Overview of its responsibilities

To enhance the ability of the farming and fisheries sectors, and artisans to fuel economic  development, so as to improve the quality of life, by channeling human, financial and technical  resources  into areas where competitive advantage exists. To provide, the enabling regulatory environment through the  Department of Cooperative Society, for the protection and preservation of our agricultural and marine resources and guiding our heritage and traditions of Regattas and sloop sailing for future generations.

Mandate

The mandate of the Ministry is to implement, monitor, review and evaluate its policies and the work programmes for the development of the Departments of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Cooperative Development to ensure compliance with the overall goals and objectives of the Government.

Portfolio of the Minister

Departments within its portfolio includes:

Ministry of Agriculture, Administration, Agricultural Lands, the Montagu Fish Vendors,  Arawak Cay and Potter’s Cay Vendors; Regattas, Homecoming and Festivals; Departments of Agriculture; Cooperatives; Marine Resources; Bahamas  Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI); Bahamas  Agricultural and Industrial Corporation(BAIC);; the  Bahamas Agricultural Health and  Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA) and Local Government.

The Honourable  Clay Glennford Sweeting,  Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera, is the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs. His portfolio includes:           

• Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources
• Agriculture Food Production
• Agricultural Marketing
• Horticulture
• Quality Control of Food and Beverage
• Potters Cay Dock
• Veterinary Services and Animal Diseases
• Public Markets
• Down Home Fish Fry “Arawak Cay”
• Regattas
• Homecoming and Festivals
• Slaughter Houses
• Agricultural Lands
• Cooperatives – Producer /Supplier
• Craft Markets
• Small Business Development
• Relations with the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC)
•  Fisheries
• Bahamas  Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI)
• Department of Marine Resources
• Department of Agriculture
• Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food safety Authority (BAHFSA)
• Local Government

The Ministry also oversees relations with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), CARICOM (agricultural and fisheries related matters), the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) (agricultural and fisheries related matters), World Trade Organization (WTO) (agricultural and fisheries related matters) and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) (agricultural and fisheries related matters); The Caribbean Research  and development (CARDI)

Department of Marine Resources

• Fisheries
• Food Safety Laboratory
• Marine Protected Areas

Department of Cooperatives

• Agricultural Cooperatives
• Farmers Associations

The Ministry also oversees relations with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), CARICOM (agricultural and fisheries related matters), the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) (agricultural and fisheries related matters), World Trade Organization (WTO) (agricultural and fisheries related matters), The Caribbean Agricultural and Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) (agricultural and fisheries related matters).

Administration

The administrative team comprises Ms Phedra M. Rahming,  Permanent Secretary; Ms. Bridget E. Hepburn, Under Secretary; Ms. Charmaine Price, Acting, Director of Agriculture; Mr. Gregory Bethel, Acting Director of Marine Resources; and Mrs. Cheryl Bowe-Moss, Director of Societies. The Headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources is located in the Island Traders Building, East Bay Street, Nassau.

Department of Agriculture

The responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture are veterinary services, animal slaughter, food technology,  food standards, land clearing, the issuing of sanitary and phyto-sanitary permits, the administration of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), farmer registration and import licensing for fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers, cats, dogs and other plant and animal species.

Department of Marine Resources

The Department of Marine Resources grants permits for commercial fishing; the duty-free importation of fishing vessels and fishing gear; the trapping of crawfish; the use of compressors; aqua-culture; sea-food processing and the export of fishery products. The Department is also responsible for inspection and certification of fishery products.

Department of Cooperatives

• Producer/Supplier Cooperatives
• School (Youth) Cooperatives

The Department of Co-operative Development was established in 1975 following the enactment of the Co-operative Societies Act 1974 and The Regulations.  The 1974 Act was repealed and replaced by the Cooperative Societies Act, 2005.

The Department of Co-operative Development is presently under the portfolio of the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources.

What is a Cooperatives?

A cooperative is a business formed by people with a common need who own and use it.  They organized themselves to provide goods and services which they need. They operate based on the seven core cooperative principles. The member-owners share equally in the control of their cooperative. They meet at regular intervals, hear detailed reports, and elect directors from among themselves.

Cooperatives adhere to internationally accepted principles that guide all other cooperative organizations:

1. Voluntary & Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Member Economic Participation
4. Autonomy & Independence
5. Continuous Education & Training
6. Cooperation among Cooperatives
7. Concern for Community

Department of Local Government

Local government is provided for by the Local Government Act 1996, and not by the constitution. Outside Nassau, which comes under the aegis of Central Government, the country comprises 32 districts for the purpose of local government, 19 unitary districts and 13 two-tier districts, each of which comprises a number of town areas. Local elections are held every three years.

The districts do not have revenue-raising powers; they receive transfers from national government. District councils are responsible for making recommendation to the Central Government, relative to Crown Land, tourism promotion, town planning, formulation of traffic schemes, general health and sanitization, the supply of public potable water by standpipes; the upkeep of state schools and other government buildings; upkeep of settlement roads, and the maintenance and provision of proper road sings and markings.

Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA)

The Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA) serves as the regulatory body to providing for a more efficient, effective, transparent and coordinated administration of matters dealing with food safety, animal and plant health. It is responsible for providing a framework to ensure that there is harmonization among public sector agencies in order to attain the highest levels of food safety and protection of animal and plant health. The Authority takes the lead in coordinating and harmonizing:

• Food safety activities at all stages of the production
• Manufacture and distribution of food animal health
• Plant protection

The Authority is responsible for overseeing the administration and enforcement of the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2015, the Animal Health and Production Act, 2015; and the Plant Protection Act, 2015. It’s guiding principles in achieving this are the principles contained in the SPS Agreement.

Contact Details for The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs

Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources
Island Traders Building
East Bay Street
P.O. Box N-3028
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 397-7400
Fax. (242) 322-1767
E-mail: minagriculturemarine@bahamas.gov.bs

Administration

Hon. Clay  Glennford Sweeting, M. P.
Minister
(242) 397-7400 /328-2700
E-mail: claysweeting@bahamas.gov.bs 

Ms Phedra M. Rahming
Permanent Secretary
(242) 397-7400
E-mail: phedrarahming@bahamas.gov.bs

Ms. Bridget E. Hepburn
Under Secretary
(242) 397-7400
E-mail:bridgethepburn@bahamas.gov.bs

Ms. Barbara Albries
Deputy Permanent Secretary
(242) 397-7400
E-mail:barbaraalbries@bahamas.gov.bs

Ms. Charmaine Price
Acting Director of Agriculture
Phone (242) 397-7450
E-mail:charmaineprice@bahamas.gov.bs

Mr. Gregory Bethel
Acting Director of Marine Resources
(242) 393-1777
E-mail:  gregorybethel@bahamas.gov.bs 

Mrs. Cheryl Bowe-Moss
Director of Cooperatives Societies
(242) 397-7400    
E-mail: cherylbowemoss@bahamas.gov.bs 

Ms  Brenda Colebrooke
Director of local government
(242) 326-8783
E-mail: brendacolebrooke@bahamas.gov.bs 

Mr. Alaasis Braynen                                  
CEO/General Manager of BAMSI
(242) 397-6580  
E-mail: alaasisbraynen@hotmail.com  

Mr. Rocky Nesbitt                             
General Manager for BAIC
(242) 396-3725/6 
E-mail: rockynesbitt@baic242.org

Department of Agriculture

Darville's Business Complex
Gladstone and Munnings Roads
P.O. Box N-3028
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 397-7450/325-7438
Fax. (242) 325-3960
E-mail: minagriculturemarine@bahamas.gov.bs

Ms. Charmaine Price
Acting Director of Agriculture
E-mail: charmaineprice@bahamas.gov.bs

Canine Control Unit

Botanical Gardens
Chippingham,
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 325-1173

Dr. Suzette Lynn
Veterinarian Officer

Abbatoir

Farrington Road
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 325-1173
Fax. (242) 326-5664

Dr. Khadija Hassan
Veterinarian Officer

Gladstone Road Agricultural Centre

Gladstone Road
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel.(242) 361-4541

Veterinary Services

Dr. Khadija  I.  Hassan
Veterinary Officer
Tel. (242) 341-1141
Fax. (242) 341-0271
E-mail: khadijaiaimamhassan@bahamas.gov.bs

National Swine Breeding Center (Piggery)

Mr. Andrew Pinder
Assistant Director of Agriculture
Tel.(242) 361-4541
Fax.(242) 341-0271

Livestock

Mr. Junior Robinson
Assistant Director of Agriculture
Tel. (242) 341-1141

Family Island Extension Officers and Packing House Managers

Nicholls Town, North Andros

Mr.  Alfie Stubbs
Officer in Charge
Telphone:329-2833
Fax. (242) 329-4128

Marsh Harbour, Abaco     

Mrs. Josephina Curry Adderley
Assistant Agricultural Superintendent
Tel.1 (242) 367-2240
Fax.1 (242) 341-0271

Freeport, Grand Bahama

Ms Marie Cambridge
Officer in Charge (BAIC)
Tel. 1 (242) 427-3423

Mrs. Melanie Williams
Agricultural Officer
P. O. Box F-4006
Tel. (242) 352-2144
Fax. (242) 352-4935

O'Neals, Long Island

Mrs. Santina Chea

Tel. (242) 337-3276
Fax. (242) 337-3270

Green Castle, Eleuthera

Mrs. Bonnie Rolle
Officer In Charge
Tel.  (242) 334-6014
Fax. (242) 334-6296

North Eleuthera

Mr. Fredrick Decosta
Tel. (242) 337-3276
Fax. (242) 337-3270

Mt. Thompson, Exuma

Ms Sonia Morley (BAIC)
Officer in Charge
1 (242) 376-1474

Administrator Office
Tel. (242) 358-7156
Fax.(242) 358-7157

Cat Island

Ms. Virginia Romer
Officer in Charge
Tel: (242) 342-3087

Department of Marine Resources

East Bay Street
P.O. Box N-3028
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 393-1777, 393-1096/7
Fax. (242) 393-0238

