The Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) will need to offer temporary accommodations for members of its staff and students due to construction delays and reported payment disputes.
Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) Executive Chairman Arnold Forbes insisted yesterday that the North Andros BAMSI project will meet its slated September opening date, but revealed that the institute will likely require temporary housing and educational facilities until construction of the main campus is completed.
"The school will be open in September, [but] it may not be open at that site... There are some activities that will probably take place on-site, [but] the school will be open on schedule," said Forbes.
The executive chairman also denied that the construction delays and need for temporary housing would increase the cost of the project, stating: "It has not increased the cost per se... We are on course basically to finish the construction part of it in short order."
Forbes added that BAMSI officials are currently arranging accommodations for its students, claiming that they "will be well cared for at the substitute for the campus until it's finished".
Last week, Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Rena Glinton assured Guardian Business that the dormitories are complete and the institute will welcome its first class of students this week.
A recent NB12 report revealed that the construction of many of the institute's facilities, including student dormitories, labs and roads, was severely behind schedule and would likely miss the government's September deadline.
Speaking with NB12, Leader of the Opposition Dr. Hubert Minnis criticized BAMSI's slow progress, fearing that it is months off schedule, and demanded greater accountability from the government over accusations that political affiliations played a role in awarding BAMSI contracts.
"From what we've seen, you know that we will need millions more to complete this project... The public accounts committee will aggressively pursue how this money was spent. We need accountability," stated Minnis.
Bahamas Contractors Association President Godfrey Forbes pointed to BAMSI this week as an example of how the government should be more "transparent" with its contract awards, to enable more in the construction industry to potentially benefit.
The government hired 14 contractors to construct the estimated $20 million institute. One worker suggested that nearly 70 employees had quit after continued payment issues with a contractor.
However, Arnold Forbes argued that the government could not be held accountable for the reported payment issues.
"We are not responsible after we gave those contracts...I believe, unfortunately, that there are some contractors that are slow in paying their individuals, but it will not delay the opening," said the BAIC chairman, calling on all BAMSI contractors to pay their workers and end the pay disputes.
Minster of Agriculture V. Alfred Gray confirmed that the government was aware of the payment issue, and had directed the construction workers to the Ministry of Labour.
Following the reports, BAMSI President Godfrey Eneas issued a press statement, announcing that the institute would receive its first class of 50 students on September 29. The statement further

claimed that BAMSI's first international course with foreign students would commence in January 2015
The government had previously suggested that BAMSI could reduce the country's dependence on foreign produce imports, potentially slashing import costs by $210 million by BAMSI's third year of operation.
While many members of the Bahamian agricultural sector have supported the government's efforts to revitalize the country's farming industry, some have questioned the packaging and shipping logistics of the project, due to its North Andros location, and expressed concerns over its increasing budget.
In June, Guardian Business revealed that one of the government's top consultants on the BAMSI project had resigned from a senior post in Jamaica over questions regarding the legitimacy of his academic qualifications.
The hiring of Jamaican Omer Thomas in place of a Bahamian and in spite of his controversial past was defended by various Cabinet ministers.

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