The Bahamas and Haiti agreed to stronger cooperation in the area of law enforcement to fight against orgainisers of illegal migration during bi lateral talks yesterday in Haiti.

Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell co-chaired the meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with Haitian Foreign Affairs Minister Piere-Richard Casimir where they addressed issues of migration, strengthening bilateral relations and economic cooperation.

The parties made several agreements including implementing the use of public relations and education campaigns to dissuade persons desiring to migrate to The Bahamas and establishing a Consulate in the Northern Part of Haiti.

Additionally, the two countries agreed to facilitating cooperation in the area of law enforcement to fight against organisers of illegal migration.

The countries will also work towards encouraging economic and technical cooperation between the governments of the two countries as a means to stem the flow of persons seeking to migrate illegally;

The two governments have also agreed to work towards concluding the pending bilateral agreements within 60 days.
The countries also reiterated their commitment to strengthening the relationship and cooperation between the two Countries.

Other Officials in attendance at the meeting included Jean Renel Sanon, minister of Justice and Public Safety of the Republic of Haiti; Lucien Francoeur, Secretary General of the Office of the Prime Minister in Haiti and Keith Bell, minister of State in the Ministry of National Security in The Bahamas.

The next bilateral meeting will be held in The Bahamas in the near future.