NASSAU, Bahamas, June 9, 2021 – In a statement released today, former Bahamas Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Fred Mitchell said current Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield “has done nothing to maintain and or to improve the work of our diplomatic personnel abroad.”
Mr. Mitchell, who is the Opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, declared that Mr. Henfield’s contributions as Minister of Foreign Affairs to the 2021-2022 Budget in the House of Assembly on June 7, 2021 “proved to be devoid of vision, structure, and worst, the Minister demonstrated a lack of awareness of his role as minister and our country’s connect to global affairs.”
“Imagine that the Minister of Foreign Affairs lists as an accomplishment recalling diplomats from their posts overseas,” Mr. Mitchell said. “He boasted of opening an office in Brussels with the aim he said of stopping The Bahamas from being blacklisted by the European Union. The record shows that The Bahamas has been blacklisted twice since the office opened.”
Mr. Mitchell then added: “He of course forgot to mention the elephant in the room — the alleged cost over runs involved in opening the office for which there has been no public accountability.
“Consistent with this FNM government’s political lies and fear of transparency, the minister hinted at assisting over 500 Bahamians living abroad during challenges caused by Hurricane Dorian and the present pandemic. He offered no detailed specifics to counter the countless complaints levied by Bahamians who were stuck abroad and reportedly got no timely and or meaningful government support.”
Continuing his strongly worded criticism of Mr. Henfield’s performance generally since being elected to the House of Assembly, Mr. Michell said: “As the MP for North Abaco, Mr. Henfield’s performance has been equally disastrous as that of Foreign Affairs Minister. Once elected, he inherited arguably the fastest growing economy in the country. Bahamians were doing well in Abaco. Mr. Henfield wasted no time in supporting Prime Minister Minnis’ move to increase taxes on the people of Abaco and the wider Bahamas.”
Mr.Mitchell added: “Two years after Dorian, hundreds of Abaco residents remain homeless, jobless, and waiting on supplies. Still without a plan to have his constituents realize any meaningful relief and recovery, the failed North Abaco MP says he is waiting on the owners of Baker’s Bay to provide homes for his constituents.
“Darren Henfield rose to power on slick political lies, promises, and homeboy appeal. His Budget Contribution served as a sad reminder of how quickly he has forgotten where he came from.
“The country deserves better leadership on foreign affairs matters and North Abaco residents cannot wait to vote their lousy FNM MP out of office.”
Mr. Mitchell served as Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2017. He was widely acclaimed as a very efficient and effective Minister of Foreign Affairs.
