The BAMSI blaze in January 2015.
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE fire that severely damaged a male dormitory at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI) was the result of arson, officials told The Tribune yesterday.
Fire Chief Walter Evans said although the matter was still under investigation, officials have determined that the fire was caused “intentionally”.
Superintendent Evans also said “several persons” were assisting officials in the investigation, but did not say whether police believe one of these people started the blaze. Neither did he say whether officials had determined a motive behind the fire.
However, Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray yesterday denied speculation that the fire may have been started by disgruntled contractors who had not been paid by the government.
“We’ve determined that fire was intentionally set,” Supt Evans said when contacted yesterday.
“We already concluded on that and the investigation continues. That’s all I can say on that.”
Supt Evans led a team from Nassau to Andros Thursday night to investigate the fire, which reportedly started sometime before 7 o’clock that evening.
Firefighters battled the blaze until shortly after 11pm.
Responding to rumours that the fire may have started by one or more disgruntled contractors who had not yet been paid for their labour, Mr Gray told The Tribune yesterday that “all contractors” hired by the government were paid in full.
“Certainly if they have not been paid, it wouldn’t be that they weren’t paid by the government,” he said. “Now I don’t know whether there were people who were not paid by private contractors, and that is a matter that we as government would have very little to do with, except that we expect that all workers would have been paid whether they were contracted privately or otherwise.
“I have to stand by the conclusion by the fire investigators. I can assure you that when they would have given us their final report, we would hope that the police would take whatever legal course necessary, because we would like for whoever the culprits are they would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s really out of our hands as the government, and we expect that the police will take whatever course of action is necessary.”
BAMSI is a major government initiative established in an effort to reduce the country’s reliance on food imports.
Students began studying at the institute last year following construction delays.
This year’s courses began this week, with the arrival of 10 students who will study with 45 others from nine different islands who registered for the institute’s associate’s degree programmes last year.
In June last year, Bahamas Public Service Union President John Pinder said he was investigating claims that some construction workers at the institute had not been paid overtime.
Mr Pinder also said he had received complaints about unfair practices by the contractors, including issues of hourly rates and how Bahamians were allegedly being treated compared to foreigners. He has also heard concerns from some workers over the status of National Insurance Board contributions on their behalf.
Mr Gray at the time said he would investigate the matter, but said the issue fell in Labour Minister Shane Gibson’s portfolio.
However, Mr Gibson at the time said he had no knowledge of the claims.
Comments
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
Tribune should have by now received confirmation from the PM or his Minister, if the building were in fact insured? The Andros project is the brainchild Comrade Prime Minister, having himself made it so in the media and on floor House of Assembly. Since the public has had no clarification by the minister or PM of the buildings being insured, what, if anything, did the Ministry Agricultural know about defaulting payments for renewing insurance policy? Was it a written condition of contract? Could the government’s contractor have not renewed the insurance, due to experiencing financial problems and did the ministry know that? Comrade Minister Alfred could not say, if the complex is presently insured. The contractors would have had all buildings insured when the contract was granted, the Minister reportedly told the Tribune, adding: "but I can't say IF that expired or not?" That's pathetic! Does it mean his ministry had no responsibility to ensure the buildings always remained fully insured? Plans spend $100 million taxpayers’ money and insurance is but a second thought. At least the minister is showing his true PLP cabinet song and dance colours cuz he won't even assume the contractor renewed the building projects insurance policy. But knowing this PM he will tell the media he will appoint a committee (paid PLP’s of course) to launch an insurance premiums paid or not paid investigation. An answer the PM and his minister could have easily accessed within minutes of the fire. PM, as a former not so successful Minister of Agriculture during the Pindling 90's, possess not the political capital to allow BAMSI to join his cabinet's list missteps. Question is, will Comrade Aflred be forced resign?
by TalRussell
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 3 months ago
I'm dumbfounded by the statements that Alfred Gray makes, he speaks very well but very little substance.
“No less a person than the prime minister has taken this project as his baby so to speak,” Mr Gray said. “If the minister of finance and prime minister (are) the same person this will not fail, because the government of the Bahamas has pledged to put $100 million to ensure this project succeeds, and I don’t doubt for a moment that it is happening or that it will happen. We’ve spent almost $50 million already and we’ve just begun. So those who would like to see it fail tell them keep on looking, keep on watching, because things don’t stop once movement starts.
