By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet minister yesterday said the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) has received long-awaited greenhouses that will enhance training opportunities for students.

Clay Sweeting, minister for agriculture, marine resources and Family Island affairs, told the House of Assembly: “BAMSI has embarked on a greenhouse project that will engage Family Island farmers to provide training opportunities in greenhouse technology.

“We will expand the opportunities to grow specific varieties of crops year-round. The first phase of this project will impact the islands of Abaco, Andros, Cat Island, Exuma and, of course, Eleuthera. I’m happy to announce that these massive greenhouses are not just an announcement, but they are in country as of this week.”

The greenhouse project is something BAMSI had targeted as far back as April. Senator Tyrell Young, its executive chairman, described them as a “game changer” for agriculture in The Bahamas. These greenhouses will allow BAMSI to grow crops year-round and enable farmers on the selected islands to stagger their crop harvests.

Mr Sweeting added: “The evidence shows that since the chairman has taken office… BAIC (Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation) has reviewed, approved and presented more leases to our partners in one year than under four-and-a-half years under the prior administration.”

“This speaks to the holistic approach, and the level of commitment and drive, that this team has to meeting the mandate of this government by tackling food security issues. Speaking of land, BAIC has been spared in two major initiatives. One is the ongoing commitment to partner with the Bahamas National Trust to preserve our unique pond case systems and surrounding land, called Sweetings Pond.

“It is said that Sweetings Pond has the largest population of seahorses worldwide. This will now become the national Seahorse National Park at Sweetings Pond in the great constituency of central and south Eleuthera.”

The Seahorse National Park is expected to become a “cultural and heritage site” for both locals and visitors. “Bahamians can provide opportunities for themselves in an educational or research facility there where we can have students come and do the tour, so this is holistic in its approach at Sweetings Pond in itself,” Mr Sweeting added.