Bahamas News
Bahamas PM Minnis to address Third CEO Summit of the Americas
The CEO Summit, which will precede the two-day, Eighth Summit of the Americas, is the most important business forum of the Americas. Leading CEOs and Heads of State from the region assemble to analyze opportunities to promote economic growth and investment through unprecedented public-private interaction under the Americas Business Dialogue mechanism.
The Americas Business Dialogue mechanism is a private-sector driven initiative facilitated by the Inter-American Development Bank intended to foster a high-level and open policy dialogue among the most important business leaders on the region’s priorities, challenges and opportunities for social and economic development.
Prime Minister Minnis will be among dozens of Western Hemispheric leaders assembled in Lima for the Eighth Summit of Americas which takes place April 13-14 under the theme: “Democratic Governance Against Corruption.”
The Summits of the Americas are institutionalized gatherings of Heads of State and Governments of the Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS) where leaders discuss common policy issues, affirm shared values and commit to concerted actions at the national and regional level to address continuing and new challenges faced by countries in the Americas.
Prime Minister Minnis will be attending his first Summit of the Americas as Head of Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Press Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Anthony Newbold, said during his Press Briefing Tuesday that the summit – held every three years – allows hemispheric leaders to address a number of topical issues.
Mr. Newbold said the summit’s theme and three identified themes of the Lima Commitment – Democratic Governance and Corruption; Corruption and Sustainable Development, and Corruption, International Institutions and Public/Private Partnerships – are of particular interest to Prime Minister Minnis.
“This is particularly important to the Prime Minister, and the Summit is viewed as presenting a unique opportunity for Member States to hold fruitful dialogue on the progress, achievements and limitations of the Inter-American system against corruption,” Mr. Newbold said.
“In particular, the dialogue will seek to promote concrete reforms to bolster this system. Therefore, the focus of the discussion will be on creating bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to enable the region to adequately tackle the problem.”
The Lima Commitment, which is to be adopted at the conclusion of the Eighth Summit of the Americas, is expected to lay the parameters as to how the countries of the hemisphere will address this important topic over the next three years leading into the Ninth Summit of the Americas.
By: Matt Maura (BIS)