The Minister of Foreign Affairs Statement on: The Passing of H.E. Leonard Archer, The Bahamas’ former CARICOM Ambassador

14th September, 2024

It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of H.E. Leonard Archer, former Bahamian Ambassador to CARICOM, who passed away this Friday. When I first served as Foreign Minister under the Christie Administration, I had the honour of working closely with Ambassador Archer on CARICOM matters including at the CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) on the integration of Haiti as a member state.

Ambassador Archer served with dedication and honour to his country as our Ambassador to CARICOM from 1992 to 2007. Prior to this, he was president of The Bahamas Teachers Union, Secretary General of the Bahamas Trade Unions Congress, president of the Caribbean Congress of Labour, and an original member of the Commonwealth Foundation for Civil Society. His work with unions and in support of civil society would help shape the Charter of Civil Society for the Caribbean Community in 1997 and the creation of the Civil Society Bahamas in 2002.

“Bro Archer” as he was affectionately known by some, was born on 14 October 1940 in Abaco. He studied at Redland College in Bristol England and at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus. He will be dearly missed by his friends and colleagues in the UK and the Caribbean region.

On behalf of all the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff, I extend my deepest condolences to Ambassador Archer’s family.

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