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Agriculture and Marine Resources, Min. Of > About Us > Minster Budget Speech

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Minister's Budget Speech, 2008-2009 Mr. Speaker; I am delighted to be afforded another opportunity to rise in this place to represent the good and gracious people of Long Island and Ragged Island and to make my contribution to this 2009 - 2010 debate on the Recurrent and Capital Estimates and essential Appropriation Bills before this House. Mr. Speaker; As I sat and listened to the vacillations of the Members from the other side, and the many portions of poetry read It reminded me of a quote by W.B. Yeats when he wrote in one of his Essays; “We make out of the quarrel with others, rhetoric; but of the quarrel with ourselves, poetry.” We have heard both rhetoric and poetry from that side, Yeats suggests why; We understand the poetry but it is not very clear why the rhetoric, because when you reflect on the outstanding programs that have been initiated by this government to help the less fortunate in this country, who are our people and their people; when you are aware of the state of affairs leading up to these recessionary times; when you examine the Capital and Recurrent Estimates placed before this House by the Right Honourable Member for North Abaco and note the priorities of this government, one can only marvel at the dissatisfaction from that side over such an outstanding job being done by this Government and the Right Honourable Member, the Minister of Finance, our Prime Minister. Mr. Speaker, I am and will try to remain a humble man, a servant of the Bahamian people. To the Bahamian people and especially those of Long Island and Ragged Island, I will endeavour to remain their humble servant and faithful friend. I am always readily available to serve my people and can be reached by electronic mail as well as by telephone or fax here in Nassau and through the constituency office in Long Island daily and on alternate Fridays each month I make myself available in presence at the Constituency Office. Mr. Speaker, We enter this year's Budget Debate in the midst of the most challenging global economy in our nation's history. We are facing unprecedented economic challenges and cannot operate "business as usual" and the Budget for fiscal year 2009/2010 is perhaps one of the most important in recent history. It is important not just for the 12-month period but also in defining the path which the government wishes the country to take, over the medium to long term. Consequently, this debate takes on greater importance. The world is experiencing a severe economic contraction not seen since the great depression over 75 years ago. All over the world: economies are slowing, businesses are closing and jobs are vanishing. Under this weight, some of the oldest and largest companies in the world have buckled. In this climate, economies many times larger and richer than The Bahamas have collapsed. Navigating our way through these challenging times will require tough decisions and shared sacrifice. Mr. Speaker; This Budget demonstrates the character and genius of our esteemed leader the Hon member for North Abaco, the Minister of Finance and our Prime Minister. He has the wisdom to know what to do next, the skill of knowing how to do it, and the virtue and political will to do it. Mr. Speaker; Long Island and Ragged Islanders are happy to support the Appropriation Bills, the efforts of this government and the progress made as well as the plans for the future. I speak on their behalf. Mr. Speaker, This Budget, foreshadows a total overall spending of almost $1.8 Billion. ($1.53 Billion in Recurrent and $255 million in estimated Capital expenditure) While the overall recurrent spending proposed is down by some $38.9 million, capital expenditure is up by $4.76 million higher than that of the last budget. Mr. Speaker; It is important to understand the assumptions underpinning the numbers and the presenter would have noted the cut in items such as vehicles, furniture, computers etc. for the most part. Despite the economic crunch though additional major works such as the dredging of Nassau Harbour, the extensive airport projects and the ongoing road repairs, especially in New Providence are in the planning and would account for a good slice of the capital expenditure. Mr. Speaker All need to know that: this budget is based on a developmental planning approach, we are not like some others, who spent five years talking and “planning to plan”. Yes, five years of pie in the sky anchor projects that could not find a good mooring. No Sir, this budget is focused on ensuring that the development agenda of this government is continued towards achievement. The Minister of Finance and Prime Minister clearly outlined the major imperatives, which underpin the development process. Mr. Speaker, I commend the government for achieving the support and consideration of a good portion of the civil service in accepting a reduction in recurrent expenditure, while at the same time committing to providing adequate resources for the maintenance of government assets including roads, airports, docks, Nassau Harbour and buildings. Those who have not been able to understand the fact that it is belt tightening time, I urge them to surf the web and learn of the global situation, because it is clear that either they are uninformed or just plain irrational. Mr. Speaker; If I was sitting next to the Prime Minister I would be constantly shaking his hand for preparing a budget, which I truly believe, coupled with the aid programs implemented throughout the year, and employment opportunities being created, will bridge the divide and will ensure that we bring many and keep others above the poverty line,....... not below, ......but above the poverty line during the fiscal period and these uncertain economic times. Mr. Speaker, We on this side are not here to only talk the talk but to walk the walk. We have been elected to rescue and restore The Bahamas to a place of peace, production and prosperity, a place of tranquility and harmony. This is why all will do well to remember that “attitude is the apparel in which our personalities parade before the public, and that we should never clothe them with arrogant, vulgar and shoddy attire.” (7 minutes) The Constituency Mr. Speaker; My contribution is two fold. For the next few minutes, I will speak to matters pertaining to my constituency and the well being of the good and gracious people of Long Island and Ragged Island. Following that I will discuss how my Ministry and Departments plan to implement the programs to be funded by these Estimates. Mr. Speaker;We know that every single detail pertaining to the community cannot be addressed during this presentation. But I will endeavour to explain and mention some of the provisions outlined. Firstly, allow me to assure my constituents that there is much to be gained from this budget and that I will continue to make myself available to meet with all sectors of the community to crystallize and prioritize our plans. Let me me assure the people of The Bahamas, that there are exciting programs in this budget for the youth, sports facilities and programs, economic opportunities and employment creation initiatives. Mr. Speaker; The islands of my constituency are well poised for development. We are also very fortunate to have new developments scheduled to come on stream, which I intend to follow closely to ensure that the island prepares for the opportunities that they present. Constituency Allowance Mr. Speaker, I am obliged to give an accounting of my use of the $100,000 provided for constituency projects over the current fiscal period. As I indicated during the Mid-term Budget review, the projects of 2007-2008 fiscal year ran over the budgeted amount and a portion (approximately $7,000) of this years amount had to be used to offset the left over bills on the settlement sign project and Millerton’s Basketball court. $10,000 were spent on computers; four laptops for the two High schools and one personal computer each for the five Primary schools and one all-age school. $15,000 were allocated to the Local Government District Council of Ragged Island to be used to supplement their capital development program for the settlement of Duncan Town. The remaining $68,000 has been committed for additional settlement signage and the construction of gazebos at popular picnic spots on Long island. The entire amount has been committed. Mr. Speaker; In light of the economic climate the constituency funds will not be made available in the next fiscal year. The decision to cut back on this privilege is understood and accepted as a meaningful and necessary one. We managed without it prior to 2007 and will have to get on without it again until economic times are better. Mr. Speaker The community of Long Island is expanding. The regular local Developments as well as other tourism related initiatives currently on the way will require a reliable supply of water. The pattern of excessive recent down pours followed by excessive droughts believed to be associated with climate change and global warming have certainly exacerbated the problems experienced by Water and Sewerage on the island, accounting for renewed focus to address the islands needs in the upcoming fiscal period. The current status will be re-examined and a determination made on the overall impact as it relates to the water problems now plaguing the Constituency. Mr. Speaker, this is urgent. And I will not sleep nor rest until the water issues of Long Island and Ragged Island are addressed and completed. The people of Salt Pond, Clarence Town and Duncan Town, in particular, deserve much better and it will take an FNM government to ensure that the people on our Family Islands are taken care of. Mr. Speaker, We are all familiar with the soaring price of petroleum products late last year, many would have heard about the challenge of the lion fish and the sudden drop in the price of crawfish last season coupled with the erratic weather conditions and the depletion of the sponge bars as a result of the down pour from Tropical Storm Noel in late 2007. These caused an extreme decline in financial returns for my constituents and the loss of business income to many. This situation caused persons to migrate from the constituency and has contributed in large measure to the sluggish economy on the islands. As outlined in the Unemployment Benefit Report circulated recently, several persons on the island’s joined the unemployment benefit lines. This is not true to form for Family Islanders. They like to provide for themselves. Mr. Speaker I made a promise to my constituents to do my best to bring the constituency on par with the rest of the Bahamas and this I intend to keep. Towards this end, plans are well underway for the rebuilding of the government dock at Salt Pond and negotiations are going on between the government and the land owners in Seymour’s for the construction of a new road from Queen’s Highway to Columbus Monument at the end of the island. Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the people of Long Island and Ragged Island that this government through our joint efforts will ensure that many of the roads in the constituency will be repaired. I speak of side roads such as O’Neils Road, McKann’s and White House Back Roads, Ragged Island road from the settlement to Gun Point and agriculture feeder farm roads Mr. Speaker, We are aware that “Rome was not built in a day”, and all the needs of The Bahamas cannot be met in one year. We must therefore prioritize. There are other areas of concerns in my constituency which are not addressed at this time but are worthy of attention and therefore mention. For example; The Deadman’s Cay airport terminal building, the back road in Simms - this road is required to connect the northern area of the island to the rest of the community during times of hurricane or severe flooding. The restoration of this will help spur further housing development in the area. Feasibility studies are to be undertaken at the earliest opportunity. Other roads needing attention are Bridgewater Road, Bains and Morrises Roads, Neily Miller’s Road, Hogan’s Road, Diamond Crystal Road, Galloway Road and Carlton Hill Road. Similarly, the road that once connected Roses to Mortimer’s via Hogans Road to the salt ponds and farm land near the north coast of Mortimer’s, the completion of Queen’s Highway to the southern tip of the island and the road that runs from Scrubhill to Turtle Rock along the ocean side. A commitment has already been made to open a driveable road along the edge of the Red Pond in Gray’s from Boat Harbour to Eastern Harbour in the Bight to permit straw crafters to access silver tops for their straw work. Mr. Speaker; The reservation of beaches and beach access will be continually claimed until public access is available to all and sundry who may seek to use any of the many beautiful beaches on this lovely island. Mr. Speaker; I am happy to report that Long Island now has in place a Youth, Sports and Culture Officer in the person of young, vibrant and energetic Jermaine Adderley and Pastor James Fox has been appointed recently as a Fisheries Officer for the island. Similarly, the Royal Bahamas Police Force placed on Long Island for the first time in our history a new 27 foot sea craft for Marine patrol. The people of Long Island are more than grateful to the government for these additions that will go a long way in assisting our youth and in helping to break the back of illegal unreported and unregulated fishing practices and other criminal activities that may occur on the sea. Mr. Speaker, We are all familiar with the adage that the health of a nation is the wealth of a nation. In Long Island there are some matters to be addressed in this fiscal year regarding the health facilities and other provisions there, while Ragged Island’s situation with regard to a medical practitioner on the island is currently being addressed. Over the past year the Doctor in North Long Island returned to her native home leaving a vacancy in that area. This is being addressed as I speak and I am informed that a General Practitioner should be in place shortly. Mr. Speaker. The Clinics on these islands are being maintained and now that we are in the hurricane season, every step is being taken to ensure that medical supplies, the back up generators and morgue facilities are in standby mode. Mr. Speaker; Long Island and Ragged Island, like the rest of the South Eastern islands were left dejected and wanting for many things by our predecessors. There was much talk, in fact they are still doing plenty talking. There were many promises. There was a plan, as the Indian chief said once: big wind, plenty dust, but no rain. We on this side don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk and lead by example. We have a team that is set on a course to reform this country and with God’s help, that we will doAnd Long Island and Ragged Island will be a part of the mix. Mr. Speaker; I now move to the business of the Ministry of Agriculture & Marine Resources with responsibility for Cooperatives and Credit Unions. The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation is also appended to this Ministry and since its Executive Chairman is also an Honourable Member of this Chamber with representation responsibility for South Abaco, I asked him to address matters related to that Corporation. We would have heard from him last night of the exciting plans BAIC has to increase agricultural output and to grow more food for our people. I commend him for his efforts and pledge my support and that of the Ministry to the programs of BAIC for the fiscal year. Mr. Speaker; The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources shares the Vision which was cast by the Food and Agriculture Organization, an integral arm of the United Nations, which is, “the provision of food for all, and the elimination of hunger globally”. In pursuit of the same, we have accelerated the strengthening of our organizational structure for greater relevancy, efficiency and effectiveness of customer service, as well as for the facilitation of research, quality assurance, and greater production and output of foods at the national level. From this vision, we were able to craft an appropriate Mission Statement as follows: – “The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources will use its legal obligation and portfolio to effectively utilize its resources of finances, infrastructure, equipment, implements, instruments, apparatus and technical expertise to facilitate the expansion of the Agriculture, Marine Resources and Agri-business sectors to their optimum production levels.”The mission describes what we are involved in on a daily basis, expending our efforts relentlessly, to achieve the lofty twin goals of a greater level of food security and the self-sufficiency of locally grown and produced foods and handicrafts. Toward that end, a raft of strategies have been designed and are being implemented. A. CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS Mr. Speaker; I begin with Capital Works Projects and the Estimates. Whereas some progress was made in capital development in this past fiscal period, administrative challenges, coupled with the global economic woes, have retarded our efforts to some extent. These works are designed to further improve buildings, infrastructure, equipment, instrumentation and to ameliorate the working conditions of the staff. In that regard the projects listed below will be continued, and brought to successful completion during 2009/2010 fiscal cycle. Mr. Speaker; We are pleased to announce that the total funding for the Ministry’s capital works in the next fiscal year is $4,342,100, up by $140,543 from last year’s allocation; up Mr. Speaker when economic times are hard. In 2006-2007 when the economy was doing so good, those on the other side, who now have such a great interest in agriculture, would only consider giving the Ministry $1.737million for capital works. Not even half of what this government is doing ($4.342million) when the economy is so sluggish. Mr. Speaker; The Honourable Member for Fort Charlotte tried to give the impression that the estimates for Agriculture are down compared to last year. This is not so. Actually, the areas of more need are up, and like every other ministry and department items like furniture, vehicles and computers are among those that have suffered severe cuts. To make a long story short Mr. Speaker; The Ministry (Head 56) Recurrent Estimates is receiving $5.141 million, up by $709,681 over last year and almost $2million more than 2006-2007, when times were so prosperous. The Department of Agriculture (Head 57) receives $7.95 million down by $359,811, largely due to cuts in personal emoluments, furniture, vehicles etc. Marine Resources Department received similar cuts totalling $306,076, ending up with $2.219million an increase over the 2006-07 estimates of $2.08million. Cooperatives retained its $250,000 and BAIC gets an extra $1 million for a total of $2.5 million. Now, Mr. Speaker; In 2006-07 when the country was bursting at its seams with prosperity and the New PLP was in power the Ministry and its Departments received a grand total of $15,609,733, This current year (2008 -2009) the total is $21,359,603 and for the next fiscal period it is estimated to be $22,543,940, an increase of $1.2million. Not down Mr. Speaker, but UP. Mr. Speaker; I move now to the Produce Exchanges and Packing Houses (Head 56, Item737220) The 2009/2010 Budget seeks to address the problems affecting the marketing infrastructure in the agricultural sector by allocating an additional $150,000 to last year’s allocation of $750,000, to make a total of $900,000 for this item. Produce Exchange, Potter’s Cay As you may be aware, the work on the Produce Exchange on Potter’s Cay has been protracted, and is progressing far below our expectation. It is my considered opinion, which parallels the prevailing views of my Ministry, and that of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, that the initial method and approach did not yield the desired result, because of flaws, which can be attributed to the constant delays. The staff of this facility have endured a less than adequate working environment, for far too long now, while the rodent infestation and unsanitary conditions have exacerbated the situation. Consequently, the marketing and sales of produce from the various Family Islands are at an all-time low. This could result in massive losses to the country and tax payers if allowed to continue. As plans are being considered for the privatization of this facility to improve efficiency and effectiveness, it is expected that the agency which will be given carriage and responsibility will assist with additional funding for the upgrade. Refrigerated containers and temporary office trailers have been installed for use during the completion of the construction works at the Potters Cay facility. The estimated cost to bring it to conclusion is $73,060. In addition, it is to be noted that during the last fiscal period, lavatories were upgraded at Potter’s Cay at a total cost of $36,235. These funds were provided from the Budget of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Mr. Speaker; This is not a time for recrimination, recrudescence nor undue remonstration about past policy errors. Whether those who governed before us were wrong on some issues, is no longer the central issue. Neither is it a time for baseless criticisms and obstructionism in the face of these new and unprecedented challenges. We are where we are. Understanding how we got here, while important, as it avoids repetition of past mistakes, must take second place to charting a new course out of our national predicament. The Hon. Member for St. Thomas Moore in his contribution to the Budget Debate on Monday, specifically addressing the agricultural sector cited the decline in the sector’s contribution to the GDP of the country. He noted that the Ministry of Agriculture, was quite cognizant of its position with respect to the important contribution to the sector. He thought it wise to display some undated photos in this place which he laid on the table, photos that bore no indication of where or when they were actually taken. We are asked to take his word for gospel, because he said they are from Potter’s Cay. His claims regarding the progress of the Ministry in increasing its manpower over the past 40 years and his ambitious claim of hyperbolic statistical comparison of agricultural production of today in relation to the past leaves me dumbfounded. Dumbfounded because there is no way that the Honourable Member can substantiate his claims, because food is produced and consumed on almost every island and cay in this country and little record keeping is done in this regard. He actually said one tenth of production. The Member for St. Thomas Moore has a good camera. You would agree that his photos of a broken toilet