CARICOM SG congratulates new Bahamas leader

The CARICOM Secretary-General has congratulated the new prime minister of The Bahamas, expressing hope of an early meeting with him.

Irwin LaRocque is looking to brief Hubert Minnis – whose Free National Movement party won by a landslide last week – on matters relating to the organisation as well as The Bahamas’s tourism portfolio. [caption id="attachment_1599" align="alignleft" width="300"] Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of CARICOM.[/caption]

Writing in his congratulatory letter to Minnis, LaRocque said: “I look forward, Prime Minister, to the fresh ideas that you will undoubtedly bring to assist in the progress of our integration process."

He also gave the assurance of his full support and that of the CARICOM Secretariat as the prime minister seeks to enhance the lives of the people of The Bahamas during his term of office.

Minnis ousted the Progressive Liberal Party from government on 10 May, winning 35 of the 39 seats available.

“The sweeping success as evidenced by the margin of victory, reflects the level of confidence that the people of The Bahamas have in your leadership and in the programmes of your party”, LaRocque’s letter added.

And the secretary-general was quick to point out that the conduct of the polls demonstrated the commitment of CARICOM member states to “the democratic tenet of free and fair elections”.

CARICOM provided an eleven-member electoral observation mission to monitor the process in the run-up to the election, as well as on the day people went to the polls.