Fred Mitchell, the Foreign Minister, is heading the delegation for The Bahamas, representing the Prime Minister, at the commissioning ceremony for the  expansion of the Panama Canal in Panama City today. The canal extension is  the pride of a resurgent Panama and its vibrant economy.

According to the official website of the canal expansion, the Panama Canal expansion is based on six years of research, which included more than 100 studies on the economic feasibility, market demand, environmental impact and other technical engineering aspects. Works on the Panama Canal Expansion began on September 2007 at a total cost of US$5.2 billion.

Mr. Mitchell said that an invitation was extended by the Government of Panama to all the countries in the hemisphere to attend this important commercial venture which has important implications for the Freeport Container Port and the business which flows through it. He said that the larger ships which will be able to pass through the canal, will potentially bring more goods through The Bahamas, particularly through Freeport.

"In addition," he said, "the Government of Panama wanted all CARICOM countries to be  represented at the commissioning because many Caribbean nationals including Bahamians helped to build the original canal back in 1913."

Source: Bahamas Information Services