WASHINGTON, D.C. — A wide range of Bahamian and hemispheric issues were discussed recently when His Excellency Wendall Jones, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, met with Mrs. Barbara A. Feinstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and Mr. Russell K. Brooks, Desk Officer for Jamaica and The Bahamas at the U.S. Department of State.
During the meeting, DAS Feinstein thanked The Bahamas for its support regarding sanctions imposed against Russia and expressed appreciation for The Bahamas’ participation in the U.S. Congressional Visit to The Bahamas, which took place from April 22-26, 2022, and the IX Summit of the Americas, which is scheduled to be held in the Los Angeles, California, June 6-10, 2022.
Other matters of mutual interest — including security, climate change and concessional financing –were discussed.
Ambassador Jones also took the opportunity to acknowledge the vital role that the U.S. government played in assisting The Bahamas’ relief efforts after the passage of Hurricane Dorian. He noted the progress that the most affected islands — Abaco and Grand Bahama — have made since Dorian, but also expressed the urgent need for funding assistance to help rebuild important infrastructure, specifically Grand Bahama’s International Airport and The Rand Memorial Hospital.
Both officials confirmed that the need for funding for infrastructure had been previously raised by Prime Minister Philip Davis and Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell and advised that the U.S. will look into the matter.
DAS Feinstein reiterated the United States’ commitment to strengthening its friendly relationship with The Bahamas, a valued strategic partner.
