[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 11 (Monday, March 24, 2008)]
[Pages 413-414]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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: the 
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 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.

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