In an apparent attempt to deliver on the "scandalous findings" he promised to make public in relation to the National Food Distribution Task Force, Prime Minister Philip Davis said in Parliament yesterday an NGO that had been involved in the program recently returned $100,000 in cash and equipment valued at another $300,000 to the government.

However, the prime minister did not reveal much else, choosing to withhold the name of the NGO in question, though his speech was released to media with the name included.

Leading off debate on the Mid-Year Budget, Davis briefly adopted a theme that he also used during debate in Parliament in March — suggesting corruption in a program, which operated under the former administration for 70 weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic with $53 million in funding.

The task force assisted the most vulnerable households during the pandemic when thousands of Bahamians were out of work.

But Davis has repeatedly claimed records on spending cannot be found and has suggested monies just vanished.

Speaking yesterday, he said, "We have previously brought to the attention of the public, the startling lack of controls surrounding the previous administration's pandemic food program.

"I can now report that there have been further developments and I suspect much, much more to come.

"After the food program was ended, while other organizations were returning unspent funds to the government ... .an NGO, I have the name here but I wouldn't call it, chose to go on a spending spree."

He added, "Approximately just a month ago, the principal of this NGO returned to the government .... this guy, he returned $100,000 in cash and they still have more to bring.

"This same guy brought back two modified high-end trucks, such as those used to fuel boats, jet-skis and other watercraft.

"And it ain't end there, you know, [he] brought two boats, a speedboat and a barge. They say what's been returned so far is $400,000 and they [are] looking for some more from this person."

Davis said, "The exercise is continuing with respect to the food program."

The prime minister pledged, "We will get to the bottom of it all so the Bahamian people can appreciate what may or may not have gone on."

When he addressed a meeting of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Killarney Constituency Association on Tuesday night, the prime minister urged PLPs to tune into the budget debate to hear "scandalous findings" on the program.

"Despite all their efforts to hide and conceal what they did with the Bahamian people's money, after Hurricane Dorian, and during the pandemic, we will not let it rest," he said.

"We will get the answers that the Bahamian people deserve to hear and we must not let them distract us from what we need to do."

Since shortly after the PLP's election to office in September 2021, the food program has been a political football with the government and opposition sparring inside and outside Parliament.

While making his mid-year budget statement last year, Davis pointed to the task force as he sought to make a case for corruption and a failure to account by the Minnis administration.

He told Parliament at the time there was "extremely poor record-keeping, which characterized all elements of this program". He said it left one to question the true purpose of this program.

"It clearly was not just to address food insecurity," the prime minister said.

The work of the task force wrapped up at the end of September 2021, a date that had been determined prior to the general election, which took place on September 16 and resulted in a change of government.

In January 2022, Financial Secretary Simon Wilson, who had been on leave throughout the Minnis administration's term, claimed that there was no information on the food program found on the files of government agencies. This, notwithstanding the fact that information on the program provided for the World Bank early last year was sent through the Ministry of Finance.

"When we did the initial review, there was no information on the files," he said.

"The way the program was structured, even though it was public funds, it was structured in a manner that no information was made available to the government. So, we move to phase two and we will see what we find."

The prime minister told Parliament last year a review of the work of the National Food Distribution Task Force uncovered some "startling results".

During debate on the mid-year statement in 2022, Davis said the Ministry of Finance had not been able to determine how the $53 million issued to the National Food Distribution Task Force was spent, noting that there are no records on the spending and no standardized reporting of results.

Yesterday, the prime minister said he made his latest revelations on the food program to demonstrate why he has been unable to bring a report on pandemic spending (as required by law) because government money and assets held by some NGOs are still coming in.

The auditor general's audit into the food task force is pending.

The government hopes to slash the country's import bill by $12.5 million with the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources' new egg production project, Golden Yolk, which was launched yesterday. The project seeks to increase Bahamian egg production from 750,000 to more than 27 million eggs per year.

Delivering remarks at an official launch ceremony yesterday, Prime Minister Philip Davis said the Golden Yolk project is an urgent and crucial undertaking that promises to move the needle toward greater food security in The Bahamas.

