A day after Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis was denied access to a section of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), Agriculture Minister V. Alfred Gray charged that it was "foolishly wrong" of Minnis to think he could gain unauthorized entry to the multi-million-dollar facility. Minnis and a Free National Movement (FNM) delegation toured BAMSI on Sunday but were effectively kicked off the property about two hours into the tour by security officials who informed them that they had no permission to be there.
The delegation, including, St. Anne's MP Hubert Chipman, FNM Chairman Michael Pintard, and others, entered the facility unimpeded by security though a side gate. However, they were stopped as they entered the farm. Chipman said he was "outraged" that they were not given full access to the property, which was built with the taxpayer's money. At one point, members of the delegation got into a verbal exchange with security personnel.
During a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday, Gray criticized Minnis' handling of the tour.
"There is a security company that we are paying handsomely to secure the facility and if he thinks that he or anyone who supports him could just go there without any kind of authorization, he is mistaken," Gray said. "The truth is if we did not have security at the facility, I would have expected him to take umbrage to such a careless approach to securing the facility. That we had security and he sought to override the security presence...without authorization is unbelievable."
Gray said while the facility is open to the public, those interested in touring the grounds should receive proper authorization from the office of BAMSI's president.
"Because he is leader of the opposition, the rules do not change for him," Gray said. "...If he could do it then every Bahamian could feel that they could show up and they could have entry to it because it is a public facility.
"If we extend that principle, it may be true to say that any Bahamian can enter the Cabinet office... without authorization and they have a right to entry. That is not what we are about. We are a country of rules and regulations and I am embarrassed by the fact that I have to tell the leader of the opposition that he is foolishly wrong."
Gray noted that the government has tightened BAMSI's security after the male dormitory was destroyed by fire in January.
BAMSI President Godfrey Eneas also noted the importance of controlling the environment at BAMSI given that food is produced at the facility.
"We are very much concerned about virus security," Eneas said at the press conference. "To some Bahamians that means nothing. But to us who are engaged in food production and are concerned about food safety, virus security is a major concern. And from that aspect alone there must be a controlled environment in order that pests and diseases may not be transferred.
"We have commodities in bananas, papayas, pineapples, peanuts, coconuts, livestock that have to be protected and you just cannot allow any Tom, Dick and Harry to visit the farm. We have been lax in this country in virus safety measures but we will not be lax at the institute."
Since taking office, the government has billed BAMSI as an important initiative to cut the nation's dependence on food imports. Over $20 million has been invested in the facility so far, according to government officials.
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