The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE government is in negotiations with a Bahamian-owned company that wants to invest $15 million in ocean farming in Abaco, Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister V Alfred Gray said yesterday.

Mr Gray said this is one of many steps the Christie administration is taking in an effort to make agriculture into the third pillar of our economy.

“I can announce today that the Department of Agriculture has held several meeting in the Bahamas and one in Abaco and the responses have been very encouraging.

“We talked to the people of Abaco, who are in the main fisherman, especially on the northern side, about the concessions the government has and how they can best take advantage of them. We are hoping that more people will tap into the future of our country by becoming big farmers and indeed big fisherman or involved in fisheries in some way,” he said.

“I can also tell you that the government is in discussions with several fish farmers and we are soon able to announce the establishment of a major fish farm north of Green Turtle Cay.

“We are nearing the end of those discussions and I hope the government will soon be able to announce a $15 million investment by a Bahamian company called Acqa Abaco.”

Mr Gray said the operation will involve ocean farming and deep water farming.

He said since the return of the PLP to office, at least one major company was saved from bankruptcy.

He said: “I can tell you that when we came to office, Big Bird Farm in Marsh Harbour was on the verge of collapse and going out of business and because of the policies of the government, we saved Big Bird from collapsing and indeed its business is thriving five fold.”