The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

An ex-Cabinet Minister yesterday slammed the government’s decision to revamp The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute’s (BAMSI) business model by exiting retail as “simply stupid”.

V Alfred Gray, the former minister of agriculture and marine resources, told Tribune Business that the move was “regrettable”. He added: “The whole purpose of BAMSI was to get into agricultural development by using farmers on the Family Islands and educating them on the BAMSI philosophy.

“BAMSI would buy from the farmers and resell to the Bahamian people, so that at the end of the day we would become less dependent on foreign imports. To hear that they are closing the Family Island offices or depots is really disappointing.

“I believe that this administration is trying to erase all of the legacies of the Christie administration. I think that history would be kind in showing that the Christie administration had the foresight to establish a BAMSI. Whatever they do I’m sure it will not be able to obliterate BAMSI.”

BAMSI confirmed earlier this week that it is revamping its business model by exiting the food retail sector to focus solely on wholesale activities. The institute, in a statement, said the move will boost its economic sustainability by cutting operational costs and increasing revenues.

It added that the closure of its retail centre, which sells locally-grown organic produce, will strengthen its financial position. Tennyson Wells, BAMSI’s president and chairman of the board, said its changed outlook resulted from the Government’s determination that the Institute must be financially self-sufficient long-term.

“Going forward, BAMSI’s new focus will be strengthening the academic arm of the institute so that it can fulfill its mandate to provide scientific research covering a wide cross section of areas, including soil science, fisheries, produce and small ruminants to the Bahamian farmer,” he said. “As the recipient of cutting-edge research and innovative technologies, farmers will be able to bring best quality produce to the Bahamian market on a more consistent basis.”

BAMSI’s new direction was described as a three-pronged approach where whatever is grown on its farm in North Andros will be used to feed students at the institute. The students themselves will have played a key role in producing the food as they participate in farm skills and other practical training courses.

The institute is also preparing to expand its culinary department by introducing personnel with a background in vegetarian and organic food preparation, in an effort to capitalise on the expanded menu. The remaining produce will be sold directly to wholesalers, hotels and restaurants, which is where BAMSI expects to see an increase in its revenue.

Mr Gray, though, said: “BAMSI is contracting. To contract BAMSI’s operation rather than expand it is stupid; simply stupid. Of course nothing surprises me about this administration.”

He further argued that despite the touted success of BAIC’s pop-up market, “BAIC is not in the farming business”. “The farmers do not necessarily farm for BAIC,” he added. “They may buy the farmer’s products but BAIC was designed as the business arm for the farming industry for the Government.

“BAMSI was where the development of agriculture, the production of agricultural pursuits, took place. That’s why there was a school component and a farm component to the school. The whole vision was so that we could import less in our country and eat fresh food. BAIC was never intended to be the farming arm, BAMSI was that.

“I am disappointed that whatever is good in our country by one government is not carried out by another another for either selfish reasons or lack of fright, or perhaps a combination of both. I would advise the minister of agriculture not to follow a policy that contracts BAMSI’s influence in the country but rather seek to expand it.”