bears no resemblance of the type of work that our Ministry of Works would sign off on for a $36,325 value. The toilets at Potter’s Cay which were broken and left to fix themselves when his government was in office are now fixed and working. It is still puzzling to me when or where the photos were taken. I believe his good camera disappointed him because in his words “the fan in the photo was not turning” and it didn’t show a rat he wanted to be there. Maybe the rat ran off the picture when it heard all the untruths. Produce Exchange, Freeport Mr. Speaker; As regards the Produce Exchange in Freeport, a contract, valued in excess of $300,000, was issued in late November last year and the works commenced in February 2009. The progress has been unsatisfactorily slow, but when completed the building would have more office space, better storage area and refrigerated coolers that actually work. It will certainly add flair to the adjacent market and the city of Freeport. Packing House, Exuma Mr. Speaker; With respect to the Packing House in Exuma, the farmers and the general public on that island have been without this vital facility since the flooding from tropical storm Noel, in late October 2007. My office, as well as those of other officials in the Ministry, has been inundated with complaints from the residents, concerning its closure, and the negative impact that this has had upon the Agricultural Sector, which has seen a general decline in production. In January of this year, I made the solemn pledge to provide a new Packing House for Exuma, but it cannot happen overnight. We want to give Exuma a Packing House that will weather future storms and flooding with ease. At first we were trying to find land to relocate the building, but this failing it was decided to build at the same site at Mt. Thompson, but this calls for an elevated foundation, plans, permit, contract and all the rest. Mr. Speaker; These things don’t happen overnight. I trust the Honourable Member for Exuma can appreciate the progressive steps that must be taken before such a building can be completed. However, Exumians will be delighted to know that at the behest of my Ministry, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport has completed the assessment with all the drawings. At an estimated cost of $280,000.00 they will have built a new packing house with the requisite coolers, along with an operational corn mill. Hatchet Bay Packing House Similarly, the Hatchet Bay Packing House, which is a part of the economic life blood of the Central Eleuthera District and has only been operating at about 50% to 60% of its full capacity for some years now, due to its state of disrepair and the total failure of the refrigeration unit, will be upgraded in this fiscal year. Farmers’ Market On another matter, Mr. Speaker; related to marketing of farm produce, the Ministry and BAIC are looking into the possibility of making available to farmers in New Providence, space just outside the Gladstone Road Agricultural Centre for establishing a Farmers’ Market. It is the view of the Ministry that effective marketing of farm produce could be achieved with minimum involvement of the Government and the success of several privately organized Farmers’ Market here in New Providence attests to this. The Ministry will therefore provide basic infrastructure such as lavatory, the fenced in space and electricity and water outlets and it is expected that interested farmers will be able to organize themselves to maintain a clean, safe and attractive environment for the sale of their produce. Mr. Speaker; I move now to Re-Development Of Arawak Cay (Head 56, Item 542775) The Free National Movement Government under the visionary and intrepid leadership of the Right Honourable Hubert A. Ingraham, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, has made a pledge to upgrade the Arawak Cay Cultural and Heritage Center and Down Home Fish Fry to a cultural mecca in the region. We were able to maintain that commitment during the 2008/2009 Fiscal Period, by carrying out improvements in the amount of $386,000. These include replacement of the sewer main to eliminate blockages, and enable large stalls to install private toilets for their patrons, and ensure that the licensees install grease traps, and are compliant with all of the requirements for licensure. During the 2009/2010 Budget Year, additional improvements, funded to the tune of $250,000, will be carried out to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness, as well as raise the level of aesthetics, security and sanitation of the area. Renovation of the Levy Building (Head 56, Item 831780) The Levy Building currently hosts the Headquarters of the Ministry, BAIC and the Departments of Agriculture and Cooperative Societies. For a few years now, the accommodations have been marred, much to the annoyance of all of the occupants, by the malfunctioning of the plumbing and electrical infrastructure; and the structural integrity is questionable as well. The state of disrepair has disrupted normal business in the past and has contributed to low productivity. An assessment was conducted by the Ministry of Public Works & Transport, which produced a scope of works and cost estimate; but due to the depressed global economic conditions, however, only the most urgent prioritized repair works, consisting of mechanical and electrical works, would be carried out using the allocated $150,000 in the upcoming fiscal year. I wish to note that in the medium term, the Ministry might have to be be re-located, if the Government is able to construct suitable accommodations. Mr. Speaker; The funds allocated for the two items Development and Improvement of Gladstone Road Agricultural Centre (GRAC) (Head 56, Item 721700) & Development of Central Agricultural Station (Item 739310) combined amount to $220,000. Much work needs to be done in the development of the Gladstone Road Agricultural Centre, but given the present economic austerity, a review would have to be carried out to establish the essential work to be effected in the coming fiscal year; and an overall plan would have to be drawn up for incremental development. The Centre has, during the last year or so, been targeted by thieves, who have taken advantage of the fact that there is no fencing. As a result, equipment, supplies, produce and livestock have been stolen. In addition there is an urgent need to establish a night fold for the protection of sheep and goats from dogs. The development of a research and demonstration unit in North Andros will offer practical examples of modern agricultural production while simultaneously providing much needed research in the crop and livestock production. Development/Maintenance of Produce/Marine Market (Head 56, Item 739320) As regards the proposed re-development of Potter’s Cay Dock, several attempts have been made during the last twenty years to re-design, re-structure and improve the infrastructure and vendoring activities, with no visible success. Currently, at the behest of the Inter American Development Bank, a proposal is being considered from a Public-Private Partnership perspective. However, a Master Plan will be developed with the assistance of all of the stakeholders. After further adjustments have been made regarding the goals and expected outcomes, a full-scale master plan, inclusive of estimated cost and an implementation strategy, will be provided. Given the economic conditions at this time, work will have to be highly prioritized, so as to put to optimum use the allocated $30,000. Promotion of Agro-Enterprises (Head 56, Item 911927) Funds for this item in this year’s budget remain at $250,000 and are to be expended in the promotion of agro-enterprises on various islands to foster, develop and expand new and under-utilized crops for export and processing. Also benefiting under this Item will be the Urban Backyard Garden Programme and the proposed Greenhouse Development Project. Expo 2009 The National Annual Agricultural, Marine Resources and Agri-business Exposition, which was formerly referred to as the Commonwealth Fair, was revived as an initiative to expose locally grown and produced goods, to increase local demand and usage. It was held from 26 to 28 February 2009 at a total cost of $249,375; revenue totaled $152,750. It was organized and executed by the Ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, the College of The Bahamas, the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation, the Bahamas Agricultural Producers Association, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture and other stakeholders in the Agri-business Sector. Due to the enthusiasm from the agricultural, marine resources and agri-business producers evidenced by the overwhelming participation of vendors, along with the concomitant high level of support and encouragement from the public, this introductory, first-step initiative has mushroomed into a programme. Subsequently, in order to accommodate the numerous demands from Family Island producers, it was decided to extend the programme to seven islands. The intent is to have a National Committee appointed with complete representation from the three sectors, and with delegated authority and autonomy. Local committees will be appointed on each of the seven islands to organize local expositions to coincide with Regattas and Home Coming Celebrations and Festivals. Based on past performances and expenditures, it has been projected that in order to successfully run this national programme it will cost approximately $400,000.00, and toward that end the requisite funding is being put in place. It is our conviction that the money would be spent wisely in that a direct impact would be made on the expansion of the sectors, and would catapult us toward the achievement of a greater degree of self-sufficiency and security in foods, while concurrently reducing imports on foods and saving foreign currency. Mr. Speaker; I would like to table a copy of the Expo’s program booklet and a copy of the income and expense report at this time. Urban Backyard Garden ProgrammeThe Urban Backyard Garden Programme was conceptualized as an initiative to combat the continual soaring food prices, and conform with the mandate of the Food and Agriculture Organization to individual countries across the globe to impose measures that would assist in the stabilization of food prices and keep it within the reach of ordinary citizens, thus reducing hunger in the world. Once again, this initiative grew almost exponentially in popularity and has developed into a programme. The over-arching goal of this programme is to encourage persons residing in the city centers of The Bahamas to reduce their well-manicured lawns and ornamental spaces, and increase their vegetable, root crop and fruit gardens. The response from the public both in Grand Bahama and New Providence has exceeded the expectation of the Ministry, as more than 1,000 persons have participated in the workshops and have started gardens in their backyards. However the good news has spread to the Family Islands and numerous requests are being received daily; therefore a critical decision has to be made in that regard. My Ministry is of the view that this programme will also make its impact in the agricultural sector. Pilot Food Processing Plant (Head 56, Item 737210) In the upcoming fiscal year the sum of $400,000 has been allocated for developments and improvements in the area of food processing, which is an important aspect of agriculture, as it adds value to farm produce and thus raises farmers’ income. Food Processing Lab The continued promotion of agro-processing by the Ministry creates the need for upgrading and replacement of equipment at the Food Processing Laboratory. Additionally, renovations are needed on the physical structure: repairs to the storage rooms and the smoke house and replacement of cooling facilities. Chemistry Lab In addition, the planned improved capacity of the Chemistry Laboratory to conduct analysis on food products and food production inputs, will allow for the testing for hormones, heavy metals, pesticides and other contaminants; and will therefore necessitate the acquisition of testing equipment. Tomato Bottling Plant Funds from this Item will also be used to establish a food processing facility in Central Eleuthera, principally for the bottling of tomatoes. Training Workshops The Ministry has conducted several training workshops in food processing in a number of Family Islands for residents interested in cottage industries. Some of the products prepared included pepper sauces, papaya jam, guava jam, pineapple jam, bottled tomatoes, carrot juice and pickled peppers. S.U.R.E. Programme Additionally, a selected group of participants of the S.U.R.E. Programme of the Ministry of Education, which is designed to assist boys who have exhibited disruptive behavior in High Schools, were trained at the Food Processing Laboratory on Gladstone Road in the manufacture of a number of preserved items which were quite successfully marketed by the students at the Agricultural Expo in February 2009. Diagnostic Laboratory (Head 56, Item 733615) In the 2009/2010 Budget, provisions are made for $250,000 for a Diagnostic Laboratory. