The Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Fred Mitchell said the Ministry has completed the Foreign Service Orders, which are expected to soon be gazetted as Orders made pursuant to the Foreign Service Act, 2025.
“This achievement marks a major milestone in the long-standing effort to modernise the legal, administrative, and operational framework governing The Bahamas’ Foreign Service,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said during a press conference at the Ministry on Monday, April 27, 2026.
He explained that the Foreign Service Orders give full regulatory effect to the Foreign Service Act, 2025, providing detailed provisions governing appointments, postings, discipline, promotions, and the overall administration and management of the restructured Department of Foreign Affairs as well as the Foreign Service personnel.
The Minister said together, the Act and its Orders establish a modern and coherent framework aligned with international best practices while responding to the evolving diplomatic, consular, and strategic needs of The Bahamas.
He noted that the completion of the Orders follows several years of sustained technical work, consultation, and policy development, culminating in a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework designed to strengthen professionalism, accountability, transparency, and career development within the Foreign Service.
“In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its sincere appreciation to the Law Reform Commission for its critical role in advancing the legislative and regulatory process, and to Justices Dame Anita Allen and Rhoda Bain for their guidance, rigour, expertise, and unwavering commitment, which were instrumental to the development, refinement, and successful completion of the Foreign Service Orders.
“Together with dedicated Foreign Service Officers, some of whom previously served on the Foreign Service Committee, these collective efforts were pivotal in bringing this important reform initiative to completion.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister said in accordance with the provisions of the Foreign Service Act, 2025, the Foreign Service Committee was reconstituted with effect from July 1, 2025, to support the administration of the Foreign Service under the new statutory and regulatory regime.
The Committee is chaired by Mr. Philip Miller, former Permanent Secretary, and comprises the following members: Jamal Davis, Sandra Carey, Carlton Wright, Director General Jerusa Ali, Simone Bowe and Nirval Miller.
He said the Ministry also acknowledges and thanks the former members of the Foreign Service Committee who served from September 2022, when the Committee was mandated to review the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Act and the Foreign Service Orders of 2014 and to make recommendations in anticipation of their revision and implementation.
The Minister noted that their contributions were central to shaping the policy and regulatory framework now realised in the Foreign Service Act, 2025 and its Orders.
He also explained that the Foreign Service Orders will protect non-political junior level employees from being selectively dismissed. When the rules take effect, they will become permanent and pensionable.
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