NASSAU, Bahamas — United States Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts said yesterday she is “sad” about the 11-year absence of a US ambassador in The Bahamas, adding that officials hope the current nominee will be in The Bahamas “sooner rather than later”,” The Nassau Guardian reported on Thursday, April 6, in an aarticle written by Jared Higgs.
“It’s not what we want, particularly for a solid ally. We want an ambassador down here that reflects the relationship,” said Pitts on the sidelines of a press tour of the US Embassy building that is currently under construction on East Street and Shirley Street.
“I think we are all sad that it hasn’t happened, but we are hopeful. We hope to see him down here sooner rather than later.”
Back in May 2022, US President Joe Biden announced Calvin Smyre as his nominee for the ambassador role in The Bahamas.
“Lots of plans. We just have to get him here,” said Pitts, when asked about the status of his nomination. “That’s sort of mired in the American political process. We have a nominee … but he has to be confirmed by the Senate and until that happens, we can’t put him down here.”
The last US ambassador to serve in The Bahamas was Nicole Avant, who left the post in 2011. Since then, a number of chargé d’affaires have been appointed.
Despite several ambassador nominees being put forward by various US presidents, none have been confirmed to the post.
Some officials in the top brass of the US military have suggested that the lack of a US ambassador has allowed China to expand its influence in The Bahamas.
Commander of US Northern Command General Glen VanHerck, who has repeatedly expressed concern over China’s influence in The Bahamas, has said appointing a US ambassador in the country would “vastly help”.
See complete article in The Nassau Guardian at https://thenassauguardian.com/pitts-hopeful-bahamas-will-soon-get-us-ambassador/
