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OAS secretary general visits Bahamas By JASMIN BONIMY ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ jasmin@nasguard.com: A high-ranking Organization of American States (OAS) official yesterday visited government officials and announced his plans to place regional tourism high on the organization's agenda. Secretary General of the OAS Jose Miguel Insulza, who is seeking re-election in February, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Brent Symonette at the Cabinet Office. "Tourism is a concern also and very much related to trade," said Insulza. "Many of our member countries around the Caribbean basin and Central America live off of tourism as one of their main industries. We have to deal with the issues that are really affecting the countries. With tourism, I would say we need to assist the stability of tourism with a much more continued flow of tourism to the region." Insulza added that he also plans to highlight trade in the region to help boost communication among OAS states. The Bahamas joined the OAS in 1982, as the 31st member state. "I think that we need to restart the discussions on some economic matters," he said. "Trade has been paralyzed for a long time. I am not calling at this moment for the reinstatement of the FTAA [Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement] discussions, but we have to find ways to improve and increase trade relations." Insulza's visit to New Providence yesterday marked his first trip to The Bahamas. He said that while it was not a trip designated for campaigning, he hoped to visit as many OAS member states as possible. "Over the past five years that I have been the secretary general, I think I have traveled over a million miles," he said. Insulza's five-year term is expected to end in May of next year. However, he said he is seeking re-election to the post in February in which 34 member states are expected to vote. Symonette said he has worked closely with Insulza for the past two and-a-half years and added that Caribbean Community members recently met to endorse his candidacy. "It's a pleasure to have welcomed the secretary general to The Bahamas today," said Symonette. "The OAS is a very important organization to The Bahamas. We will continue to play a vital role to the organization and we look forward to continued cooperation with the secretary general in his next term. As we heard, he is up for re-election and CARICOM nations have endorsed his candidacy. "The secretary general as you've heard has stated that he plans to put tourism on the agenda. I think at the recent CARICOM foreign ministers meeting we made sure to insist that he follows through on that campaign promise to make sure tourism is a full and valuable position of the OAS." During his visit yesterday, Insulza also met with Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Governor General Arthur Hanna. Saturday, October 17, 2009