Mrs. Cleola Hamilton, Parliamentary Secretary in The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration,

Permanent Secretary, Mr. Philip Miller,

Your Excellency Picewell Forbes, Bahamas Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community,

Members of The Diplomatic Corps,

Your Excellency Dr. Elwood Donaldson, Bahamas Ambassador-Designate to Japan,

Mr. Robert Sands, Bahamas Honourary Consul to Japan,

Members of The Honourary Counsul Corps,

Staff of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Evening.

The Bahamas established diplomatic relations with Japan on 11th March 1975. At the Fifteenth Consultation of CARICOM and Japan Senior Officials that was held during July 2012, it was agreed that the year 2014 would be recognized as CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year.

Both sides agreed that events and activities would be arranged to celebrate the twenty years that have passed since the first CARICOM-Japan Consultation of 1993.

It is therefore my honour and privilege ladies and gentlemen, to welcome you to the Bahamas' Taste CARICOM-Japan Reception.

In the region, some of the events being organized to commemorate the 2014 CARICOM Friendship year include: Televised panel discussions; Media campaigns on Japanese culture; Visits by CARCIOM leaders to Japan; Diplomatic training programmes for Caribbean Diplomats; Exhibitions with the Japan Alumni Association; The hosting of receptions; Smart energy and disaster risk seminars; The creation of memorabilia; and Collaborative initiatives with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

In The Bahamas, I am pleased to report that in addition to the hosting of this Taste CARICOM-JAPAN Reception, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will be launching an essay & Art competition for high school students in grades 10 through 12.

CARICOM-JAPAN relations will be further strengthened next week through the convening of the Fourth CARICOM-Japan Ministerial Meeting that will take place 14th - 15th November 2014 in Tokyo. His Excellency Picewell Forbes will head The Bahamas delegation to Tokyo.

The Bahamas is proud to announce that His Excellency Dr. Elwood Donaldson, The Bahamas Ambassador-Designate to Japan will present His Letters of Credence to the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Akitaka Saiki on 13th November 2014 in Tokyo.

It is anticipated that the Fourth CARICOM-JAPAN Ministerial Meeting will provide the opportunity to assess the progress of implementation of the Japan-CARICOM Partnership Programme. This programme 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; environment and climate change; Promotion of human security; and dialogues and exchanges between Japan and CARICOM.

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.

Therefore we salute our global partner, Japan, for graciously offering to host and facilitate Caribbean leaders in Tokyo next week at a critical juncture in the global Post-2015 Development deliberation.

I also wish to express appreciation, in absentia, to trhe Embassy of Japan in Jamaica for their unstinting support and assistance rendered to The Bahamas delegation who is preparing to travel to Tokyo.

On behalf of The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I wish to congratulate the CARCIOM Body on the celebration of the CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year.

May God continue to bless the Government and peoples of the Government of the Caribbean Community.

May God continue to bless the Government and Peoples of Japan.