SECOND WESTERN HEMISPHERE COUNTER TERRORISM MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

The Bahamas was represented at the Second Western Hemisphere Counterterrorism Ministerial Conference convened from 18th to 19th July 2019, in Buenos Aries, Argentina, by a delegation led by the Hon. Darren A. Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs, supported by ASP Harris Cash, Ministry of National Security and Foreign Service Officer, Mrs. Sherry Johnson-Deal. Participants in the Conference included Ministers of Foreign Affairs and competent national authorities in the field of counterterrorism.

Heads of delegations and experts discussed the regional scenario: terrorist threats in the Americas, western hemisphere cooperation against terrorist financing, regional security and law and criminal law approaches to terrorism and terrorist financing. The Hon. Minister delivered a statement during the general debate segment of the Conference, which focused, inter-alia on: The Bahamas’ commitment to safety and security: domestic legislation regarding counterterrorism: and the importance of multilateral partnerships in the fight against counterterrorism.

The Conference concluded with the adoption of the Buenos Aires Declaration Against Terrorism, followed by a press conference.
In the margins of the Conference, delegations attended a memorial service in honour of victims of the attack on the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) which took place on 18th July, 1994 at its Headquarters.

While in Buenos Aries, the Hon. Darren A. Henfield also engaged in bilateral talks with the Hon. Michael R. Pompeo, US Secretary of State. Topics of interest discussed, inter-alia, included the situation in Venezuela, China’s engagement in the Region and U.S.-Caribbean economic and security cooperation in the context of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI)