The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation’s (BAIC) newly-appointed executive chairman said yesterday that it was willing to work with Soldier Road Industrial Park tenants who were making efforts to meet their rental obligations, admitting the Corporation had not done much to promote their businesses.

Dion Smith, while speaking at a  press conference to announce the launch of the Corporation’s re-branded  ‘Business Empowerment for Entrepreneur Lecture Series’, set for February 19, said BAIC was gearing up for a promotional campaign to highlight tenants in the Industrial Park.

Mr Smith said that while the issue of rental arrears had plagued BAIC for successive administrations, tenants had expressed concern that BAIC has not done enough to promote their business.

“There has for years been issues with tenant arrears at BAIC,” Mr Smith said. “The concern that they have expressed to us is that, as a Corporation, we should really be partnering with them more, and that they should be a part of the Corporation.

“We are going to be promoting them to the public to let the public know what it is that they are doing.  We appreciate that there are  arrears, but we also appreciate that they haven’t had much business and we haven’t done much to highlight them and let the Bahamas know some of the things that are going on in the park.”

Mr Smith added:  “We are looking forward to working with them, even though the revenue needs to be collected. There are those who have been trying, in comparison to perhaps those who are simply not paying.

“Obviously we are going to separate the sheep from the goat and work with those who are definitely motivated to continue working despite their situation.”

Mr Smith, who assumed the chairmanship post a month ago, said he was working to advance several initiatives already underway at BAIC to enhance entrepreneurship, bring in new investments and new revenue streams for the Corporation.

As part of its mandate to promote and facilitate business development, BAIC is launching its re-branded lecture series. This will start on February 19 at the Melia Resort, Cable Beach, and is free to the public.

“The purpose of these lectures is to provide potential, budding and existing entrepreneurs and business persons with broad exposure to proven successful business strategies, best practices and real life business experiences,” said Mr Smith