By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

BAMSI is now thriving and fruitful again, according to Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Clay Sweeting, who reported that it has almost made a complete turnaround.

He said the institute is now receiving the focus necessary to live up to its original plan for addressing the issue of food insecurity in the Bahamas.

Mr Sweeting said the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute was like a “wasteland” during his initial tour after becoming the minister.

“We met BAMSI in a mess,” he said. “On my first tour, I ... was surprised to see how deserted the once thriving land was; it literally looked like a wasteland.

“Imagine the grove of coconut trees hidden under bushes; the aquaponics systems were dilapidated; and acres and acres of farmland overgrown.”

Additionally, he said, no classes were happening on campus, and the buildings were all closed and unfurnished.

“I would say BAMSI was in a coma,” he said.

“So, today, we have almost made a complete 180 at BAMSI,” he said.

Vegetables are growing, and we have a new type of lettuce that is drought resistant being made available to Bahamian people.

“Animals and livestock are being reared. Repairs are being made to the buildings; new buildings to house a piggery and chickens were erected; and the lost coconut groves were cleared and look fruitful.”

Minister Sweeting indicated that the government has implemented the BAMSI Bill, which will revamp the structure and allow for more independent operations in how BAMSI runs.

BAMSI is just growing, he reported.

He noted that there are classes and new partnerships are being forged with universities and organisations to ensure continued growth and success.

The Bahamas imports 97 percent of its food from the US, and the minister stressed that food security is crucial.

He pointed out that food supply shortages occurred following events such as the Gulf War of 1991, the 911 attacks in the US in 2001, and the global pandemic of 2020, which all impacted countries like the Bahamas.

“We found ourselves once again at the mercy of fate with the global pandemic when COVID brought the world to a standstill. We had restricted movement in travel and logistics, and as a result, we realised how compromised we were as a nation and how we were to food insecurity.”