The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a new appointment to the diplomatic corps: Ambassador-Designate to Japan Dr. Elwood Donaldson will present his letters of credence to Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Akitaka Saiki today in Tokyo, as member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) gather in Tokyo for the fourth CARICOM-Japan Ministerial Meeting that will take later this week.
Donaldson, who currently serves as Bahamas ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will function as non-resident ambassador to Japan.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said recently that the ministerial meeting would provide an opportunity to assess the progress of implementation of the Japan-CARICOM Partnership Programme.
"This program emanated from the framework outcome document entitled, 'Partnership for Peace, Development and Prosperity between Japan and the member states of the Caribbean community'. Under the CARICOM-JAPAN Partnership Programme, focus is directed to the thematic issues of integration into the global economy; the environment and climate change; the promotion of human security; and dialogues and exchanges between Japan and CARICOM," Mitchell said.
"The Bahamas, like the rest of CARICOM, looks forward to engaging with Japan, the third largest economy in the world by nominal GDP standards. We believe that Japan's intervention in international fora can demonstrate its interest in the sustainable development of CARICOM member states. As the world prepares to look at the post-2015 development agenda, it is crucial that the unique agenda and particular vulnerabilities and challenges to the sustainable growth and development of small island developing states are taken into account," he said.
Mitchell was speaking at the Bahamas' Taste CARICOM-Japan Reception held last week.
The Bahamas established diplomatic relations with Japan on March 11, 1975.

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