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory There are several components to our efforts in regards to laboratory facilities, the first being the need to establish and staff a Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to support the further development of the livestock industry. This facility is critical to the emergency preparedness for outbreaks such as avian influenza and swine flu and the possible pandemics that may result from them. Microbiology Laboratory The second component is the need for the Department of Marine Resources to ensure continued access for Bahamian seafood products to international markets, particularly those in the United States and the European Union by virtue of its ability to verify and certify compliance of fishery products with the established entry requirements in these markets. The Microbiology Laboratory at the Food Safety and Technology Laboratory on Gladstone Road now participates in the Proficiency Testing program of the Association of Analytical Communities International. All of the results submitted by this laboratory have been deemed satisfactory. To achieve a higher level of assurance the Food Safety & Technology Laboratories are in the process of taking steps to be internationally recognized as being fully accredited to perform these tasks. A commitment has been made with Laboratory Accreditation Bureau, a private company in Indiana, USA, to conduct a Pre-Assessment of the Chemistry and Microbiology Laboratories of the facility. Further, the Department is making efforts to conform with the new European Export Certificate requirements which relate to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing concerns. WTO Compliance The third component of the Ministry’s laboratory regime is the need, in light of the Prime Minister’s statement that negotiations for our formal accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) should be concluded in three years, to upgrade our testing and diagnostic facilities for farm goods, so that they are compliant with WTO standards. In this regard, also, the Ministry is presently looking at participation more fully in the committees of the Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Agreement of the WTO; and membership in the World Organization for Animal Health, which is the WTO-recognized International Standard-Setting Body for animal health. Eradication of Stray Animals - Canine Control (Head 56, Item 542730) There has been an increase of $20,000 in the allocation for eradication of stray animals, from last year’s $80,000 to $100,000 this year. This will finance improvement to the Canine Control Unit in New Providence including the infrastructure to house the Canine Control Programme, to purchase additional traps for dogs and raccoons and to expand the capture program to Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera. There are also plans to establish an animal control unit in Central Eleuthera during this new fiscal year. Draft legislation is now being reviewed that would repeal the existing Canine Control Act and introduce a more comprehensive legal instrument covering a wider range of animals. Disaster Relief to Farmers (Head 56, Item 542630) Disaster Relief Fund $100,000 have been allocated this year to be used as a Disaster Relief Fund to provide assistance to registered farmers and fishermen, who may suffer damages from natural disasters such as hurricanes, flood and fire. Crop Insurance The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization is continuing its examination of the feasibility of a crop insurance to cover damages caused by floods, high winds and hurricanes. It is expected that a lead technical consultant from Rome will visit The Bahamas in late July of this year to discuss with Ministry officials the various options that are available, given the size of the farming population here in The Bahamas. Acquisition of Tugs and Boats (Head 56, Item 711120) With the designation by the Government of six Marine Protected Areas, the Department of Marine Resources will now be able to purchase additional vessels, with the allocated $140,000, to patrol the sites. Work on the first three sites to be declared, namely, South Berry Islands, North Bimini and Exuma (Jewfish Cays), is nearing completion. It is expected that these three areas will soon be legally declared as Marine Protected Areas, to be followed by the installation of boundary demarcations, completion and implementation of management plans, the production of educational materials, and the acquisition of required personnel and equipment. Work on the other three areas, North Abaco, South Eleuthera and Exuma, is being continued. Research, Surveys, Studies and Evaluations (Head 56, Item 521400) In the 2009/20010 Budget, $150,000 has been set aside for research, surveys, studies and evaluations. Much valuable work will be carried out during the year to enhance the Ministry’s management capacities regarding our natural resources such as the soil, the sea and the forests. One area that I wish to highlight is the research that will be done by the Department of Marine Resources in scientifically cataloguing and quantifying the fisheries stocks in The Bahamas, as a necessary part of the boundary delimitation exercise between us and our neighbours. Agriculture Development, Family Islands (Head 56, Item 542751) For the promotion of specific crop production programmes in the Family Islands, such as the establishment of Persian lime orchards in North Andros to replace imported limes, the Budget has allocated $150,000 for the acquisition of specialized planting and harvesting equipment. Initiative for Soaring Food Prices (ISFP) In addition, a portion of these funds will support the ongoing joint FAO/Ministry Initiative for Soaring Food Prices, (ISFP), which is FAO’s response to the dramatic increase in food prices that began in 2007. Despite the fact that food prices were rising, it was found that these increases were not being felt at the primary sites of production, the farms themselves. Farmers were being disadvantaged because they were not able, because of the high prices, to purchase the many food items that they did not produce. This ISFP programme was therefore conceived to assist farmers in producing basic food crops such as corn, bean and sweet potato, to provide food for themselves. FAO provided a fund of $250,000 to The Bahamas to procure planting materials and other inputs such as fertilizers, to assist farmers in growing such food crops, grains and roots and to a lesser extent, vegetables. Over the past six months, we have developed a programme to assist farmers. Sweet potato slips and cassava sticks are now being distributed to farmers in Exuma, South Andros and Abaco; and in the coming summer season farmers will be given assistance to plant beans, watermelons, corn, cassava, sweet potato, plantain, pineapple and others. Later, when the winter planting season commences around September, short-term vegetable seeds, such as tomato, onion, cabbage and lettuce will be distributed. In addition, about thirty greenhouses have been purchased for distribution to schools throughout The Bahamas to expose students to modern greenhouse technology that could be the basis for a lucrative enterprise for many students, providing planting materials to farmers, as well as growing a variety of crops. FAO is also assisting the Ministry in developing a National Medium-Term Priority Framework that would support our efforts to develop strategies for the continued development of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Once a consultant has been identified to do the preliminary Rapid Assessment of Agriculture in The Bahamas, the framework could then be developed. This framework, in essence, will be a four-year development plan that would be useful in planning and guiding the work of the Ministry and ensuring that scarce resources are not utilized haphazardly. Embryo Transplant Project Mr. Speaker; In an attempt to increase rapidly the national herd of small ruminants, namely sheep and goat, the Ministry initiated an embryo transplant project in August of 2008, by engaging the expertise of two veterinary specialists from Canada and a consultant from Jamaica. In January of this year, after a period of selection of goats and sheep, notable from Rowdy Boys of Long Island and Ron Miller of New Providence, and preparing the animals by a process of high level nutrition and acclimatization, frozen embryos were implanted in 85 goats and 40 sheep. It is expected that these animals will give birth in June. This method has proven to be more effective than both natural breeding and artificial insemination in rapidly increasing the rate of reproduction at an affordable cost. In addition, the goat embryos are from a South African breed that is noted worldwide for its adaptation to tropical conditions and is a much larger animal that our native goats. Success in developing a national herd of small ruminants also depend on the availability of good pasture; and in this regard a part of the project has been the introduction of a variety of pasture grass from Brazil that is highly nutritious and grows exceptionally well under our climatic and soil conditions. Mr.Speaker; I can report today that the sheep have already started lambing off and up to yesterday evening 26 lambs were born with 2 casualties only. The goats are scheduled to start kidding any time after the 13th. June. In the coming fiscal year we will evaluate this first stage with a view to determining its success, economically and technically and planning further action on the road to developing national herds of productive sheep and goats. Feeder Farm Roads and Land Clearing (Head 56, Item 721100) The opening and maintenance of farm roads and the clearing of farm land are ongoing activities that are essential for farmers to gain access to their holdings