By DANA SMITH

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell attended the Global Diaspora Conference in South Africa on Thursday where he outlined ties between that country and the Bahamas and said Bahamians “feel at home” in Africa.

Accompanied by former Education Minister Alfred Sears and Foreign Service Officer Frank Davis, Mr Mitchell noted his visit to the country was one of many he has made in the past.

“I return to this country with a great deal of personal fondness, having first come here as a Commonwealth Observer in 1992 and again in 1994, and as minister several times in the period that I served in this office from 2002 to 2007,” he said.

Mr Mitchell made note of South African politicians who have visited the Bahamas, such as former President Thabo Mkbeki and former Foreign Minister Nkosasana Dlami Zuma in 2003, as well as Science and Technology Minister Nolini Pandor in 2007.

He also extended an invitation to current President Jacob Zuma to visit the Bahamas.

“Our prime minister has asked me to say that our country would be pleased to host a visit by you, Mr President, to our country at a time which is convenient to your Excellency,” Mr Mitchell said.

“I have taken some time to outline the specific links between the Bahamas and South Africa. As I speak, there are several Bahamian doctors in this country learning their specialties. I thank the government and people of South Africa for this.”

In addition, there are more ties “of kinship and ethnicity” between the Bahamas and other African countries, mainly in the west and central part of the continent, he said

“We who have visited the continent even to this very day marvel as we walk around and see the people who look just like our friends and family at home,” Mr Mitchell said. “The point is, we feel at home here.

“The government and people of The Bahamas supports the effort to convene this Diaspora Conference. Indeed, The Bahamas has participated in all aspects of this effort since it began some seven years ago.”

The Minister voiced his approval of plans discussed at the conference “especially” ones concerning “the call to action” in the investment in education.

“In education, the Bahamas government has pledged over the next five years to double its investment in education. Education is the key to success in so many areas. It is important in eliminating poverty,” he said.

“The Bahamas will assist in every way that it can to forge a consensus on these plans of action, to help to execute the plans and to ensure that the message is disseminated through public education at home.”

Mr Mitchell ended his speech by again noting the “valuable contacts” the Bahamas has made in South Africa.

“This is of particular importance to me because I represent Fox Hill in Nassau, which is one of the remaining villages of people of African descent made up of those who were never enslaved; the village was established as a result of the abolition of the slave trade and people freed on the high seas were set down in Fox Hill where they live today,” he said.

“I am, therefore, proud to represent them here today. They are proud of their African heritage and mark the occasion every year on the first Monday in August and again on the second Tuesday in August as Fox Hill Day.”