NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation’s Executive Chairman, Edison Key travelled to Exuma to follow up on a few projects the Corporation has planned for that island.

The trip also keeps in line with the Corporation’s mandate, which is to stimulate and encourage the creation, expansion and promotion of small and medium sized businesses, thereby facilitating employment and import substitution.

BAIC’s General Manager, Benjamin Rahming; Assistant General Manager, Arnold Dorsett, and Human Resources Manager, Vernita Rhodenwalt accompanied Mr Key on the trip, Tuesday, June 8.

Everette Hart, the Corporation’s Investment Officer stationed in Exuma and Althea Ferguson, President of the Exuma Farmers’ Association met the team at the airport.

Mr Key explained that BAIC’s officials involved in agriculture and handicraft, travel to the islands almost every week because they have a mission to empower Bahamians to create a country that is diversified and can sustain its own agricultural needs.

“Eventually, I hope we can make a difference in every island, so they can at least get to a point where they could produce, even if is enough just for the island itself to bring a sense of food security for the country in general,” he said.

“This is the time to do it because of the downturn in the economy; it is very important now to try to diversify as much as possible,” Mr Key added.

Eventually, Bahamians should look into large-scale agriculture on islands like Abaco, Andros and maybe Grand Bahama to target the export market, he said.

“Those three islands have the good land and an abundance of fresh water.  Hopefully, one day we will develop those islands for the export market as well as the local market,” he said.

“There is so much we can grow and hopefully we will move to another level of food security with canneries, food packaging and refrigeration.  The sky is the limit.”

Mr Key explained that one of the main reasons for the trip was to check the site of the future BAIC office in Exuma.  He said BAIC will rent space in a building on property owned by the Exuma Foundation in George Town.

The team toured the property and spoke with the Foundation’s manager, Christopher Kettel.

The Exuma Foundation exists to support education in all of its aspects on Exuma and to enhance the quality of life there. Established in 1998 with a gift from the Benjamin Family Foundation, it is a U.S. non-profit community foundation that raises funds and issues grants to fulfil its mission.

The Foundation has allowed the Government to operate a school for special needs children on its premises as well as it supports the community by acting as a resource centre.  It also has a trail and reservation and vegetable and fruits trees are grown on the property.

Mr Key said BAIC would like to partner with the Foundation in creating spaces for greenhouses and other projects.

The team also visited the L N Coakley Senior High School to observe land being used by the agriculture students to raise pigs and grow crops like broccoli.  They also spoke with the instructors to find out what they need to keep the class afloat.

They also visited a structure, which they hoped to refurbish for use by the Exuma Farmers’ Association.

But Mr Key said, “We looked the old house there and it looked as if it deteriorated to such a point it may cost more than it is worth to repair; it maybe less expensive to replace the building.”

The Association represents the Exuma farmers and Ms Ferguson its president explained that cleared land for farming has already been acquired through BAIC, which was also responsible for its creation.

The Corporation has also provided $20,000 in funding that went towards fertilizers and insecticides and there are more funds to come, said Ms Ferguson.

Exuma farmers plant crops such as onions, peppers, Irish potatoes, corn, cabbages and bananas.

However, she did admit that Exuma farmers could use equipment to help them cultivate and clear land.

“After farming land for a while, the soil gets harder to till and equipment like I saw in Andros would be helpful to us,” Ms Ferguson said.

”Daddy I want biggie size”, were the chants of our second $1000 winner in the Wendy’s and Coca-Cola Upgrade Me Too promotion. With an order of a Large Double Stack Combo, five year old Tarjeh Evans, a student of Precious Jewels Pre-School & Nursery made history as he became the youngest winner of the Wendy’s/Coca-Cola promotion. “We were on the beach when my niece called us and told us that she was listening to Spirit Gospel 92.5 when she heard his name announced”, proclaimed Tarjeh’s proud parents, Adrian and Tanya Evans. As Tarjeh is preparing to enter primary school in September, his mother was ecstatic about the good news. She was more than thankful for the family’s blessing as she explained, “the cash prize will be spent on tithes (first and foremost), school fees and supplies and bills.”

 By upgrading any combo, to a LARGE, (including the $3.99 BBQ Bacon Values Combos) customers can fill out their receipts and enter to win at any of Wendy’s eight convenient locations.

