Bahamas donates to OAS programmes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The government of The Bahamas last week presented monetary contributions towards a variety of Organization of American States (OAS) programmes to promote democracy and peace and combat illicit drugs and firearms trafficking, as well as corruption and terrorism, in the nations of the Americas.

Ambassador Joshua Sears, the Bahamian Permanent Representative to the OAS, delivered checks totalling $30,000 to OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin on Tuesday, July 18.

The programmes to benefit from this special contribution are the OAS Special Mission in Haiti; the Belize-Guatemala Peace Fund; the Colombia Peace Fund; the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) to measure progress in fighting illicit drugs; the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE); and initiatives related to the Inter-American Convention against Corruption and the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials.

This Bahamian contribution "is really a reaffirmation of the support for the work of the Organization of American States," Ambassador Sears declared on delivering the checks at OAS headquarters.

He restated his country's commitment to continue working along with the other member states on projects that enhance the quality of life for the people of the Americas.

Noting the valuable work being undertaken by CICTE, Sears made reference to its assistance with efforts related to World Cup Cricket in the Caribbean next year. He noted too that the OAS Colombia project is well worth the effort in terms of its long-term value to peace and reconciliation in that country.

In thanking the government and people of The Bahamas, Assistant Secretary General Ramdin cited the donation as a clear example of how small countries can be big in terms of their capacity to assist. Ramdin said the OAS is gratified by the commitment to the process in Haiti and for all the beneficiary programmes, which he described as "key areas for the OAS" as he noted how these programmes are precisely ones that can help an organization establish a record.

Besides OAS Permanent Council Chairman Ambas-sador Henry Illes of Suriname, others on hand for the ceremony included heads of departments designated to benefit from the Bahamian gift.

© 2006 The Freeport News