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Lord Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), visited The Bahamas on 12–13 May to reinforce CWEIC’s growing relationship with its Strategic Partner, The Government of The Bahamas. Since joining CWEIC in 2023, The Bahamas has demonstrated a strong interest in deepening trade and investment ties across the Commonwealth.

Accompanied by Anne Kensington-Lott, CWEIC’s Country Director for the Cayman Islands, Lord Marland began the visit with a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Honourable Philip D. Davis, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Fred Mitchell. Discussions focused on the country’s evolving engagement within the Commonwealth and how The Bahamas might benefit from the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be hosted by Antigua & Barbuda in 2026.

Lord Marland was also warmly received by the Governor-General, Her Excellency Dame Cynthia A. Pratt, with whom he discussed the Commonwealth’s legacy and the importance of greater economic collaboration across its member states.

The programme continued with a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Honourable I. Chester Cooper. Joining the meeting were senior government officials including Dr Kenneth Romer, Director of Aviation and Deputy Director General of Tourism, and Acting Permanent Secretary Lisa Adderley-Anderson.

In a strong show of collaboration between government and business, Lord Marland joined a roundtable convened by the Bahamas Trade Commission, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, and the Small Business Development Centre. The session brought together 15 leading Bahamian business figures, including Dr Leo Rolle, to explore opportunities for partnership, investment, and greater Commonwealth trade engagement.

The evening concluded with a dinner hosted by British High Commissioner Tom Hartley at his residence. The guest list featured an impressive array of business leaders, including Sir Franklyn Wilson CMG (Shell Bahamas), Mike Maura (CEO, Nassau Cruise Port), Ebbe Carri (MD, BHM Infrastructure), Franklyn Butler (CEO, Cable Bahamas), Anthony Ferguson (Founder, CFAL), and Mark Holowesko CMG (CEO, Holowesko Partners and former World Champion sailor).

On the final day of the visit, Lord Marland met with John Rolle, Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas, and participated in a high-level breakfast meeting with Dr Leo Rolle and senior executives at the Tamarind Marketplace, British Colonial Nassau. He also held discussions with Chris Dorsett, Public Sector Head at Citi Corporate Banking, to explore the role of financial services in regional investment facilitation.

During the visit, Lord Marland also spoke to The Tribune, highlighting The Bahamas’ strategic potential as a Commonwealth trade hub amid shifting global dynamics. He noted the country’s favourable tax regime, robust infrastructure, and geographic position as key advantages, particularly as global businesses look to diversify supply chains and navigate new tariff landscapes. The interview further reinforced the relevance of Commonwealth collaboration in today’s evolving trade environment. Find the article here.

The visit reaffirmed CWEIC’s commitment to deepening its partnership with The Bahamas and highlighted the country’s growing role in shaping a more connected and prosperous Commonwealth.