and expand their acreage under production. Under this Item, $400,000 have been earmarked to facilitate land clearing and farm road development in Acklins, Andros, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Long Island, San Salvador, Mayaguana and South Andros. B. AGRICULTURE Mr. Speaker; I move now to the Department of Agriculture. Agriculture has a key role to play in further strengthening and solidifying our economy to withstand the shocks and allowing us to take advantage of the opportunities presented so as to enable us to continue on our path to economic development and poverty alleviation. Recently, a member from the other side in the other place noted that Agriculture is miniature to Financial Services in Dollars and Cents in relation to GDP, summarily suggesting that if Financial Services do not qualify for a ministerial position, neither should Agriculture. But the good Senator failed to recognize or note the input of Agriculture and Fisheries into the employment sector - the numbers of individual Bahamians involved in the food industry and in helping to keep hunger at bay. Not all food produced is accounted for in relation to GDP and it never will be accounted for in that way. Mr. Speaker; We need to ensure more than ever that we can produce and earn enough to remain food secure while generating enough exchange earnings to pay for the goods we import. The Government’s strategy is to expand and diversify the agriculture sector. Not only increasing our export earnings through expanding our production to incorporate export products, but also improving their value added and quality and breaking into new markets. This will make us less dependent on these flows for our well being. At the same time, it will also allow us to diminish our exposure to the effects of volatile global commodity markets. Mr. Speaker, The novelty of this Budget is that it is preparing and adapting our country for the uncertain and complex global socio-economic and climatic conditions. It has been part of our development strategy and 2009 is just a continuation of this focus. Production and productivity have increased significantly, particularly since the launching of the market-led Grow More Food campaign spearheaded by BAIC and its Chairman, the Hon. Member for South Abaco. There is now increased support services and market opportunities for cash crop farmers through market information and transshipment facilitation. We are expanding our base and injecting new life and support for the sector. The Grow More Food campaign encouraged by the Backyard Garden initiative, is supported by IICA and FAO. When global food output dropped, in The Bahamas, we saw an overall increase. Last year globally over one billion people were threatened with hunger, but our people have access to affordable food. We are not food secure but we can find food. The promise of the sector is strong. Over 200 new farmers have come on stream within the past year and several agri-business investment projects are on the drawing board especially in poultry and pork production. Trials in cassava production and large scale onions are showing great promise; green house farms are catching on and replacing traditional farming methods.; small farmers are being given additional incentives to grow and expand. Mr. Speaker; When we talk about a stimulus package for the economy; Anyone with a clear eye will see a common focus – creating more opportunities and better services for our people. Agriculture and fisheries combined accounts for just over 3% of GDP. In 2008 hundreds of Acres of arable land have been made available to farmers, Pounds of seed, fertilizer given out, funds for land clearing and feeder farm roads, duty exemptions, refrigerated containers, seminars all provided farmers with opportunities to build on their agricultural pursuits. $4 plus million in capital development is being appropriated for the sector this year. This will result in more jobs being created, increased income, more wealth and prosperity and better farming conditions. We are building more access feeder farm roads, more training and technological assistance along with other infrastructure. We are not only keeping our people employed and engaged in the sector, but more are being put to work. Mr. Speaker, I want to assure Bahamians that the plans to revitalize Agriculture are very sound and are meant to create a resurgence in this vital sector. Some of the initiatives to be continually pursued are: Modernized Agriculture, by using technology; Non traditional crops – outlet/ sale of produce at Farmers Markets; Agro processing; Greenhouse technology and supplies; the availability of seeds, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Training through seminars and practical demonstrations. Last year with the introduction of the Excise Act and other exemption concessions, in the Tariff Act agriculturalists and fishermen were exposed to massive exemptions for the first time ever. This will be continued. Animal Control Activities Animal control activities during the past budget year included sustained trapping/rescue of animals on New Providence and support activities on the islands of Eleuthera, Exuma, San Salvador, Great Harbour Cay, Abaco and Half Moon Cay. A total of 1,219 dogs were collected, 200 other animals inclusive of cats and raccoons. Family island interventions included short term trapping programs as well as support in providing animal traps and advice. Extension Activities Distribution of Lethal Yellowing Resistant Coconut Seed In continuation of the ongoing program to replace all coconuts susceptible to Lethal Yellowing Disease, a total of 12000 disease resistant coconut seed nuts were distributed in 2008/09 budget year. 7000 nuts were sold to eight family islands and 5000 were sold in New Providence. Replacement of Tropical Tree Crop Program The replacement of tropical tree crops lost to recent hurricanes was expanded to include two shipments of mangoes and avocadoes delivered during the 2008/09 budget year totaling 2500 trees and a third shipment scheduled to arrive for distribution within the next four weeks. These items are sold at cost to farmers. Expansion of the Persian Lime Plantings In continuation of the program to expand the production of Persian Limes, the Department contracted an additional six thousand lime trees for sale to farmers in New Providence, Eleuthera, and North Andros. The program is intended to replace plantings lost due to recent hurricanes and to replace imported fruit. For the benefit of people residing on Abaco, it is hoped that sometime in the near future, the ban on citrus planting may be lifted. New Farmer Registration The list of registered farmers continues to grow. The increasing interest in agricultural land on the islands of Abaco and Andros, North Andros specifically is driving the increase in the number of registered farmers. Feeder Farm Road and Land Clearing Program Feeder farm road land clearing program continued during this fiscal year. Acklins, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Long Island, Cat Island, Abaco, Andros and Grand Bahama were all offered assistance in clearing land and development of feeder farm roads. Animal Feed Production The Department’s feed mill produced 1000 tons of animal feed at the Gladstone Road Agricultural Center during the 2008/09 fiscal period. Approximately 250 tons of which was consumed at the Gladstone Road Centers livestock program and 750 tons were sold to farmers. Demand for this item is growing and the capacity of the mill exceeds the current output; the proposed addition of a second mixer will effectively double the output of the unit. B. MARINE RESOURCES Staff At the end of April 2009, the Department of Marine Resources’ staff complement totaled fifty-seven (57). Thirty-two persons (32) were assigned to the Department’s Main Office, eleven (11) were attached to the Food Safety and Technology Laboratory and fourteen (14) were deployed as Family Island Officers located on the islands of Abaco (4), Andros (3), Exuma (1), Long Is. (1), Grand Bahama (3), Mayaguana (1) and Moores Island (1). Crawfish The spiny lobster fishery continued to see a general decline in catch and revenue. This trend is having a profound impact on the welfare and livelihood of many of those persons and communities which depend heavily on the industry as the major source of revenue generation. This is especially true during these times of global economic turmoil that, among other things, has reduced demand and therefore the price offered internationally for what is considered a luxury food item. Export of the spiny lobster, declined from 4.9 million pounds of frozen tails, valued at $86.6 million to 4.6 million pounds, valued at $77.5 million. During CY2008, the Department of Marine Resources began weighing the possibility of pursuing Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Certification for the spiny lobster fishery in The Bahamas. MSC certification verifies to consumers that a fishery is being managed in a sustainable manner and thus empowers consumers to influence fisheries management. By only purchasing products from certified fisheries, consumers can exert pressure to manage a fishery in a proper manner. Some of the major international seafood dealers have indicated that they intend to deal only with MCS certified fisheries in the future. In order to attain MSC certification, The Bahamas will have to prove that the lobster fishery is well managed along guidelines based on the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The pre-assessment phase, which is aimed at determining whether a fishery is likely to attain certification, has been completed; and shows that the spiny lobster fishery of The Bahamas would not qualify for MSC certification at this time. This conclusion has been discussed with stakeholders in the seafood processing and a consideration is being given to a Fisheries Improvement Plan that would address each of the areas where shortcomings were observed. Nassau Grouper Closure In November, 2008, it was announced that the Nassau Grouper closed season would be observed over a three-month period, from 1 December 2008 to 28 February 2009. During the 2007/2008 Nassau Grouper spawning season, the fishery was closed for a period of two and a half months (2½) months from 15 December 2007 to 28 February 2008. In mid-January of this year, Dr. Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson, a renowned marine biologist specializing in the area of reef-aggregating species, visited The Bahamas to analyze our efforts to conserve Nassau Grouper resources. Resulting from her observations, a number of recommendations were made which can assist in protecting this most valuable marine species. Arising out of her visit, the Department will be conducting, over the next several months, an extensive survey to gather information from current and former fishermen about their utilization of the Nassau Grouper resources of The Bahamas. The information derived therefrom will inform future resource management efforts. Conch In 2008, the conch export quota was set and approved at 400,000 pounds, the same as 2007. Eight (8) special licenses to export conch were issued. Protocols stipulate that a C.I.T.E.S Certificate is required for the export of conch (Queen Conch) from The Bahamas. Conch exports during CY2008 totaled 362,300 pounds valued at B$2.0 million. The exports represented some 90.6% of the approved quota. All exports were to the United States. In the new fiscal year, the expertise of a consultant will be utilized to carry out further research in the biology and ecology of the Queen Conch. Stone Crab Claws Seven (7) stone crab export licences were issued during CY2008. Approximately 106,112 pounds of cooked stone crab claws were exported. The corresponding value of these exports totaled B$1.1 million. The totals represented an 18.4% decrease in total weight and 30.1% decrease in the value of the exports compared to 2007. All exports were to the United States. Non-Edible Resources Eleven (11) sponge export licenses and two (2) shell export licenses were issued during CY2008. The total value of sponge exports was B$828,680 and all shell exports were valued at B$28,568. Lionfish Lionfish continues to be a major concern for the Department of Marine Resources as it reproduces rapidly and is a voracious predator in a wide variety of marine habitats. Evidence to date indicates the Lionfish has been preying upon species of fish that are of commercial significance. In November 2008, the Department of Marine Resources conducted a National Lionfish Response Planning Workshop to establish management strategies and priorities for a proper response plan. Several stakeholders were present including the College of The Bahamas Marine and Environmental Studies Institute (COB-MESI), the BEST Commission, the Port Department, the Department of Public Health, the Ministry of Tourism, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), the Bahamas National Trust, the Nature Conservancy, the Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (BREEF), Friends of The Environment, Dolphin Encounters, Atlantis, Stuart Cove Dive Bahamas, Bahama Divers and the Department’s Family Island Officers. The National Lionfish Response Plan seeks to protect commercially important fish species, safeguard public health and combat the spread of the lionfish throughout the archipelago. Efforts being utilized to accomplish the goals of the Plan include the production of several public information documents by the Department of Marine Resources, staff participation on various talk shows, addresses at town meetings in the Family Islands and the provision of information in the print media. The Department continues in its joint effort with the Marine and Environmental Studies Institute of the College of The Bahamas and other scientists to study the Lionfish to better determine how it might ultimately be controlled. The Lionfish can be used as food and is in fact being used as a food source in The Bahamas today. The Department is hoping that fishermen are able to derive some economic benefits from the harvest and sale of the fish. This will not only directly benefit fishermen economically, but also, in the longer term, safeguard the critical balance in the natural environment. The Department, in collaboration with the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) conducted workshops on the Natural Life History of Lionfish, followed by hands-on demonstrations on how to prepare lionfish for personal consumption by properly removing and disposing of the spines. The workshops entailed a handling and collection technique section to train persons to carefully collect lionfish using nets and spears, handle and dissect them, and properly remove spines. Sixteen (16) SCUBA certified persons were trained to collect lionfish, while in total twenty-eight (28) were trained to gut and clean lionfish. Participants were given the opportunity to taste prepared lionfish in efforts to encourage others to do so. Town Meetings were held as follows: 2nd June 2008, Marsh Harbour, Abaco 19th June 2008, New Providence 2nd October 2008, Marsh Harbour, Abaco 14th October 2008, Freeport, Grand Bahama February 2009, Agricultural Expo at Gladstone Road Agricultural Centre. In December 2008, a lionfish presentation was given to nurses and physicians at the Department of Public Health to allow communication on the way forward in treating patients who have been envenomed (stuck by a venomous spine). Amendments to the Fisheries Regulations to allow for the use of certain apparatus in the efforts to reduce the lionfish population, are presently being considered by the Attorney General’s Office. Convinced of the value of research and the application of statutory instruments in this effort, we have committed to search out effective ways and means to reduce the lionfish population in our waters. Public Education CY2008 was another active year for the Department’s Public Education Programme. The Department facilitated some seven (7)) field visits by primary schools both public and private from throughout New Providence, which were coordinated by Educulture, where students were given insight into the commercial fishing industry of The Bahamas and the importance of the marine environment. The Department also participated in nine (9) Bahamahost Sessions, conducting short lectures on the rules and regulations which govern the fishing industry and marine environment in The Bahamas. Licencing Of Seafood Processing Facilities Eleven (11) licenses were issued to operate seafood processing facilities in The Bahamas during CY2008. Five (5) of the licenses were issued to processing plants in New Providence, two (2) in Long Island, two (2) in Grand Bahama, one (1) in Abaco and one (1) in Spanish Wells, North Eleuthera. The seafood processing plants processed a variety of fishery products such as frozen crawfish tails, conch meat, grouper, snappers and assorted finfish and frozen, cooked stone crab claws. Eighteen (18) licenses were issued to seafood processing facilities to export fishery products during CY2008. Nine (9) licenses were issued for the export of crawfish, seven (7) for the export of frozen cooked stone crab claws and two (2) for the export of scale fish. Eight (8) special licenses to export conch were also issued. Proposed Changes To The Fisheries Regulations The Department proposes changes in the near future to the Fisheries Regulations that would: Increase the level of protection off all species of marine turtles in The Bahamas by removing them from commerce and subsequently from all harvesting. Provide for a minimum size limit for the capture of juvenile bonefish, provide an upper limit also to protect the large breeders, and provide a possession limit that would allow amounts only for actual personal consumption. Establish fixed dates for the annual closure of Nassau Grouper fishing throughout the entire Bahamas. C. COOPERATIVES The Cooperative concept was introduced to The Bahamas as an investment model more than thirty years ago. Since that introduction, the sector has grown significantly and currently has a membership of more than 30,000 Bahamian investors, who are shareholders in sixteen Credit Unions, six Producer Services Cooperatives and five School-based Cooperative Societies. Total assets of the sector are in excess of two hundred and forty million ($240 million) dollars and about 300 persons are directly employed. A recent report from the National Cooperative Congress, sponsored by the Department of Cooperative Development in October 2008, refers to the International Cooperative Alliance’s Statement on Cooperative Identity which defines a Cooperative as “an autonomous association of persons united to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.” The Cooperative philosophy holds that the ability of people to take charge of their lives depends partly upon their willingness to work together with others of a similar mindset. It holds that by pooling their resources and talents, people can obtain leverage on life which would be beyond any of them individually, this is empowerment. It is important that we seek new approaches and opportunities for economic and community development and the Cooperative model provides a framework for investment that is community based. Legislation The Department of Cooperative Development is empowered by The Cooperative Societies Act 2005. This Act ensures that the Department has the legislative and regulatory framework necessary for governance and effective prudential regulation of the Cooperative sector and allows for its expansion as a major engine of economic growth and social development especially within the Family Islands. To complement the Act, Draft Cooperative Regulations are currently being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General for submission to the government. Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building in the Department Institutional strengthening of the Department of Cooperative Development is an ongoing exercise. Extensive training within the Department is currently being undertaken to increase and to improve the capacity of the Department to execute its mandate. Continuous human resource training and development will increase the Departments’ ability to meet the growing challenges and demands of the sector in order to protect the interest of Bahamian investors Additionally, technical assistance sought from the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) for the strengthening of the cooperative regulatory efforts in inspection and supervision of credit unions and building capacity of examiners, will continue in this regard. The Department has completed a draft Strategic Development Plan. This document reviews its strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities; presents a series of fundamental statements relating to the Department's vision, mission, values and objectives; and sets out the Department's proposed strategies, goals and action programs for the next three years. Institutional Strengthening of the Cooperative Sector Deposit Insurance Discussions have commenced to formulate a plan to implement a “deposit insurance scheme for credit unions.” This would further enhance and guarantee the safety and soundness of members’ deposits. Consideration is also being given to how credit unions might participate in the national payment council initiatives to set-up an Automated Clearing House. Producer/ Service Cooperatives In the producer/service Cooperative sub-sector, plans for specific projects to be implemented on the Family Islands are continuing. These include a project by the Abaco Agricultural Cooperative Society to grow sod grass to meet the growing demands of major investments on the island of Abaco and elsewhere in The Bahamas. North Abaco Fishing Cooperative The North Abaco Fishing Cooperative Society is collaborating with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on conducting feasibility and marketing studies and training its members in fish processing. Eleuthera Workshops were conducted with Farmers/Producers in Eleuthera in conjunction with IICA to present the proposed “Bottled Tomato Project”. Work on this project is on-going and a marketing study is currently underway. Plans are underway to secure appropriate land to set-up a building to facilitate the processing of agricultural supplies. Socio-Economic Impact Study The Department has initiated a socio-economic study of the Cooperative Movement since its introduction to The Bahamas. The study is designed to measure the social and economic impact of the sector on the community and the contribution that cooperatives have had on the community over the past thirty years The study will review the contributions of cooperatives with respect to civil society; democratic organizations and mutual self-help practices; living standards, including health, education, savings and deposits; financial services; entrepreneurship; national income; and employment. This initiative is being conducted in conjunction with the College of The Bahamas professors and incorporates quantitative and qualitative methodologies with descriptive statistics and trend analysis with personal information from relevant stakeholders. It is envisioned that this study would be informative and educational for the government, stakeholders and the general public at large. Register Clean-Up Exercise The Department has also embarked upon a clean-up exercise of its Cooperative Societies Register to ensure compliance and minimum performance standards of Societies. Over the last year the Department has placed two Credit Unions into liquidation as a result of their performance. This clean-up exercise is expected to result in the mergers and liquidations of affected Societies and by extension the strengthening of better performing Societies. In conjunction with this exercise a sector assessment has been initiated and should inform prudential supervision and other related decisions going forward. National Cooperative Congress The First Annual National Cooperative Congress, October 2008 sponsored by the Department, brought together various government officials, Cooperatives leaders from throughout the Bahamas, local business leaders and professionals, regional and international. The Congress reviewed the present status of the producer/services sector in particular and identified areas and strategies necessary for further attention. Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) The Department, in collaboration with the Group of Financial Regulators Committee, which is chaired by the Governor of The Central Bank, has embarked on completing a Financial Sector Assessment Program, a self–evaluation of the Cooperative sector to satisfy the requirements of the World Bank. This evaluation seeks to determine the gap between what exists and where the financial sector and regulator should be in relation to international standards and best practices. Department’s Website/ Computerization The Department, in conjunction with the Data Processing Unit of the Ministry of Finance has begun the process to develop a website and to complete the computerization of the Department. The website development program is progressing well and the launch date for the Department is June / July 2009. The Department anticipates an upgrade of its computerized system to implement an information technology infrastructure as Regulator within the financial sector. This will serve to bring about compliance with IMF guidelines, Financial Services Assessment Program (FSAP) standards and Anti-Money Laundering monitoring, resulting in e-regulation. This initiative is a first step in making the Department’s infrastructure consistent with the wider Financial Service Regulatory Regime and to facilitate online statutory reporting of registrants. Staff Enrichment Seminar In March 2009, the Department sponsored a one-day Staff Enrichment Seminar, designed to address human resource issues and career development within the public service. Youth Initiative The Department recognizes the importance of involving young people in the Cooperative Sector. Accordingly, a formal Cooperative Youth Program is being developed for implementation within the school system. The Ministry of Education is committed to supporting this endeavor to ensure the perpetuation of the sector’s future. Over the next several months a program to establish more school cooperatives will be undertaken. Part of this process is to match these Junior Cooperatives with existing credit unions for monitoring and mentoring purposes and to encourage groups and development of junior cooperative enterprises. An officer of the Department has been identified to lead and coordinate this program. It should be noted that a two-year scholarship is provided by the Bahamas Cooperative League for a student to attend The College of The Bahamas annually to pursue studies in Business Management, Computer Science, Accounting/Finance, Tourism, Agriculture, Marketing and Banking. Five school cooperatives are currently registered with the Department. Cooperative Month June is celebrated annually as Cooperative Month. The Department in conjunction with the Bahamas Cooperative League organizes a month of activities to highlight the benefits, advantages and achievements in the sector designed for public education and promotion of the sector. Goals of the Department The goals of the Department are to achieve the following objective: Modernize the legal, regulatory and policy framework to revitalize and expand Cooperative Enterprise as a distinct, domestically-driven economic sector. Improve the Department’s technology to enhance its regulatory functions. Introduce the Cooperative Regulations which are now in draft for review at the Office of The Attorney General. Expand and transform registered credit unions into safer, sound, modern, financial institutions with higher output of productive loans as a result of mobilizing increased domestic savings. Strengthen Family Island based cooperative enterprises through enhanced marketability, management capability, product development, share capital and access to credit. Encourage easier access to cooperative services and advocate greater participation by students, young people, women and promote entrepreneurship. Review administrative and field service policies and procedures and produce a comprehensive updated Policy Manual to facilitate improved Department governance and operations Design, develop and implement an improved computerized Department database as part of a modern computerized information and communications technology infrastructure to effectively underpin associated services Produce new Model By-Laws for the Credit Unions and Non-financial Cooperatives These initiatives, along with the re-branding of the Department of Cooperative Development, will serve to heighten the awareness of and the appreciation for cooperatives as a tool for the economic development of The Bahamas. The Cooperative sector will be better served by a re-organized and strengthened regulatory regime providing enhanced prudential supervision and oversight, coordinated linkages with agriculture, fisheries, the business community and relevant stakeholders of the sector. The Cooperative model is a ready model for the promotion and development of domestic investment initiatives. The global economic challenges that we now face as a nation can find a unique partner in the cooperative business model which embraces two structures for development: one that promotes savings, loans and investments (financial) and the other emphasizing producer services (non-financial). This could be particularly significant in building Family Island communities from within. Despite the challenges as a consequence of the global and local economic crisis and the stress placed on the resources of the country, the overall performance, safety and viability of credit unions in The Bahamas remain stable. Junior Cooperatives In recent months the Department has registered a number of Junior Cooperatives within the school system and has received application for registration from several others. In addition, it has received a considerable amount of inquiries from farmers, craft vendors, church organizations and other civic groups expressing interest in forming cooperatives and will continue its discussions with them. The success of Cooperative Societies is critical to strengthening the economy of The Bahamas and the Department is committed to this effort and will continue where feasible to provide appropriate technical assistance. D. ADMINISTRATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS The key factor of production in agriculture is land that has the physical productive capacity to sustain the growth of plants that we use for food and fibre. Here in The Bahamas, an extensive survey was done in the late 1960s and early 1970s of the land and water resources by the British Government, and one of its major objectives was to determine the best lands for agriculture, in the context of soil conditions and water supply. Minister of Agriculture: a Corporation Sole In 1993, the Minister of Agriculture was declared a Corporation Sole and some 60,000 acres of land, much of which had been identified by the Land Resources Survey as having potential for agricultural production, were transferred from the Department of Lands and Surveys to the Minister. These lands are located in New Providence, Andros, Abaco and Grand Bahama; and over the years, substantial portions have been leased to persons wishing to farm. Agricultural Land Audit An audit of these lands, which was commenced in February of this year, is now nearing completion. At the end of the Audit, it is expected that a clear idea will be had of the management of these farm lands, the efficacy of the system of approval and monitoring, and the necessary practices and technologies that would have to be put in place to improve not only management but also productivity. The Ministry, earlier this year, in an effort to provide more institutional strengthening in land management, engaged the services of a legal counsel, with extensive training and experience in agriculture, to assist with the administration of the agricultural lands, in response to the growing demand for leases and the diverse legal issues that arise in the management of these lands. One of the initiatives has been amendments to the application form to provide more information upon which a more accurate evaluation could be made as regards the applicant’s capacity to conduct a successful agricultural enterprise. Revision of Lease Agreement Additionally, the lease agreement to be signed between each successful applicant and the Minister has been revised as follows: (1) As a matter of governmental policy, lease holders are prohibited from building homes on farm land. The lease now expressly prohibits lease holders from building any type of permanent or immovable building, whether for dwelling or any other purpose, on the leased land. (2) Additionally, before any farm buildings can be erected on the land, the lease holder is required to obtain written approval from the landlord, after which he is to obtain the approval of the competent authorities. This additional requirement seeks to ensure that lessees do not circumvent the prohibition against erecting permanent buildings for various purposes under the guise of a farm building. (3) The lease now includes an investment and development schedule, which must be completed by each leaseholder, showing the specific type of farming which will be carried out and the time it will take to bring the land under full production. The investment and development schedule imposes definitive obligations on each lease holder, and serves as an objective measure for assessing their performance on the land. Additionally, if the lease holder wishes to make changes to the investment and development schedule, he must secure the landlord’s written approval. My Ministry is seeking to hold leaseholders more accountable for their stewardship of agricultural crown lands. It is vital that these lands be preserved for future generations of Bahamian farmers to produce food for our nation. (5) The excavation of “fill” from farm lands in New Providence is a matter of grave concern for this Ministry. Consequently, there is now in the lease agreement an express prohibition against the excavation of “fill”; the removal of soil, rock or limestone and intentionally carrying out any operations which would impoverish or deteriorate the land. (6) Finally, in an attempt to better