Permanent Mission to UN & Other International Bodies

Today in Switzerland the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, spoke at the official opening of The Bahamas’ Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office and Other International Organisations in Geneva. He noted that his presence, along with that of Cabinet colleagues, the Hon. Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon. Shane Gibson, the Minister of Labour and National Insurance and the Hon. Hope Strachan, the Minister of Financial Services was a testimony to the commitment of The Bahamas to be an active player in the international arena.

*“Our mandates make it imperative for us to interface with the many UN agencies and Funds here in this international city,”* he said. *“My Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration was here in March to address the High Level Segment of the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council. The Minister of Labour is today here to advance the rights of workers and employees in The Bahamas and the Minister of Financial Services heads the lead agency to accelerate efforts towards The Bahamas’ membership in the World Trade Organization. All of these are areas of importance to our country.”*

The Prime Minister asserted that the Mission has the unique opportunity to advance the interests of The Bahamas in Geneva. With the many United Nations specialized agencies and funds, the plethora of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in Geneva, The Bahamas is seeking to position itself to benefit through its interaction with the many stakeholders in Geneva.

*”The presence in Geneva allows, a country the size of The Bahamas , not only to learn of activities undertaken by other countries to mitigate the impact of smallness, but also to articulate its own position in a multilateral environment,”* said Prime Minister Christie.

Note: The Permanent Mission opened in May, 2013 and was the first overseas mission established by The Bahamas on the European continent. Her Excellency, Rhoda M. Jackson serves as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.