Friday, May 29, 2015
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Christie administration has allocated $21m in the upcoming fiscal year for the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute in North Andros, according to 2015/2016 budget draft estimates.
According to the document, the Ministry of Works has allocated $14m for capital development at BAMSI while the Ministry of Agriculture has set aside $7m in recurrent expenditure for the facility.
The government has been criticised for not being transparent with the public concerning the project in the past. The House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee plans to investigate BAMSI to determine if there were any protocol breaches in the issuance of contracts.
It is unclear if funding to reconstruct the male dormitory that was destroyed by fire early this year is included in the $14 million allocation. When asked about this, State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis said the $14 million is for general BAMSI funding, adding that the Ministry of Works will apportion the money.
Nearly five months after an arson attack destroyed the BAMSI dormitory, officials have yet to reveal reconstruction details.
When asked last month about funding plans to rebuild the dorm, State Minister for Works and Urban Development Arnold Forbes said: “That is something the prime minister will have to answer.”
After weeks of uncertainty, Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis revealed in February that the dormitory, which was constructed by contractor Audley Hanna of Paradigm Construction, was never insured.
He had previously told the House of Assembly that at the time of the fire, the contractor’s all-risk insurance policy had lapsed due to non-payment.
This prompted FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis to urge the PAC to investigate contracts relating to the project.
Following contradictory statements from government officials, questions have also been raised in the past on how much money has already been spent on BAMSI.
In October, Prime Minister Perry Christie said no more than $23 million had been spent on the project, contradicting a statement Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray made in September that the government doled out $50 million on BAMSI.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, PAC Chairman Hubert Chipman said he is still waiting for BAMSI documents to be presented to the group.
“We wrote to the minister of works and minister of agriculture requesting information on BAMSI,” he said. “The minister of works acknowledged that he received the letter. He said he would deal with some of the issues we raised and that the other ones will be dealt with by the minister of agriculture. To date I have not received anything about BAMSI. I have received absolutely nothing.”
He said he would also question the additional funding allocated to BAMSI in the new fiscal year.
Mr Davis has said it will cost $5.5 million to rebuild the dorm.
Comments
realfreethinker says...
Here we go again. When will the theft end. $21m with no stipulation on how it is to be spent ?
WOW
Posted 29 May 2015, 1:40 p.m. Suggest removal
Tommy77 says...
Not good at all.<img src="http://s04.flagcounter.com/mini/kfoW/bg…" style="display:none"><img src="http://s05.flagcounter.com/mini/WUu/bg_…" style="display:none">
Posted 29 May 2015, 2 p.m. Suggest removal
asiseeit says...
Lets all say it together, SLUSH FUND. How else are these set going to get elected.
Posted 29 May 2015, 1:50 p.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
f'n thieves in power! Please God remove these parasites from our earth!
Posted 29 May 2015, 1:55 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
**WOW**, is this part of the 10 million they will pay the contractor for not having insurance? Shameful
Posted 29 May 2015, 3:09 p.m. Suggest removal
Well_mudda_take_sic says...
Like the $20 million allocated to the Urban Renewal Project, by allocating $14 million to the BAMSI Project against the backdrop of claims of rampant corruption within that public sector project, Christie is just trying to 'goosy' anyone who would fall victim to allowing him to grab their genitals or poke a finger up their butt. Such is the mindset of a tyrannically corrupt political monster like Christie who has the devil's ears. Like a simple child, Christie just can't help abusing his office by putting public funds at risk in order to take a 'dig' at those who he perceives have offended him or any of his political or private sector business cronies. What an 'arsehole'!
Posted 29 May 2015, 3:52 p.m. Suggest removal
OMG says...
And will it ever provide substitute food supplies for Bahamians ? of course not just another money pit. How about new electrical generators for Nassau . If I ran my household finances like these idiots I would have been bankrupt years ago without the benefit of a constant money supply. Devaluation is coming be warned.
Posted 29 May 2015, 4:24 p.m. Suggest removal
Alltoomuch says...
OK now I see it!!
Posted 29 May 2015, 5:17 p.m. Suggest removal
asiseeit says...
For the record, I believe that BAMSI is a great idea. I am certain that it is being abused, is a slush fund, and being mismanaged. Why these politicians must be corrupt, must abuse their power, and are SO greedy is way over my head. Sometimes I wonder if I am living in some two bit African country that just can't get out of it's own way, our politicians certainly do their best to emulate a despot or tyrant and most certainly are kleptocrats.
Posted 29 May 2015, 5:57 p.m. Suggest removal
FNM_Retards says...
Bulldoze that btch and move on - they can use tents.
Posted 29 May 2015, 6:15 p.m. Suggest removal
ThisIsOurs says...
Dr Eneas says BAMSI is just "misunderstood". He says *people have to realize BAMSI is three separate streams reporting to three ministers*. He said *what everyone is upset about "the construction" has nothing to do with BAMSI*, (huh?)...and therein lies the problem...1. Construction ...ok even Dr Eneas seems to concede that was a huge mess. Education? Was very funny when he had to admit that the agreement with COB wasn't signed as yet and that they were still hiring teaching staff...added to that the admission a few months ago that some students had already dropped out while much of the remaining students had very bad grades. Agriculture maybe? Bananas and onions? Seriously? I'm sorry Dr Eneas but the entire project is a huge mess, the only thing I can come up with is that this was rushed to get money into someone's pockets, nothing else makes sense. You don't announce that you're opening a tertiary level education facility and then start building immediately, it's nonsense. And here we go again, another 14 million being siphoned out. I wonder how far down the cuts go...
Posted 29 May 2015, 10:10 p.m. Suggest removal
RobertNelson says...
Thanks for the sharing
Posted 21 June 2015, 12:46 p.m. Suggest removal
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