The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources yesterday said he has issued almost 400 leases to Bahamians for agricultural development in the last three to four years, in a bid to dispel concerns about Chinese favouritism.

V Alfred Gray, trying to deflect concerns over a proposal to lease 10,000 acres of Crown Land to Chinese-Bahamian farming joint ventures on Andros, said: “Since I became Minister I gave almost 400 leases of land for agricultural development to Bahamians; almost 400 I gave in the last three or four years.”

Mr Gray was addressing the controversy surrounding the proposed $2.1 billion agricultural development, with Chinese involvement, that entailed the incorporation of 100 companies. The agricultural products and seafood produced were to be used for local consumption, and exported to China and the US for sale.

Mr Gray yesterday acknowledged that more could be done to advance Bahamian land ownership, amid concerns that foreigner investors have an easier path to either lease or purchase it.

“I understand that maybe we have to do more,” the Minister said. “Maybe that should be what the narrative should be about.

“We should do more, and I would join that chorus of Bahamians who say we should get more into the hands of Bahamians. I agree we have to do better in giving Bahamians a stake, and that’s all governments - not just the PLP. I don’t believe that any government has given sufficient ownership of land to Bahamians.”

He added that inspectors in his ministry have been more vigilant over the last two years in inspecting land leased by the Government for agricultural purposes, so as to ensure that such activities were being carried out and the property not used for other purposes.

Mr Gray previously said the Bahamas’ Ambassador to China, Paul ‘Andy’ Gomez, had submitted the proposal as an overview of items he sought clearance from the Government to discuss with investors in China.