administer agricultural crown lands, lease holders are now required to secure the written approval of the landlord before carrying out certain activities. For an example, before any “farm buildings” can be erected, the landlord must given written approval to do so. This is to ensure that the leaseholder erects a “farm building”, instead of permanent buildings for various purposes. Written approval is also required where lease holders want to assign, sublet or transfer their lease. Resumption Procedures The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources is also presently putting in place a clear policy with regard to the procedure for resuming possession of agricultural crown land in the event of default. We are engaging in the revision of the procedure based on the law governing the same. My Ministry’s objective is to ensure that before it resumes possession of any lands from lease holders for non-compliance with the lease terms, such persons are afforded due process in accordance with the law. E. BI-LATERAL AGREEMENTS ON AGRICULTURE Memorandum of Understanding with the People’s Republic of China From 17th to 19th of February of this year, the Vice Premier of China, Mr. Hui Liangyu, paid a visit to The Bahamas and signed a number of technical cooperation accords, one of which was a Memorandum of Understanding regarding technical cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Fisheries. This Memorandum of Understanding is an initiative whereby the technologies involved in the achievements made by China in such wide-ranging agricultural areas as poultry production, farming of fruits and vegetables, small ruminant production and aquaculture, could be transferred, where possible and desirable, to our local environment here in The Bahamas. Similarly, by virtue of the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding, scientific techniques and information that might be generated here in the Bahamian agricultural sector, would be available, by way of bilateral exchange mechanisms, to the Chinese side. The range of priority areas includes fruit and vegetable production, small ruminant production, poultry production, floriculture and aquaculture. The MOU, which will remain in force for five years, also formalizes the continuous training opportunities that have been made available to Bahamian agricultural officers to gain knowledge of the Chinese agricultural practices and technologies. Proposed Agreements with Cuba and Haiti on Trade of Agricultural Produce In progress currently, are negotiations on agreements that would facilitate the trade of agricultural products between The Bahamas and both Cuba and Haiti. The two Agreements being negotiated with Cuba are An Agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Cuba on Collaboration in the Field of Animal Quarantine and the Control and Eradication of Animal Diseases; and An Agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Cuba on Collaboration in the Field of Plant Quarantine and Plant Protection. The Agreement with Haiti is referred to as an Agreement of Trade and Technical Cooperation in the Area of Quality Control for Agricultural Products and Exportable Fisheries between the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development of the Republic of Haiti and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas It is expected that all three of these agreements would not only enhance trade with our neighbours but also allow for greater control of the quality of goods entering The Bahamas from these two countries, thus guaranteeing a greater degree of food safety than that which currently exists. F. INITIATIVES BY THE INTER-AMERICA INSTITUTE FOR COOPERATION IN AGRICULTURE (IICA) IICA, over the past year, ably discharged its functions as the hemispheric agency responsible for technical cooperation in agriculture. In the first instance, I led a high-level delegation of officers from the Department of Agriculture and the Ministry, in 2008, to IICA’s headquarters in Costa Rica to consolidate the relationship between The Bahamas and the Institute and outline the priority needs of The Bahamas in the matter of technical cooperation in Agriculture. In the past year, IICA has been in the forefront of initiatives such as workshops on greenhouse establishment and management, turf-grass management, multiplication of sweet potato and cassava, backyard gardening and agriculture-tourism linkages. It has been communicated to the Ministry that IICA will continue its supportive work in these areas in the coming year and will be looking at new areas of cooperation. I would wish to inform Parliament that Dr. Chelston Braithwaite, a national of Barbados, demits office in 2009 as Director General of IICA, after serving two four-year terms since 2002. I would wish to publicly congratulate Dr. Braithwaite, who, as a national of CARICOM, so to speak, discharged his duties admirably over the past eight years. The Marketing Information Organization of the Americas (MIOA) It has long been demonstrated by many generations of Bahamians, that successful production of many agricultural products is possible here in our country. Our main problem, historically and at present has been the logistics of moving the produce expeditiously and at competitive cost from the farm gate to the consumer’s table. In the coming year, the Ministry will be examining most closely, the problem of marketing that has plagued farmers for decades; and in this regard, consideration will be given to accessing the expert services provided by the Marketing Information Organization of the Americas (MIOA), which has been set up to link countries throughout the hemisphere by an electronic information network, that would allow rapid buying and selling across the hemisphere. Progressive Bahamian farmers have always participated in hemispheric agricultural markets, selling produce, such as vegetables and citrus, principally to the United States and Bermuda in years gone by. We must not lose this capacity but instead must enhance it by connecting with the MIOA. Mr. Speaker, The Bahamas is an extremely open economy dependent on international trade and in particular imports for the generation of revenue. Given the rather small population, companies that import in a manner to maximize the benefits of economies of scale must invariably import at volumes that surpass domestic demand. This means that the goods imported must be competitive in both price and quality. Realizing also that high tariffs geared at protecting domestic production will soon be a thing of the past, it is clear that the domestic productive sector must be able to stand up to international competition. Against this background Government may want to develop a National Export Strategy which identifies goods and services sectors on which special attention will have to be placed to make them more competitive on the international market. The priority goods sectors would include the agricultural and fisheries sectors, and the agro-processing sector. The services sectors may include, Integrated Marketing, Training Services and the Tourism sector including agri-tourism. Firms within these sectors that are either already exporting or have the potential to enter the export market will have to be assisted to do so. Support will also be provided to these sectors by addressing a number of competitiveness issues that are cross-sectoral in nature. The cross-sectors include packaging, quality management, provision of trade information, trade financing, transportation and skills development of the labour force. Mr. Speaker, as alluded to by the Minister of Finance, our government has delivered on many of the promises we made in the Trust Agenda laid out in our manifesto, but we will not stop here: We will continue our efforts to deliver a brighter future for all Bahamians. Conclusion Mr. Speaker, As I conclude, I must reiterate that this year’s budget takes place amidst continuing global economic crisis compounded by a multiplicity of factors. The global financial crisis poses strains on almost all countries and sectors. According to the World Bank, the spreading global economic crisis is set to trap up to 53 million more people in poverty in developing countries this year. This takes place on top of the 130-155 million people that were plunged into poverty as a result of the surge in food and fuel prices that we witnessed last year. And added to these challenges, we are also grappling with the emerging threat of climate change. Here in The Bahamas, we experienced its impact more profoundly in 2007 with tropical storm Noel and the recent rains which again flooded the homes and farms of many of our islands. But, Mr. Speaker As you can ascertain, our Government’s strategy in fostering agricultural development is both broad and deep. I am overwhelmed by the keen interest now being finally paid to the agriculture sector by the opposition. Something is buzzing and they are certainly picking up the vibes. Our strategy aims at expanding our agricultural base, increasing the sources of our export earnings and increase the value added of our products, thus delivering on our promise to improve the livelihoods and quality of life of all Bahamians. At the same time, it deepens our already existing productive base, through an integrated support system, through modernizing and reforming our institutions so that they deliver more for our farmers, consumers and The Bahamas as a whole. To return to the theme of this Budget- working together and reinforcing resilience, we will continue to aim to involve and collaborate with all our stakeholders, including farmers, fishermen, the private sector, civil society, international organisations and donor agencies. For only together will we be successful in delivering our ambitious vision. Only such a strategy will ensure that the funds we are committing to agriculture will deliver economic development and alleviate poverty. Today, more than ever we can all say that we are on the way of making The Bahamas a stronger nation and a leading provider of our basic sustenance – food – not for the islands alone but the country as a whole. Now more than anytime, our country demands unity of focus, unswerving dedication to what is good for our people and a political culture that brings out the best in all of us for the greater good of our nation. Against this background, the Budget is both timely and relevant. For only by working together across sectors, interests, regions and countries with a vision and a strategy to accomplish that vision, can we build on our resilience to all these shocks. Mr. Speaker I wish to take the opportunity to thank the Almighty Father for the strength and the will power he bestowed on me to take on this challenge of leading my people in their quest for growth and development. I would also like to further and again thank the people of Long Island and Ragged Island for this opportunity to serve them and to lead their charge of development. I wish to express my sincere thanks to you Mr. Speaker and my esteemed colleagues of this honourable chamber for your patience and listening ear. I again offer my thanks to the Rt. Honourable Member for North Abaco, our Prime Minister, for affording me the opportunity to serve in the capacity as a member of his cabinet. I now wish to register my FULL SUPPORT and that of Long Island and Ragged Islands to the 2009/2010 Appropriation Bills. Mr. Speaker; May the God of us all continue to hold us in the hollow of His Hands. Thank you

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