By KHASHAN POITIER

Guardian Staff Reporter

Sunday's planned state visit of South African President Thabo Mbeki has highlighted the fact that The Bahamas and Bermuda are the only countries in the region where the prime ministers are without official residences to host such events.

However, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said on Monday that the Ministry of Works has assessed several properties being offered for sale with a view to providing an official prime minister's residence.

He said that some of the requirements were that a site selected be large enough to build a convention centre and protocol facilities. He also noted that developed properties, some in the western district, have "great" houses that were built in the late 19th and early 20th Century.

While no formal decisions have been made, Mr. Mitchell said, "The prime minister (Perry Christie) would like to leave the situation, when he leaves office, for it to be possible for his successors to have the opportunity to live in a state-provided house, if he wants to do so."

Lack of consensus

According to Mr Mitchell, "The difficulty in The Bahamas is that one has to have some degree of consensus on this, because, usually Opposition parties find this good fodder for attacking governance as an extravagance, but it's clear that these are institutional measures, which have to be taken as part of being a state. So, it's important for us to deal with that."

Next week, Mr. Christie will host South African president Thabo Mbeki, his wife and Foreign minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in Nassaul and Grand Bahama for four days.

During that time, the delegates will attend state dinners and other private receptions at mostly hotels.

".... Visits of this kind really show the importance of The Bahamas having some kind of official guest, or state house, because all of the venues where we have large gatherings require us going to the private sector in order to host these venues," Mr. Mitchell advised.

'Restricted' state dinner

Mr. Mitchell pointed out that a state dinner planned in Mr Mbeki's honour next Tuesday will take place at Government House, which cannot accommodate a huge gathering.

"We would have wanted for the state dinner to be held at some Government-state house," he said, "but as you know, the prime minister does not have an official residence and there is no government protocol house."

He said that all the Caribbean countries had such a facility, including Bermuda.

Property 'set aside'

Mr Mitchell said that The Bahamas' first prime minister, Sir Lynden Pindling tried to convert his home into an official residence, but the idea never bore fruit.

At that time, he said, about eight acres of land were "set aside" by the government to construct an official residence, with the property still being reserved.

"I suppose these things will come along, but it shows the general importance of having those venues available to us," Mr. Mitchell noted.

"People can occupy an office and not be persons of means, but that should not be a deterrent for someone serving in office," he said. "The fact is you have visitors coming in from time to time and there ought to be an official place where those visitors can be hosted.

"After 30 years of Independence, it's time we move in that direction."

International perspectives

In accordance with the Official Residences Act, the Government of Canada provides official residences for the Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, and the Speaker of the House of Commons.

The tradition of providing British prime ministers with official residences started after King George II, as a courtesy to then-First Lord of the Treasury, Robert Walpole, provided him with the No 10 Downing Street address.

Mr Walpole later went on to become prime minister.

Windsor Castle is one of three official residences of Queen Elizabeth, and home to British kings and queens for over 900 years. It is said that no other royal residence has played such an important role in the nation's history.

Caption: OFFICIAL VISIT ANNOUNCED - Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell is shown on Monday briefing the press on Sunday's planned state visit of Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa. Photo by Farreno Ferguson

Posted: Tuesday December 23,2003