12. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will pay an official visit to the island of Abaco in the Bahamas.
§ Mr. GodberI visited the Bahamas in January. My right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so.
Mr. MitchellIs the Minister aware that a number of people on the island of Abaco are rather unhappy about future constitutional proposals for the Bahamas, and could he tell the House what happened to the petition that was signed by a large number of these people and presented to the Governor earlier this year?
§ Mr. GodberThis petition was considered, but the petitioners were advised by the Governor that any proposals for 37 a change in the constitution should be put forward through their own elected representatives to the Governor. Their views were by no means unanimous. One of the elected members from Abaco led a delegation to the Governor declaring unshakeable opposition to any separation. There is obviously a divergence of views.