The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday called on Bahamians to mobilise against the $2.1bn agriculture and fisheries proposal with Chinese investors for Andros that he believed would bring the country one step closer to “being colonised once again”.

The Free National Movement (FNM) leader also called for the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries V Alfred Gray to resign from his Cabinet post. Additionally, Dr Minnis put the government of China “on notice” that if elected, his party would review and reverse any “secret deal” that gives land or fishing rights to foreigners.

He said that the Bahamian people “were hoodwinked” by the government into believing that the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) “would provide opportunity for local entrepreneurs to create a direct-to-market supply line that would stimulate the economy and benefit Bahamians, leading to the further development of the agricultural sector of our economy, and ultimately greater food security.”

He stressed: “But if this under the table deal is allowed to stand, only the Chinese will benefit. We must not - under any circumstances - allow these negotiations to go on.

“As leader of the Free National Movement, as leader of the (Official) Opposition, we call upon the Christie-led government to cease and desist in the underhanded deals that would give away our land, give away our heritage, give away our birthright, give away our fishing grounds and finally, give away our sovereignty. During his term in office, the Prime Minister and his PLP government have kow-towed, bowed and scraped to the Chinese overlords from time and time again.

“But this time, this time, he and his minister have gone too far. And they know that they’ve gone too far to give away our people’s rights, resources, land and birthright for a bowl of porridge is despicable and unacceptable.

“Let me make this patently clear. The FNM will do everything in its power to stop Prime Minister Christie and his government from giving away the (thousands of) acres of Crown land and the rights to our Bahamian exclusive economic zone and fishing grounds to foreign states, the agents of foreign states, companies in anyway associated with citizens of foreign states, and any other foreigners.

“And we call out all freedom loving Bahamians to join us in this righteous cause. This is a righteous cause and we must deal with it.”

His comments came during a press conference at the FNM’s Mackey Street headquarters before a crowd of party supporters.

Dr Minnis said he and his opposition team are unified and opposed “to this giveaway”.

“And we put the Chinese government on notice that upon election to office, the Free National Movement government will immediately and vigorously review and cancel any secret agreement or deal which proposes to give away our land, or rights to our fishing ground for years to any foreign government.”

According to an earlier report the proposed partnership will entail the incorporation of 100 companies, with the agricultural products and seafood to be used for local consumption, and exported to China and the United States for sale. The proposal also includes the option to lease 10,000 acres of Crown land in Andros.

Mr Gray has since explained that Bahamas Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Paul “Andy” Gomez had submitted the proposal as an overview of items that he sought clearance from the government to discuss with investors in China.

As the firestorm over the potential implications of such a deal continued, Mr Gray also took aim at The Nassau Guardian, which first published the proposal on Tuesday. He insisted that the newspaper was linked to an opposition candidate, and charged that he would not be a “scapegoat for their mission.”

Mr Gray underscored that it was the previous FNM administration that negotiated for Chinese workers in the Baha Mar deal and gave the Chinese licenses for the rerouting of the airport corridor, and to construct a dock in Abaco.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, meanwhile, insisted on Friday that he is not “easy” when it comes to Crown land approvals when pressed about the controversial proposal.

Mr Christie said while his administration continues to be accused by critics, he would soon release every proposal that was submitted to the government in relation to Andros, dating back to the very first administration.

At yesterday’s press conference, Dr Minnis stressed that Bahamians have been waiting for years to be approved for their Crown land requests.

“Yet the PLP’s Chinese allies just snapped their fingers and they are considered for (thousands of) acres of our land. Why is this so? This government owes the people a straight answer as to why the prime minister and his ministers put the Chinese allies above the interest of the Bahamian people.

“Does the prime minister and his PLP government realise the true scale of the Bahamian land they are proposing to give away? Allow me to put this in perspective so that they and the entire Bahamas can put into perspective what we are talking about. Twenty thousand acres is almost four times the size of Bimini. It is more acreage than on Rum Cay. It’s almost half the size of New Providence. It is also half the acreage of San Salvador.

“The people of the Bahamas were once colonised by a colonial power and 43 years later, we are at that very same fate of being colonised, once again, by a Communist nation. This is a wake up call for all Bahamians to become engaged in the democratic process by registering to vote. I’m asking all Bahamians who love their country, if you love your people, if you love your children, to register to vote,” the opposition leader warned.