Hon Brent Symonette acknowledged the ambassador’s accomplishments during his
tenure here.
“During your tenure, you have represented your country with
distinction having not only engaged in a meaningful fashion with Bahamian
government officials but also you have successfully endeared yourself to the
Bahamian people,” Mr. Symonette said.
The Bahamas and Cuba share a long history of relations that
predates the formal establishment of diplomatic ties in November 1974.
“Our bilateral relations continue to deepen as we continue
to examine proposals in other areas of mutually beneficial technical
cooperation,” he said. “Historical forces such as trade, labour and geography
forever intertwine us. It is our hope that mutual respect and a desire to
witness the prosperity of our peoples continue to underpin these ties.”
Noting that the role of a diplomat is not an easy one; Mr.
Symonette said it involves balancing the promotion of advancement of one’s
country’s national interests while being aware of the interests of one’s host
country.
“Ambassador Ponce, you have demonstrated impeccable skills
in this regard,” he said, accrediting him for the conclusion of negotiations at
the technical level on maritime boundary delimitations, which began in 1998.
“This is an important agreement given our geographic
interconnectedness and relative economic dependence on the sustainable use of
our natural world. We commend Cuba for the high level of commitment,
compromise, preparedness and openness that was evidenced during the negotiation
process,” Mr. Symonette said.
The Bahamas and Cuba are partners in many areas of
functional cooperation bilaterally and through the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) mechanism. These include sustainable development, education, and
health, amongst other things.
“During your tenure, you promoted further collaboration in
these areas and urged the exploration of new areas of cooperation, which could
prove mutually beneficial to our two countries,” Mr. Symonette said.
In March 2009, The Bahamas and Cuba signed a ‘Basic
Framework Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation’, which established
the framework for future cooperation and project/agreements to be undertaken
between both countries.
“You have advocated that education, including sport
programmes is investments in the economic and social development of a country
because they empower and provide confidence and guidance to the youth, the
future of our countries,” Mr. Symonette said.
The ambassador has also promoted the culture of the region
as demonstrated by Cuba’s partnership and participation in the “Third
Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase” which took place 2010 in The Bahamas. The
event featured 37 films from 19 countries and brought together thousands of
film fans in the Caribbean for a diverse cultural experience.
Recognizing that Cuba is considered a global leader in
climate change, Mr. Symonette said it is hoped that both countries will
continue to cooperate and collaborate bilaterally, through the Cuba-Caribbean
Community Mechanism and the various international arenas in efforts that urge
universal participation and commitment to climate change.
