0

BAMSI will be completed by 'beginning of next school year'

V Alfred Gray, Minister of Marine Resources.

V Alfred Gray, Minister of Marine Resources.

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) will be completed by the beginning of the next school year, Minister of Agriculture V Alfred Gray said on Friday. 

Mr Gray said that "all of the kinks" associated with the controversy surrounding BAMSI's construction and subsequent completion have been "ironed out" and construction should "now be fast-paced to a conclusion in the shortest possible time”.

He added that all of the other buildings at the North Andros site are "almost completed in most cases" with "one or two exceptions”.

Mr Gray also said a new dormitory will be erected to replace the one that was totally destroyed by fire one year ago at "very little expense" to the government. While he could not give a timeline for the completion of the new dorm, he said it "will not be long" before a contract is issued for its reconstruction.   

Mr Gray's statements came a little under two months after FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis claimed that "not one thing" had changed at the BAMSI site since he initially toured the site one year prior. 

At the time, Dr Minnis said the fire damaged dorm was in "the exact same state" and had not been worked on. 

The dorm, constructed by contractor Audley Hanna of Paradigm Construction, which was set on fire and completely destroyed in January of last year, sparked controversy when Works Minister Philip "Brave" Davis revealed that it was never insured. 

Mr Davis had previously said in the House of Assembly that at the time of the fire, the contractor's all-risk insurance policy had lapsed due to non-payment. Then in July, Mr Davis said the destroyed dormitory would not be repaired until all other BAMSI buildings have been completed. 

Mr Davis has also said it will cost $5.5m to rebuild the destroyed dorm, which will be reconfigured from single occupancy to double. 

"The building is now destroyed, and a new building will be built in its place," Mr Gray said on Friday. "I do not have a timeline for the new building, but I can tell you because of the scheme of things at BAMSI, it will not be long before a contract is issued for the reconstruction of that building at very little expense to the government, because there's a formula I'm advised that has been worked out so that the building will be built and we're looking forward to that.”

He added: "All of the other buildings are almost complete in most cases with one or two exceptions, and I think it is important for me to envision that by the end of the school year, certainly before the beginning of the next school year, BAMSI will be ready. That is my expectation, that is my hope, and we are working towards that end.”

Mr Gray went on to acknowledge the controversy surrounding BAMSI's incompletion - the facility was originally scheduled to open in September 2014 - expressing confidence that the "kinks" surrounding the construction of the institute have long since been dealt with. 

"We had some setbacks, it's no question about that, but they were all outside the control of the ministry or the government, and I'll say why," he said. "When you give a contract to contractors with timelines, you expect that they would honour the terms of the contract. But in some cases, weather conditions, some cases the mobility of supplies and a whole lot of things could conspire to make timelines difficult to meet, and in BAMSI's case some of that took place. 

"After the fire, we stopped all of the construction to get a handle on the contents of every contract to make sure the burnt building experience never happens again. And so all of the kinks have been ironed out and construction should now be fast paced to a conclusion in the shortest possible time." 

Mr Gray's comments came on the heels of a press conference on Friday to announce the reintroduction of the Back Yard Farming initiative, which seeks to promote local food production which would in turn limit the amount of government expenditure on imported food products. 

According to Mr Gray, the first phase of the programme is being done in conjunction with other government agencies, inclusive of the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development, and the Ministry of National Security. 

The initiative is currently being conducted as a pilot project in several areas of New Providence, beginning with the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, the Ranfurly Home for Children and the Simpson Penn School for Boys. 

Comments

TalRussell 8 years, 10 months ago

Comrades right after the PM rushes before the media to have insisted people will “cheer with him when” Baha Mar opens, he sends out his most unpopular and voted most controversial crown cabinet minister, to makes a whole new set Bahamalander's thinks...you know what... the PLP cabinet must really be as helpless and ineffectual as the Tribune says they are.
What the Hell PM who in hell is advising your government on public relations - Russia's Putin?
PM, even if your government is in power, if and when Baha Mar does in fact open and only if as glories as once promoted to the world, I got news for you. It comes with your job to do your damn best as the elected government of the people, by the people, for the people. .

ThisIsOurs 8 years, 10 months ago

Wow looks like the whole country will be cranking before the next election! City market people should be hearing dead good news any day now

Honestman 8 years, 10 months ago

The PLP has taken incompetence to a whole new level.

proudloudandfnm 8 years, 10 months ago

Lol. Seriously...... The PLP is nuttin but jokers.. lol

TruePeople 8 years, 10 months ago

I just hope after all that f@#7ing that it ein just a whole heap more PLP babies

Emac 8 years, 10 months ago

Coming from the worst of the PLP bunch. Lord, please give these old men strokes on their penises so that they longer have to stay in government to rob our country, just to support their many sweethearts.

Godson 8 years, 10 months ago

Mr. Donald Trump made a statement Friday expressing exactly the reason for him GETTING POLITICAL. The reason he explains: "I DECIDED TO DO IT BECAUSE OUR COUNTRY IS GOING TO HELL".

This reason also explains my own conviction relative to The Bahamas. It emphasizes THE NEED FOR ALL BAHAMIANS TO GET POLITICAL. All eligible Bahamians need to register as soon as possible.

THIS TIME AROUND, THERE IS AN URGENT AND PRESSING NEED FOR ALL BAHAMIANS TO 'GET POLITICAL' for the next general election.

LET'S GET POLITICAL! PLEASE GO AND REGISTER A.S.A.P and encourage others to do so as well. - Thank you.

Godson Nicodemus Johnson

cmiller 8 years, 10 months ago

I am crying for the Bahamas!!! A great sadness because our leaders are not up to the job of running the country effectively.

http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2016…

Godson 8 years, 10 months ago

cmiller, cry if you mus, but rest assured, you will be comforted.

sheeprunner12 8 years, 10 months ago

The BAMSI experiment is another example of taking care of friends, family and lovers by the PLP .............. where are the macroeconomic policies to integrate BAMSI into the food supply chain of the country?????? .............. the endless talk of the PLP doesnot solve the $1 billion food import bill that they claim BAMSI will solve ....... what percent has BAMSI reduced in 3 years of PLP promises?????????

Sign in to comment