21. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the talks relating to constitutional changes for the Bahamas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord BalnielI have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend and I told the House on 21st December and 29th January.—[Vol. 848, c. 468–70; Vol. 849, c. 280.]
Mr. MitchellWhat representations has the Minister had from the people living on the island of Abaco, and what reply has he sent?
§ Lord BalnielI received representations from certain people from the island of Abaco before the independence conference. I was not able to accede to them. Abaco is an island in the Bahamas with a population of 6,000 out of a total population of 170,000, and it has been administered for the last 200 years as an integral part of the Bahamas. There was a general election which demonstrated a substantial majority in 433 favour of independence and the independence conference was successfully concluded on that basis.