Speeches

Remarks following presentation of credentials by Ned L. Siegel the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America 

Government House

Nassau, The Bahamas

November 14, 2007

 

Your Excellency,

It is a great honor for me to present to you today the letter from the President of the United States George W. Bush accrediting me as Ambassador of the United States of America to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.  I would also like to present the letter recalling my predecessor, Ambassador John Darrell Rood.

I have had the opportunity to visit the Bahamas many times, and I have always considered The Bahamas a special place.  My family and I have many fond memories of the Bahamas, and I am honored and humbled to stand here today as Ambassador.

Your Excellency, the United States and The Bahamas enjoy a close and productive bilateral partnership rooted in the many direct ties between our people.  The Bahamian and American people share a commitment to the values of democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.  It is these values, together with our common interests and geographic proximity,  that make The Bahamas one of our closest operational partners in the Western Hemisphere.

 

During my tenure as Ambassador, I look forward to working with the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to further strengthen our relations and expand our common efforts in many areas: 

• Combating illegal drugs and illegal migration;
• Defending human rights and advancing democracy;
• Enhancing our joint efforts against terrorism;
• and building prosperity and security for our peoples. 

I will work to ensure that Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos, which is one of the most successful counter-drug operations in the world, retains its full capabilities.  My Embassy will also continue to support the operational partnership between the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and the U. S. Coast Guard to deter the illegal migration, which, in fact, affects both of our countries. 

Your Excellency, our cooperation is vital to defeating the terrorists and preventing weapons proliferation.  The United States and The Bahamas took important steps in the past two years by establishing the Megaports and Container Security Initiative programs in Freeport.  To expand our joint efforts to combat the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, we look forward to finalizing a Proliferation Security Initiative Ship Boarding Agreement. 

Your Excellency, one of the most effective ways to ensure security and stability in our Hemisphere is to promote economic prosperity, development and opportunity.  I bring to my service as Ambassador a lifetime of experience in business.  I intend to draw on my business expertise to promote expanded trade and investment between our countries. 

Our economic partnerships are, of course, rooted in the extensive tourism and business travel that occurs each year between The Bahamas and the United States.  To support this flow of people and ideas, I will ensure that my Embassy's Consular Section provides first-rate visa services for Bahamians and vital assistance to U.S. Citizens.  

Your Excellency the United States and The Bahamas share a love of freedom, longstanding democratic traditions and respect for human rights.  Only by standing together for democracy and against human rights abuses around the world, do we ensure that the rights that our people cherish are shared by others.

While we join forces to build a better world, I also look forward to working together right here to build a better future for the Bahamian people.  Our Embassy has been working to promote literacy and a love of reading for over three years. 

My wife Stephanie especially looks forward to continuing this very successful program and exploring new ways to support education.  I also hope to foster new connections between Bahamians and American universities.  My Embassy will remain an active civic partner in The Bahamas -- working with you to protect the environment, support the less fortunate, and inspire the youth.     

Your Excellency, the United States Embassy is more than just a bridge between our two governments.  It is also a bridge between our people and societies.  I intend to use my time in your beautiful and blessed country to build many new bridges between our governments and our people.  

That is why President Bush asked me to represent him and the American people in The Bahamas.  He knows that our relationship with The Bahamas is strong and vibrant.  But the President and Secretary Rice also know that we can do even more together.  Today, in beginning my tenure as the 12th Ambassador of the United States of American to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I commit myself to deepening this extraordinary partnership of shared purpose and common values. 

Your Excellency, our relationship can only get "better in The Bahamas."   

 

Thank you.