The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Minister of Agriculture yesterday said no discussions have been initiated with potential Chinese investors over a the proposed $2.1 billion agriculture/fisheries project for Andros.

V Alfred Gray said: “Some several weeks ago, the Bahamas’ ambassador to China visited my office with what he termed a list of initiatives made up by him, and wanted my support or my permission to discuss those initiatives with possible investors in China. I gave him that permission to discuss those initiatives.”

    Mr Gray added: “He gave a copy of that letter to certain agencies of the Government and otherwise. I am advised from a good source that that letter was sent or given to the Nassau Guardian.

“I have no problems with that whatsoever. If you read the Nassau Guardian you wold get the impression that the letter was leaked. It was a letter which was discussed by the Bahamas National Trust and the Ambassador, the Nature Conservancy and the Ambassador, and so to say it was leaked, I know the intent of that was to cause people to feel that there was was something to hide.”

Mr Gray stressed that there was no deal or proposal before the Government involving an investment of the magnitude proposed by the ambassador, Paul ‘Andy’ Gomez, which also involved the lease of 10,000 Crown Land acres.

“The truth is that the Bahamas’ ambassador advised me that he has not yet begun to talk to any investor about the initiatives which he represented to me, and so it is very difficult for me to see how some initiative of the ambassador could turn into a deal or a proposal when there was no second party, even in discussion,” said Mr Gray.

Many observers, though, are questioning why the Minister would give Mr Gomez the ‘green light’ to pursue such an ambitious proposal, especially given the implications of leasing so much land and allowing Chinese state-owned entities to gain ownership of Bahamian natural resources and an industry reserved for locals.

When asked whether he thought the $2.1 billion proposal was overly ambitious, Mr Gray responded by saying: “I don’t know what was in his head so I have to be cautious. I do know that no agreement could be signed by an ambassador from the Bahamas for China or anywhere else without the Cabinet’s approval.

“Ambassadors represent a country, and that representation includes seeking out investments so that employment opportunities could be created for Bahamians.

“I’m sure that this is the vein in which it was intended: To seek out opportunities for Bahamians to get employment and get involved in joint ventures.”

Mr Gray further defended the proposal, saying: “The Bahamas needs foreign investment. The Bahamas cannot develop without foreign investment coming in. 

“All of the major hotels are here because of foreign investment. If we don’t expand our economy by local investment and foreign investment you tell us what the future of our economy will be like.”