    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 20, 2008]
    [Pages 408-409]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Hubert
    Ingraham of the Bahamas, Prime Minister
    David Thompson of Barbados, and Prime
    Minister Dean Barrow of Belize
    March 20, 2008

        President Bush. Secretary Rice and I
    have had the pleasure of welcoming three of our neighbors--
    neighborhood's strong leaders: Prime Ministers of the Bahamas, Barbados,
    and Belize.
        And we had a discussion like you would expect neighbors to have: How
    do we work together for our mutual benefit? We talked about trade and
    tourism. We talked about how to make sure that our security needs are
    met without interrupting the ability for our people to travel as freely
    as possible, and for the ability of people to be able to make a good
    living as a result of tourism.
        We talked about the region. I assured the leaders that the
    neighborhood is important to the United States of America. We oftentimes
    are talked about in dealing with the Middle East or dealing on the
    continent of Africa. But it was important for these leaders to know that
    we believe that a good, strong, healthy, vibrant neighborhood is in the
    interests of the United States. And so we had a good, friendly,
    important discussion, and I can't thank the leaders enough for coming. I
    appreciate very much for you being here--two of whom have just recently
    won elections--good, fair, clean elections.
        And I reminded them that there's no stronger advocate for democracy
    than my administration. And I admire the fact that you agreed to run,
    had the courage of your convictions, and took your message to the
    people. And then, of course, there's the old senior man here who's been
    around

    [[Page 409]]

    quite a while. [Laughter] You've seen a lot come and go. And so, Mr.
    Prime Minister, why don't you say a few remarks, if you don't mind.
        Prime Minister Ingraham. Thank you, Mr. President. We've had a
    wonderful discussion this morning. We're very pleased and grateful that
    the U.S. President invited us to come. We have discussed with him a
    number of issues of relevance and concern to ourselves, including the
    desire on our part to have the Caribbean Basin Initiative act extended.
    We learned it expires in September of this year. We talked about
    tourism, the impact that the current increase in the price of oil is
    having on travel. We talked about security and democracy.
        And my two colleagues, who are recent Prime Ministers, David
    Thompson of Barbados and Dean Barrow of Belize, were able to engage in a
    full, frank discussion. As for myself, this is my fourth time to have
    been so fortunate to have come to this place. Thank you, Mr. President.
        President Bush. Yes, sir. Thank you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:29 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House.