"The project's three-phase implementation will see the creation of some 90 jobs, over half of which will be based in the Family Islands. These new jobs mean more disposable income for Bahamians, be they from Abaco in the north or Inagua in the south. They also translate to a more robust and diverse economy for our country," he said yesterday.

"Falling under the purview of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation, this project aims to harness the entrepreneurial spirit of our people, supplanting dependency with self-reliance and innovation. Thirty-eight poultry houses are slated for construction across twelve Family Islands, with a further eight earmarked for New Providence. These sites will increase local egg production 30-fold, injecting an additional $2.3 million into our domestic economy. They will also employ numerous grow house workers, all of whom will be guaranteed a liveable wage."

As a part of the sustainable food program, 38 new eggs houses are slated to be established on 12 islands throughout The Bahamas, with an aim for 13 million eggs to be produced in the Family Islands.

"This 'egg-celent' project is not the end result, nor is it the fulfillment of the plans for agriculture. This 'egg-celent' project is but one step in the right direction. Our goals for the Ministry of Agriculture are simple; reduce import dependency, empower Bahamians, grow healthier produce and livestock and establish a national agriculture policy that will provide a strategic roadmap and comprehensive framework for food and agricultural development," Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting said yesterday.

"To support this project and the growth of the sector, we have invested in the purchase of a new feed mill that will increase the availability, consistency and quality to support the 'egg-celent' program and the increase of poultry, but also livestock production throughout the country. This is the first investment in a feed mill in over 40 years."

Sweeting said his ministry is also establishing greenhouse parks throughout the country to assist in the production of leafy greens and vegetables.

Nylah Symonette was always taught to love and care for others. She saw a great example of this in her mom, Nakera Symonette, and members of her immediate family. She continues to "walk" in their footsteps.

Nylah, 10, a sixth-grade student at Queen's College, recently launched two campaigns simultaneously - "Stamp Out Hunger" and "POSH Girls Symposium" - with the goals to assist, however she could, those people that may go to bed hungry for the simple reason that they did not have anything to eat, and to help girls like herself understand that they are loved and to inspire them to be passionate, optimistic, strong, and healthy.

"I didn't want to be someone that realized [that there are people going to bed hungry] and did nothing about it. I wanted to be the change and to make a difference in the lives of others."

For her "Stamp Out Hunger" initiative, Nylah collected donated Quality Stamps from people at her school, church, and the community at large, which she in turn utilized to purchase food items to donate to the needy.

Her goal at the start of the initiative was to feed at least 50 families.

She started the initiative in December 2022 as she wanted to ensure people had food for the holidays. She extended the initiative into January 2023. It is ongoing.

"I hoped to raise about $500 worth of stamps, but we ended up raising $2,678 worth of stamps, so far."

Nylah also received an anonymous donation of 15 cases of tuna which she donated to the Bahamas Feeding Network. The preteen also made a donation to a family in need through her church and school outreach programs.

She also had people donate cash to her as well as other non-perishable food items, all

of which she said will go toward the cause.

"POSH on the other hand was created to boost self-esteem - especially having heard about the recent suicides during the COVID pandemic among persons we thought were 'strong'. I wanted young girls to understand the importance of being passionate, optimistic, strong, and healthy - all things that help us to feel confident in and about ourselves. I wanted them to know that they are loved, no matter what."

Nylah was able to have Ann Marie Davis, wife of the prime minister, speak to her peers. Davis shared valuable lessons on each of the elements of POSH and spoke to the value of the program.

Nylah's POSH Symposium, which is expected to become an annual event, was geared toward her fifth and sixth-grade female peers. It is expected to become an annual event.

Philanthropy is not new to the daughter of Nakera and Richard Symonette, but her recent initiatives are by far the most public.

"I have participated in many initiatives since I was a toddler. These included cancer walks, reading to children at schools, donation of gifts to the Bahamas Children's Emergency Hostel, community cleanup drives, and donations to the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group. I also helped to organize care packages for the survivors of Hurricane Dorian.

