By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE an increase in the budget for the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute, certain portions of the facility fell into disrepair, according to Agriculture Minister Clay Sweeting yesterday.

The minister described the situation as “shocking”, adding that the entire farm looked like an “eerie scene from a horror movie”.

This came as he moved the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute Bill, 2022 in the House of Assembly. The debate also saw Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis take a jab at former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis who mentioned the 2015 BAMSI dorm fire and the fact that the building was not insured in his contribution to the debate on the bill.

Mr Davis said he did not understand what the fire had to do with what was now before the House and questioned whether Dr Minnis knew who started the blaze seven years ago.

The bill is being implemented to lay the educational foundation for the future of agriculture and marine science. It provides the legal framework and guidelines for the operation of the institution. Upon the passing of this bill, BAMSI will be able to operate at 100 percent functioning capacity.

The legislation once passed will give the president, and board of directors of the institution autonomous control over the affairs of BAMSI, aligning it on par with other institutions nationally and internationally.

Mr Sweeting said: “Over the past four years there has been a considerable increase in budget at BAMSI but we have not seen where this increase has led in any way towards increasing our growing capacity. I’ve said in this place before that upon coming to office we met BAMSI in a poor state.

“Over the period of four and a half years, and despite an increase in budget, there were several shocking realities. The beautiful buildings constructed were without electricity; to facilitate the tour of the campus, the generator had to be turned on; all the furniture to equip the buildings laid on the floors, in the same boxes they were shipped in catching dust.

“The once thriving aquaponics site looked abandoned; brood stocks were drastically reduced; and the entire farm looked like an eerie scene from a horror movie.”

He said when BAMSI is at its fullest potential, it will have an economic impact on our country.

“BAMSI and the affiliate farmers programme have shown us only a small bit of her potential thus far. Our annual food import bill from America alone continues to be in excess of $620m, almost $1bn globally. This is a high price tag! Imagine being able to reduce this bill and reinvesting the savings in the growth of agriculture, mariculture, through science and technology,” Mr Sweeting said.