Photos: Kuwaiti Prime Minister Lands In Bermuda
At approximately 12pm today (Sept 13) the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and various other dignitaries from Kuwait arrived in Bermuda aboard a private jet.
The Bermuda-version of the red carpet was rolled out.
His Highness Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Prime Minister; His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; along with a delegation of 20, will briefly be on our shores for a private stop-over visit on the way to their final destination in Mexico.
Although a private car was made available for His Highness – he opted to take the bus along with his entourage. The delegation is expected to depart at 4pm today.
This marks the first time that dignitaries of this stature from the country of Kuwait have paid a visit to Bermuda. Deputy Governor, David Arkley and Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet Mrs. Judith Hall-Bean met His Highness and the delegation on their arrival at LF Wade International Airport.
While in Bermuda for their whirwind visit, the visitors will be taken on a guided tour which will be followed by a courtesy call at Government House where they will meet briefly with Acting Governor David Arkley and Premier Brown. Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, Marc Telemaque will also be in attendance.
The House of Al Sabah is the ruling family of Kuwait and has ruled there since 1752. The country is located between Iraq and Saudia Arabia along the Persian Gulf and is widely known as one of the world’s top exporters of oil; the fifth-biggest oil producer among OPEC members. In 1991, a Time Magazine article stated that the Al-Sabah family had an estimated wealth of $90 billion dollars, mainly from oil revenues.
In extending welcome on behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda, Premier Brown said, “Rarely has Bermuda had the opportunity to host leaders of prominence from the Middle East. I believe significance can be placed on our recent work in that jurisdiction with both the nations of India and Bahrain.
“In April of this year we signed the first Double Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the country of Bahrain. At that time the agreement was touted as a significant step forward in enhancing business ties and investment opportunities that will facilitate outreach to other countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
“I am pleased today, that in addition to extending the hand of friendship to His Highness and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, I can express my hope that this visit will be the first of many while building and solidifying the relationship between our country and the House of Al Sabah.”
Update 7:15pm: The Kuwaiti delegation has left the island, and the Cabinet Office released the statement below:
His Highness Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Prime Minister; His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; and a delegation of 20, spent a few hours on our shores, dubbing it a “tropical paradise
The delegation, who briefly touched down for a private stop-over visit on the way to their final destination of Mexico, took time to visit some of the more significant sites across the island – via a pink Bermuda bus – which included the Clocktower Mall in the Royal Naval Dockyard, from where the group made several purchases.
Some members of the delegation also managed to squeeze in a dip in the ocean off one of the South Shore beaches.
The House of Sabah is the ruling family of Kuwait and has ruled since 1752. This marks the first time that dignitaries of this stature from the country of Kuwait have paid a visit to Bermuda.
Following their brief tour of the island, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Acting Governor David Arkley and the Premier, Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, JP, MP at Government House.
Kuwait’s Prime Minister expressed his hope to return to Bermuda in the future and extended his hospitality to the Premier should he visit Kuwait.
Premier Brown said: “It was a pleasure meeting with His Highness and the Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait today. Our discussions were wide-ranging and I know they are encouraged by the possibility of building stronger relationships with our country.
“The Prime Minister expressed his enjoyment of the beauty of Bermuda and its people and said he looked forward to visiting us again.”
The visitors departed Bermuda at 5pm this afternoon.
I bet Bermuda customs didn’t’ bother searching the plane either just like any other private or person with some sort of status coming to the island. Just because their rich doesn’t mean they aren’t corrupt.
Very valid point Tim.
There is nothing in a Customs manuel that covers….I think they may be corrupt…..Plus I would say that they do have Diplomatic immunity and thats just the way it is. But thats another commercial which we shall talk about at a letter time.
Terry , ‘Manuel’ is one of your cousins .. the training book you refer to is a ‘Manual’
(yeah , I know it’s too late to worry about this stuff ….)
That’s ok. He’s held his Marine & Ports pilot’s license for 50 odd years but he doesn’t know when a “Pan-Pan” is warranted.
They tell me that Kuwait has good Turkish Hashish over there. They smoke it in water bongs called Hookahs. I wonder if he dropped off a few pounds and a couple of guns before he left? Just to keep the island going over the long winter months!