"Since I was a little girl, [my mom] introduced me to service and giving without expecting anything in return. Going along with her to charity and community events helped to develop this spirit even more. My brother [Riley Symonette] and I have even joined our mom during her visits to donate blood. We wanted to give as well but were told we have to be 16 years of age or older, and I am looking to give in this way soon as well."

The preteen believes all children her age should have a spirit of love for humankind. She said it is important because it will help to mold them into responsible and kind-hearted adults.

"The Bible teaches us to love our neighbor and one way to do this is through philanthropy. And while we should give without expecting anything in return, we never know when and if we will be the one in need."

Nylah, Queen's College's nominee in the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation awards, is a 3.90 cumulative grade point average student.

She describes the nomination as an "honor".

"I feel delighted to know that all of my hard work and dedication has paid off in such a rewarding way. I also really enjoy using this platform to be an encouragement to my peers."

And at a young age, has taken her education, seriously.

"Education is described as the process of giving or receiving instruction and to me this means being able to receive information in a manner where it is being taught to you by a teacher. Education is very important in character development and helped me to be where I am today. Education prepares you to face the world. What you learn can never be taken away."

Queen's College is also a Lighthouse Leadership School which teaches their students daily to discover the leader within themselves through study of the Seven Habits which Nylah said she enjoys as they are lessons that will help her through the rest of her life.

Consumer prices were up six percent in December 2022 over the same period in 2021 with the recreation, food and non-alcoholic beverages, and restaurant and hotels categories up 21 percent, 16 percent and 13 percent, respectively, according to The Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI).

BNSI reported that diesel prices were up 27 percent, and gasoline prices rose seven percent compared to the period in 2021.

However, compared to November 2022, diesel prices dropped 0.5 percent, while gasoline prices declined by 0.4 percent for the month of December 2022.

In its December report, released yesterday, the BNSI said the monthly inflation rate in The Bahamas, which represents the overall change in prices, for December 2022 decreased by 0.4 percent when compared to November 2022.

"This decrease is reflected in the overall price of items purchased by the average consumer during this period," the BNSI said.

"This December 2022 decrease followed a 0.1 percent decrease between the months of October and November 2022."

The institute also reported that the transportation category saw a decline in December 2022 of 11 percent when compared to the previous month.

Furniture and household also recorded a decline of 0.6 percent.

However, over this same period, recreation and culture along with miscellaneous goods and services saw increases of three percent each for the month of December.

The inflation rate in The Bahamas rose steadily throughout 2022 with the sharpest rise occurring year over year in July when there was a 7.1 percent increase.

Gasoline and diesel prices were up significantly for much of last year.

In May, diesel prices were up 52.37 percent and gasoline prices were up 30.39 percent.

In June, diesel prices were up 51.11 percent and gas prices were up 36.47 percent.

In November, diesel prices were up 30.96 percent and gas prices were up 12.57 percent.

On Monday, Central Bank Governor John Rolle said that after a year of economic growth in 2022, The Bahamas is expected to see continued healthy economic recovery in 2023, with projected economic growth anywhere in the four to six percent range. He warned, however, that inflation will continue to add pressures.

Rolle said based on established trends, The Bahamas has not seen the worst just yet.

"It's difficult for us to say whether inflation in The Bahamas has peaked yet," he said.

"I think what people ... observed is that the published inflation rates in The Bahamas have been lower than those in the United States.

"To the extent that we are trailing the United States, we could conceivably see a further rise in the rate of inflation before it starts to taper off.

"That is not to say that we will see a one-to-one rate of inflation at its highest point as there was in the US. That point is very important to note.

"The concern that central banks have in general about prolonged inflation is that if it isn't dealt with, it will become a distraction and lead to less than optional activity on the part of businesses, in terms of how they are doing their investment planning.

"It could lead to uncontrolled spiraling in terms of pressures in the wage setting and negotiation process in the private sector, so you could have almost a self-sustaining process of inflation that is not even grounded in what's' going on, in terms of the supply and the demand for goods and services.

"So getting inflation under control is also about making certain that we somehow soothe expectations and concerns that might lead to additional inflation."