 As we move closer to the $10,000 drawing July 2nd, this just goes to show that any customer – young or old – has the opportunity to win big with Wendy’s and Coca-Cola. If you haven’t tried your luck yet start NOW as we prepare to select our next winning customer at our Sea Grapes store on June 18th. This will be the third installment of $1,000 given to a lucky Wendy’s customer. Listen in with More 94.9 FM and Spirit Gospel 92.5, for more promotional prizes along with official details.

L to R: Cyndi Williams-Rahming, Coca Cola; Davia (Cousin Of the Winner); Tarjeh Evans (Winner); Yolanda Pawar, Wendy’s

NASSAU, The Bahamas --- The introduction of the National Prescription Drug Plan by summer, 2010, will help to improve health outcomes among Bahamians, and will also help to preserve the socio-economic development of The Bahamas for future generations, Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis said.

Dr. Minnis said the Plan has the far-reaching impact of assisting Bahamians in receiving much needed medications while ensuring savings for them – monies that could be used in other areas; help keep small, medium and large businesses afloat by increasing productivity in the workplace while decreasing absenteeism as a result of illness, which, by extension, will help to improve the economic development of The Bahamas.

He said a healthy Bahamas also has a positive impact on government spending.

“By decreasing disability and premature death, more capital will be made available for more social and national developmental programmes,” Dr. Minnis said.

Dr. Minnis said health-related illnesses due to chronic, non-communicable diseases (CNCDs), have become one of the greatest causes of bankruptcy worldwide.

He said the negative fall-out from the high prevalence of CNCDs has led to shrinking global economies and job losses, which, in turn, has resulted in some world citizens losing their homes and health insurances and other benefits, while increasing the demand for social services.

CNCDs – which include diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, heart disease and cancer, among others - have also led to the closure of small businesses due to a loss of productivity in the workplace and spiraling health insurance costs; a shrinking middle-class, and more poverty among nations.

“This is not guess work,” Dr. Minnis said. “This is what is happening around the world.

“Bankruptcy, poverty, the shrinking of the middle-class, loss of productivity in the workplace, which has a further bearing on the economy, the particular illness that accounts for most of that is chronic, non-communicable diseases and it is my job as Minister of Health of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to ensure that our nation and citizens remain healthy so as to avoid the aforementioned problems occurring here,” Dr., Minnis added.

The Health Minister said research shows that those countries and/or regions that are experiencing economic “booms” at a time when many other countries and/or regions are still in a global economic decline are doing so because of a sustained improvement of their healthcare systems.

Using the countries of Asia as an example, Dr. Minnis said that from 1965-1990, those countries improved the delivery of their healthcare system, which in turn led to an improvement in the productivity of their citizens.

“As they improved their healthcare system, the Asian countries became one of the more dominant regions today. That’s why it is imperative for me as Minister of Health to ensure that this country has an excellent healthcare system in order to protect our citizens, improve our productivity and subsequently improve our financial status,” Dr. Minnis added.

He said the Government of The Bahamas, through the Ministry of Health and the Department of Public Health, began the same process via improved access to quality primary healthcare in New Providence and many of the Family Islands with the construction and/or renovation of Community Health Centres – particularly in some of the more remote areas of The Bahamas.

The National Prescription Drug Plan, he said, will deliver medical care in a timely fashion and alleviate some of the health problems Bahamians are facing (by) decreasing the burden of payment for medical conditions, “thereby increasing readily disposable cash which can have great positive economic impact on our society; assist in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and (result in) improved health status.”

The spin-off effect, Dr. Minnis said, will be a healthier nation, more productive workforce, more productive business enterprises and better services which will all result in a better economy.

Phase I of the Plan will provide free medications and certain medical supplies to four specific groups including National Insurance Pensioners, NIB Invalids, children Under-18 or Under-25 if the latter were full-time students and Bahamian citizens over 65 years of age who are not eligible to receive NIB pensions either as a result of insufficient contributions for a contributory benefit or, have more than adequate resources for a non-contributory assistance.

Medications covered under the Plan, which is a forerunner to a more comprehensive National Health Insurance Plan, will be used to treat 11 CNCDs such as arthritis, asthma, breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, high cholesterol, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, major depression, prostate cancer and psychosis.