MEETING BETWEEN THE HON. DARREN A. HENFIELD, MP, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS AND MS. MAJORIE ESPINOZA, VICE-MINISTER OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS AND DOMINICANS ABROAD, OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The Hon. Darren A. Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Ms. Majorie Espinoza, Vice-Minister of Consular Affairs and Dominicans Abroad of the Dominican Republic, met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday, 28^th 2018.  The Ministers discussed the recent illegal fishing incident by Dominican fishermen that occurred in The Bahamas territorial waters on 13^th October 2018, resulting in their incarceration.  Also present were senior level officials from the Dominican Republic and The Bahamas.

The Ministers had a frank and constructive exchange of views, with both sides agreeing that incidents of illegal fishing is a serious matter that must be addressed comprehensively and expeditiously to prevent further occurrences which are becoming more dangerous and life threatening to Bahamian law enforcement personal.

Other matters addressed at the meeting included a proposal by the Government of the Dominican Republic for an agreement between the two countries regarding the abolition of visas for holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports; the proposed Navy-to-Navy Memorandum of Understanding on illegal Fishing, Illicit Trafficking, Illicit Trafficking in Firearms and Illegal Immigration; and the outstanding Basic Agreement on Technical Cooperation. Technical talks will continue between the two countries.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Nassau, Bahamas

28^th November 2018

L-R Sharon Brennen-Haylock, Director General, MFA; Captain Godfrey Rolle, Consultant, Maritime Delimitation Boundaries; Mr. Paul McWeeney, Honorary Consul of The Bahamas to the Dominican Republic; Dr. Jose Tomas Ares German, Ambassador at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Jamaica; Ms. Marjorie Espinoza, Vice Minister of Consular Affairs and Dominicans Abroad; The Hon. Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Jack Thompson, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Tellis Bethel, Commodore of The Royal Bahamas Defense Force, Ms. Jewel Major, Senior Counsel; Office of The Attorney General, Dr. Kenya L. Ward, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Freddie Tucker, Deputy Permanent Secretary; Ministry of Foreign Affairs.