The following is an open letter that was hand delivered to Minister Mitchells office.

May 9, 2006

The Hon Fred Mitchell
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Nassau,
The Bahamas

Dear Foreign Minister,

We read in the Tribune that the record of how our Representative votes on the Human Rights issue at the United Nations may not be made public.

We sincerely hope the newspaper has been misinformed, and the Bahamian Public will be told how our Representative has voted.

This raises the question of the "right" of citizens to know what is being done or said in their name by the person appointed to represent them.

If the "right to know" is not accorded to Bahamians, then the case must be made for why it is denied.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely
THE NASSAU INSTITUTE
Joan Thompson