2013-01-19 PM Remarks at Plague Unvieling of J F KEnnedy Monument

7/29/2019 2013-01-19 PM Remarks at Plague Unvieling of J F KEnnedy Monument

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REMARKSBY THE PRIME MINISTER

THE RT. HON. PERRY CHRISTIEAT THE

UNVEILING OF A PLAQUE COMMEMORATING

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE VISIT OF

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

TO THE BAHAMASSATURDAY 19TH JANUARY, 2013

Protocol having observed, I wish to welcome you all to this ceremony to

unveil yet another plaque commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the

historic visit of President John F. Kennedy in 1962.

On 21 December 2012, on this very spot, we celebrated the legacy of

President John F. Kennedy, the only sitting American President to visit The

Bahamas in an official capacity. Today, one month later, we return to this

historic site to continue those celebrations, on this occasion however, with

the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to

whom I wish to extend personal greetings and a warm welcome to The

Bahamas.


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President John F. Kennedy has been lauded for his visionary leadership

both in the USA and on the international stage. He is to be remembered for

the advancement of civil rights as he continually fought against

discrimination and inequality among peoples, and indeed this was a

remarkable stance for a President during that period.

Notwithstanding that his visit had an overt militaristic tone with the

discussion being the establishment of a nuclear missile system with the

British to counter the mounting Soviet threat, fifty years later we can saythat his strong stance was one of the pillars of lasting peace among

nuclear powers.

This peace, though fragile, formed the foundation of social, economic and

intellectual development throughout the world, leading to enhanced

opportunities for all peoples in the Western world, and the spread of

democracy throughout the Americas.

The President was one of the key initiators of this new technological age,

as he provided both political and financial support to the development of

information technology and the Space Age. This scientific explosion led to

the creation of the International Space Station, and to various inventions

used in medicine, communications, transportation, and even in our homes.

Since our Independence in 1973, we have witnessed, and welcomed, the

further growth and deepening of relations between the United States of


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America and The Bahamas, both bilaterally and in the international fora.

The Bahamas has been the beneficiary, of among other things, OPBAT, a

collaborative effort in national security between United States, The

Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands; the Atlantic Undersea Test and

Evaluation Center (AUTEC) used for advanced research; and the United

States pre-clearance customs and immigration facility.

We are all aware that most of our students pursue tertiary education in the

United States, and most Bahamians who take vacation abroad, do so, in

the United States. The Family Islands are also recipients of the generosity

of winter residents from the United States.

Today begins another chapter in the development of solid, mutually

beneficial relations between our two Countries. The visit of Robert F.

Kennedy Jr., a passionate activist and environmentalist, to The Bahamas is

especially significant, as he is able to join in the celebrations of the legacyof his late uncle.

Recognizing the challenges of environmental issues in our two Countries, I

wish to applaud your laudable efforts, Mr. Kennedy, toward the

conservation of natural resources and ensuring a clean and safe

environment for future generations, particularly in the marine environment.

All of mankind are trustees and stewarts of the environment globally not

only for ourselves but also for generations yet unborn.


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Indeed, I am advised that many countries are now seeking to incorporate

basic environmental protections into their national constitutions as part of

the menu of fundamental rights and freedoms. Whether we go that far or

not, however, the basic fact remains that as stewarts and trustees of this

planet we must all positively respond to the imperative of doing all that we

can to protect our planet against environmental destruction or degradation.

This applies not only to the land upon which we walk but the seas in which

we swim and in which all manner of marine life depend for their

sustenance and life.

Bobby Kennedy by his own life and example is a role model of what it

means to be a front line soldier in the cause of environmental protection.

And he brilliantly demonstrated this in our own country when almost 12

years ago he volunteered for frontline service in the popular struggle to

save Clifton from commercial devastation.

I want to recall his role in that struggle and to publically thank him for the

part that he played in helping to stop what the former Government had

proposed for that most scared of all spaces on this Island.

This also demonstrates how important it is for the citizens of the world to

look beyond their own national boundaries as Bobby Kennedy did in 2001

to help to promote the cause of environmental and cultural preservation

which are so critical to the perpetuation of life on this planet.


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It is sincerely hoped that this visit for you is one of many to our islands,

and this very historic site.

I wish also to pay tribute at this time to your late father a tireless fighter

himself for the rights of men and women who was tragically gunned down,

within months of the death of another drum major for freedom the late Dr.

Martin Luther King whose birthday will be marked on Monday. I pay my

respects to them both and to their life's work. In this our fortieth

anniversary of our Independence, I am pleased to be able to attend on this

occasion.

May these trees planted here just one month ago along with these

plaques, continue to remind us of the significance of the visit of President

John F. Kennedy, his spirit, vision, and his legacy.

May God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and may God bless

the United States of America.

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2013-01-19 PM Remarks at Plague Unvieling of J F KEnnedy Monument