Bahamas Mission to the United Nations Office and other Int Orgs in Geneva

The Permanent Mission of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva (the Mission) wishes to advise the public that the Mission will be closed on Monday 5 August, 2024 in observance of the Emancipation Day Holiday in The Bahamas. Normal hours will resume on Tuesday 6 August, 2024.

For the period 9 to 17 July 2024, The Bahamas is participating in the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, 65th Series of Meetings at the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Held once per year, the annual assemblies are the main decision making body of the organization where members discuss and make decisions regarding the policy priorities and direction of the organization and unions of the various international treaties for the upcoming year.

As The Bahamas enhances and expands its domestic IP framework, support and coordination with WIPO will continue to be an invaluable part of the process. Recognizing this partnership, Mrs. Camille Gomez-Jones, Registrar General presented Mr. Daren Tang, WIPO Director General with a Bahamian rum cake and bag embossed with the Bahamian flag.

During the sessions, The Bahamas is being represented by H. E. Ambassador Ms. Patricia Hermanns; Mrs. Camille Gomez-Jones, Registrar General and Mr. Kemie Jones, Trade Attache.



Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Commonwealth of The BahamasWorld Intellectual Property Organization

The Permanent Mission of The Bahamas in Geneva will be closed on 10 July 2024 in celebration of the anniversary of 51 years of independence. Happy birthday Bahamas!

On 2 July 2024, the Minister of Economic Affairs, Senator the Honourable Michael B. Halkitis, met with the Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Mr. Pedro Moreno in Geneva in the margins of the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) European landfall events. During the meeting, the Minister raised matters of priority for The Bahamas, including increased participation of The Bahamas in UN trade activities to strengthen the capacity of Bahamian businesses to be competitive in international trade.

During the meeting, the Minister presented the Deputy Secretary-General with a copy of a Bahamian 50th anniversary commemorative book.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trade and Development

On 1 July 2024, the Minister of Economic Affairs, Senator the Honourable Michael B. Halkitis, met with the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton in Geneva in the margins of the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) European landfall events. During the meeting, the Minister raised matters of priority for The Bahamas, including the need for continued support in building capacity for Bahamian businesses to be competitive in international trade.

During the meeting, the Minister presented the Executive Director with a copy of the Bahamian 50th anniversary commemorative book.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas International Trade Centre

From 27 – 31 May 2024, staff of Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), government and The Bahamas Mission in Geneva participated in the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) and Artificial Intelligence for Good (AIG) here in Geneva.

During the week, members of the delegation attended sessions covering a variety of topics including: technology in education, health, sustainable development, digital governance, artificial intelligence policy, development of e-services, etc. Additionally, represented by Ms. Carol Roache, the Chair of the Internet Governance Forum’s (IGF) Multisector Advisory Group (MAG), The Bahamas chair/participated in several panel discussion on matters such as: forging partnerships and building a multistakeholder digital future.

The Bahamas was also proud having one of its delegation to have participated in the 1st edition of the Women in GovTech Challenge 2023-24. Delegation member Michelle Grell-Bereaux and other members of her team from El Salvador and Zimbabwe developed a digital service prototype "Receive Healthcare Service". This project is one of the top three outstanding projects presented at the event. This Challenge brought together 139 women working in Digital Government Teams and Mentors from the Global GovTech Ecosystem, representing 59 countries.

With the annual events having closed, the country better equipped to participate in rapidly changing world of ICT.

WSIS serves as an annual multistakeholder forum to take stock of the achievements, trends, challenges and opportunities identified in the 2003 Geneva Plan of Action translated via the WSIS mechanism into concrete action lines to advance the achievement of internationally agreed development goals by promoting the use of ICT-based products, networks, services and applications, and to help countries overcome the digital divide.

AI for Good is presented as a year round digital platform where AI innovators and problem owners learn, build and connect to help identify practical AI solutions to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. AI for Good is organized by ITU in partnership with 40 UN Sister Agencies and co-convened with Switzerland.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas ITU

In celebration of Labour Day in The Bahamas, the Permanent Mission will be closed on Friday 7 June 2024. Normal hours resume on Monday 10 June 2024.