The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

NORTH ANDROS - FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday slammed the government over its failure to meet the proposed deadline for the opening of the new Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).

Dr Minnis called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to reveal the “master plan” for the research institute amid claims of unpaid workers and victimisation.

He also forecast that the project, initially scheduled to open this month, would not bolster Mr Christie’s legacy as hoped, but further destroy it. Dr Minnis led the media on a tour of the BAMSI site in North Andros yesterday.

“You cannot come with some scatterbrain idea and put a dollhouse here and there,” he said. “When I look at that farm it reminds me of ‘Old McDonald had a farm’ with the prime minister heading this Old McDonald project.”

“You cannot commence such a huge project without a master plan, the prime minister needs to show us and the Bahamian people the master plan,” he added.

“What are the marketing plans, what are the financial plans to assist farmers in expanding in growth and development, what are the plans for transportation of goods throughout the Family Islands, to Nassau?”

Workers at one building, purported to be a female dormitory, said the two-story structure would take two more months to complete.

In May, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, minister of works, said the project was on time and within budget to begin operations in September. However, he noted that at least $7m in additional funding was requested for infrastructure works.

During the May site tour, Livingston Forbes, chief architect within the Ministry of Works, said additional funding was needed for civil and site lightings, the construction of the school’s packing house, processing plant, residences for farm managers, security buildings and a “tuck shop” for the students.

Yesterday, Dr Minnis said it was clear the project would not be completed this year.

He also contested whether the produce generated would be able to significantly cut back on food imports over the next three years as projected by the government.

Less than $5 million was initially allocated for the school in the 2013/2014 national budget; however, estimated costs rose to more than $20 million last year.

The island’s economy was said to have exploded as a result of construction work that was awarded to 22 local firms, totalling more than $22 million.

Yesterday at the site, Glenroy McKenzie, a 48-year-old resident of Marathon in Nassau, said he was hired to work on the project but quit after several months due to inconsistent payment.

“The payment became an issue the first two weeks after I got here,” Mr McKenzie said. “I quit about three months ago and I’m owed a month’s payment. The whole first staff up here had quit and they all went to the Labour Board, about 60 or 70 (workers) and they all quit.”

FNM Council representative for North Andros Larry Newton alleged that all contracts were awarded by political affiliation.

Mr Newton, a contractor, said he was denied the opportunity to work as a builder or bid on any of the contracts.

“The time has come for the people to understand that the country is not owned by a political party but it’s owned by the taxpayers and builders of this country,” Mr Newton said.

“I’m hurt and I’m angry because this government came to power on the pretence that this time is for Bahamians. No, in Andros this time is for the Progressive Liberal Party, not anyone else.”

Mr Newton alleged that he has not been able to get an hour’s work at the site, but contractors were bringing in foreign workers.

He charged that political victimisation had a divisive effect on the island, adding that school bus contracts had not been awarded to any members of the FNM for the new school year.

The Public Accounts Committee has been tasked to demand a financial audit of the project, according to Dr Minnis, who said accountability was critical given the total investment in the project thus far. Dr Minnis also claimed that contracts awarded for the project did not go out to tender.

He said it was clear that the government was not accountable to anyone.

“We know they will need millions more to complete the project, that’s excluding landscaping,” he said. “We know that we have a prime minister who is not accountable, that has been proven when he travelled with his entourage last year.

Dr Minnis said: “He was supposed to bring forth an audit of the expenditures, that has not been brought forth yet.”

Attempts to reach officials for comment were unsuccessful yesterday.