REMARKS THE RT HON PERRY CHRISTIE, M.P. PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE AT THE PRESENTATION OF INSTRUMENTS OF APPOINTMENT CEREMONY FOR MR. TONY SALIM JOUDI
REMARKS
THE RT HON PERRY CHRISTIE, M.P.
PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE
AT THE PRESENTATION OF INSTRUMENTS OF APPOINTMENT CEREMONY
FOR
MR. TONY SALIM JOUDI
AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS TO THE STATE OF QATAR AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
MONDAY, 12TH SEPTEMBER 2016, 4PM
Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling
Governor General
Ministers
Ambassador-designate Joudi
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a pleasure for me to be here today to mark the Presentation of Instruments of Appointment to Mr Tony Joudi, as the first Ambassador of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the State of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
No state maintains a diplomatic mission in every capital in the world. Most, especially small ones like The Bahamas, have to be selective, and balance their national interest against the cost involved. The problem of not having full diplomatic representation in a particular state can be resolved in a number of ways. The Bahamas has elected to accredit non-resident Ambassadors to several countries, and today Ambassador-designate Joudi joins that illustrious cadre of individuals who have offered their time and expertise to the Government to help build a stronger Bahamas.
Mr. Joudi, who is a Civil Engineer, has also been designated by the Government of The Bahamas as Commissioner General of The Bahamas’ Pavilion for Expo 2020, which will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Who exactly is “the diplomat”? According to the late Mr Ralph G. Feltham, “the diplomat must acquire all the normal attributes of his compatriots who are successful businessmen, administrators or civil servants, but he is a specialist in that he needs an added dimension: he, or she, must understand other countries, other cultures and other societies, and know what makes them tick. The diplomat needs specialist knowledge, professional skills and personal qualities”. The Government is confident that Mr Joudi has these in abundance.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Many of you will know that in September 2015, the United Nations adopted its “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. At that time I addressed the United Nations Summit on 25 September 2015, and I stressed that it was the hope of the People of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas that we would be agreeing to a new agenda that was people-centred, planet-sensitive and inclusive in approach to its development, grounded in the common values and principles we espouse as the United Nations.
The Bahamas’ vision of the post-2015 development agenda was always one that was both inclusive and transformative, with the well-being of people at its core. Having now been adopted, the agenda is no longer a vision, but a reality. The Bahamas anticipates that the agenda will usher in a new era of development at the national and international levels. For this to happen, however, we must ensure that our approach to its implementation is bold, yet balanced and cohesive while upholding the values we want to protect, preserve and defend.
Our work in this regard will be necessarily influenced by a dynamic political, social, environmental and economic background that is ever-evolving and giving rise to significant global developments. This is one of the core reasons why The Bahamas is extending the hand of friendship and partnership to countries all around the world. Both Qatar and the UAE are small states, and both have a relatively small number of citizens, but host a significant number of expatriates, resident and visitor. We therefore have a great deal in common, and we have found that while our cultures differ, we are bound together in the goal to create stronger, resilient societies for our future generations. We therefore have a great deal of work to do, and it is noteworthy that the involvement of Bahamians from all backgrounds and walks of life would be necessary in this regard.
During an official visit the Minister of Affairs and Immigration paid to Abu Dhabi in March of this year, both Foreign Ministers signed a Staement of Intent agreeing to deepen the relationship that exists between The Bahamas and the UAE. Both of our countries committed to move quickly to conclude outstanding bilateral agreements, in the areas of air services, political consultations, the waiver of visas, taxation and investment protection. I am very pleased to say that the agreements on Air Services and Political Consultations will be signed in the very near future.
The Bahamas also plans to engage the State of Qatar in a similar fashion. Both countries offer for The Bahamas new possible sources of foreign direct investment, and of course The Bahamas would welcome an increase in the number of visitors from the Gulf region.
In order to carry out this ambitious agenda and to ensure success in a globalized world, we need a Foreign Service that is specialized and equipped with staff of superior calibre. Foreign Service Officers are in the vanguard of the Nation’s interaction with a complex and changing World. The process of modernizing the Foreign Service towards this end commenced two years ago and it is expected that the final stages will concluded by the end of this year with the implementation of a Career Path for Foreign Service Officers and the creation of a Foreign Service Institute. The relationships we forge with partners such as Qatar and the UAE will play a pivotal role in us having a first class, state of the art training academy offering courses not only in language arts, international relations and traditional diplomacy, but also in other related specialized disciplines, such as climate change and trade policy that now impact the way we interact in a globalized world.
Ambassador, as you take on this tremendous task, know that I and my Government stand ready to assist you. I must also of course extend special thanks to your wife, Joan, and your children, Tony and Cassidy, for the sacrifice that they too will have to make whenever your duties require you to be away from them.
Your Excellency, Cabinet colleagues, other distinguished guests, I thank you.
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