Mr. Gregory Bethel
Acting Director of Marine Resources
E-mail: gregorybehel@bahamas.gov.bs

Mr. Keith Daley
Senior Food Technologist
Food Safety Laboratory
Gladstone Road
E-mail: keithdaley@bahamas.gov.bs

Department of Co-operative Development

East Bay Street
Island Traders Building
P.O. Box N-3028
Nassau, New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 3977400
Fax. (242) 356-4622

Ms. Cheryl Bowe-Moss
Director of Societies
E-mail: cheryl-bowe-moss@bahamas.gov.bs

Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC)

Soldier Road
P.O. Box N-4940
Nassau, New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 396-3725
Fax. (242) 322-2123

Mr. Rocky Nesbitt                             
General Manager for BAIC
(242) 396-3725/6 
E-mail: rockynesbitt@baic.gov.bs

BAHAMAS AGRICULTURE AND MARINE  SCIENCE INSTITUTE (BAMSI)

East Bay Street
Island Traders Building
P.O. Box N-3028
Nassau, New Providence
The Bahamas

Alaasis Braynen                                  
CEO/General Manager of BAMSI
(242) 397-6580  
E-mail: alasisbraynen@hotmail.com  

Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA)

The Source River Centre
1000 Bacardi Road
New Providence
Nassau, The Bahamas
Telephone 1-242-604-7000
bahfsa@bahamas.gov.bs

Agricultural Library 

The Finn H. Damtoft Agricultural Library was established in 2001 and named in honour of Mr. Finn Hjortmar Damtoft, the Representative who opened the IICA Bahamas office in 1998. He is from Canada and has a Ph.D. in Agronomy.

The  Library is managed  by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The Library is a part of the National Library System and  is linked to regional and international data banks such as the Agricultural Information and Documentation System for the Americas (SIDLAC) www.iica.int/bibliotecaorton. The agricultural library is solely a reference facility; therefore the materials are not on loan.

The library houses a collection of:

• Agricultural journals, books and magazines.
• Caribbean Training and Agriculture (CTA) Publications.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Publications.
• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Publications.

For further information please contact:

Finn Damtoft Agricultural Library
# 5 Village Road
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel. (242) 393-8881 or 393-8813

Or

Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government
Island Traders  Building
East Bay Street
P.O. Box N-3028
Nassau, New Providence
The Bahamas
Phone: 1 (242)397-7400
E-mail: minagriculturemarine@bahamas.gov.bs

World Organization for Animal Health

The need to fight animal diseases at the global level led to the creation of the Office International des Epizooties by an international agreement signed on January 25th 1924. In May 2003, the Office became the World Organization for Animal Health but kept its historical acronym OIE. The OIE - World Organisation for Animal Health is the inter-governmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide.

It is recognized as a reference organization by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2010, has a total of 176 Member Countries and Territories. The OIE maintains permanent relations with 36 other international and regional organizations and has regional and sub-regional offices on every continent.

Contact point in The Bahamas for the OIE is Dr. Khadija Hassan

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

The Bahamas is a Member State of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture  (IICA), which is an organ of the Organization of American States. 

The objectives of this hemispheric body are:

• To support the countries of the hemisphere in their efforts at integration, cooperation and participation in the global economy.
• To support the Member States in ensuring the safety of food supplies and removing sanitary and phyto-sanitary barriers to trade.
• To support agro-industrial and agri-business development of the sector by promoting the incorporation of new technology and business principles into the enterprises of the sector in order to promote competitiveness and the development of a global agri-business environment.
• To promote sustainable rural development and sustainable use of natural resources for present and future generations.
• To support the Ministries of Agriculture in the process of transforming their role, structure, and function in order to face the new realities of globalization and modernization of the State.
• To support the process of agricultural educational transformation, so as to produce scientist, technicians and entrepreneurs that can effectively develop/reposition agriculture.  https://www.iica.int/en

Contact Information for the Bahamas Office:

Mari Dunleavy
Country Representative
IICA
#5 Village Road
Nassau
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 325-8880
E-mail:mari.@iica.int

Caribbean Agriculture and Development  Institute  (CARDI)

For over 30 years the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has been steadfast in providing sterling contributions to the growth and development of the agricultural sector of Member Countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The Heads of Governments of CARICOM in 1975 established CARDI to serve the agricultural research and development needs of the 12 Member Countries within CARICOM. In this context, CARDI as the only regional agricultural institution identified in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas has a critical role to play in the implementation and co-ordination of key Technology and Information Systems (TIS). CARDI, through national consultations in Member Countries is impacting on the regional food basket through commodity programmes – small ruminants, sweet potato, and other root crops, cereals and grain legumes, hot peppers and fruits and vegetables.   https://www.cardi.org/welcome-to-cardi/

Contact Information for the Bahamas Office:

Michele D. Singh (Dr.) 
CARDI Representative / Animal Scientist
msingh@cardi.org
michele.singh@gmail.com
Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI)
Old Traders Bay Building
East Bay Street
Nassau
Bahamas
Phone: (242) 397-7400
Mobile: (242) 436-3981