Sep 9 MINISTER of Agriculture V Alfred Gray said yesterday he is confident that the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI) will open as planned and “will not fail” despite construction delays and “other factors which go against it being completed
duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago
This is a good excuse for the PLP propagandists to bash FNMs who speak out against the foolish pie-in-the-sky BAMSI project as crafted by Perry and V Alfred Gray and BAIC. Perry was the Minister of Agriculture who ruined the original BAMSI idea (BARTAD) ....... now he wants to create a legacy in farming????????? asshole. I just sorry that our national funds are being wasted on these kinds of rojects that are inteneded to gain political brownie points rather than really national food security.
If the government wanted to create food security, they would invest in the farming strengths of EVERY island and create niche production & markets for every major farming island. Instead they created another white elephant named BAMSI
realfreethinker 9 years, 3 months ago
It is so sad to have these guys screw us over and because it's the gov I voted for it is ok.
asiseeit 9 years, 3 months ago
The Bahamian people loose again. I wonder what it would be like for us (the Bahamian people) to actually win once in a while? We get beat by the give and get nothing in return stick so bad we don't know anything else. It really is a downer to be a Bahamian, what do we REALLY have to be proud about except our natural environment (which we are destroying with haste)? Our people are RUDE, our islands are DIRTY, our economy is a JOKE, our politicians are INEPT and CORRUPT, the church is a BUSINESS, education is NOT AN EDUCATION, what is it that Bahamians have to be proud about? Honestly!
duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago
Sounds like it is time to move out and let the Chinese and Haitians fight over the islands?????????? Hell NO!!!!!!!! We have to take our country back from these sellout politicians who are treating us like how Esau treated his birthright ....... Perry selling our country for a bowl of porridge (his legacy)
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
Comrade "The People" should leading up to the 2017 General Elections hold this coming and every Sunday afternoon at 3 pm, a "Peoples' Speakers Corner" in Rawson Square. Make damn sure to Bar ALL politicians from speaking. No official organizing required. You got something say, you just show up and say it. I think it could be a fantastic way to bring the citizens back to Bay Street. Pretty sure as an individual you should as a citizen be allowed show up to independently speak your mind and without having obtain some special permit from some government authority. Make it your responsibility be peaceful and don't leave your water bottles and garbage behind others pick up.
duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago
And what you ga do to protect the citizens from the politicians hitmen and goon squads??????????
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
Comrade are you suggesting the citizens are feeling protected now?
duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago
Are the 400 murderers on bail members of the politicians' goon squads????? That would be the Bahamian version of the Ton Ton Macoute ..... WOW!!!
TalRussell 9 years, 3 months ago
The Sunday square where politicians and organized groups are NOT welcomed. Where you come with your family, friends and neighbours to speak or listen what other citizens have to say. Comrade it's SO amazing what can you can grow from a simple idea. See you and your family THIS Sunday in Rawson Square at the Peoples' Speakers Corner at 3 PM SHARP.!! Come in Peace and leave in Peace!!
asiseeit 9 years, 2 months ago
Victimization is alive and well in the Bahamas, do not fool yourself. The politicians of this country can be equated with an organization such as the mafia and they are just as dangerous. As with the mafia it is all about the money and the politicians aim to get theirs no matter what. I do not even feel safe posting on this website but sometimes one must take chances for what is right.
Sickened 9 years, 2 months ago
I'm pretty sure that the insurance coverage issue went up in smoke as soon as it was determined to be Arson. Bahamians screwed by Bahamians again. We are our own worst nightmare. I would not be surprised at all to learn that a government official was somehow involved in the arson. Why not burn down a $1 million building if we know that the government is willing to hand out another $25 million to rebuild it? This government is not interested in finding, let alone prosecuting, the culprits. This is a payday for the PLP; they now have another contract to hand out (i.e. source of revenue).
TalRussell 9 years, 2 months ago
Comrade what an absurd accusation to be made against any government. Makes for pretty poor reflection about yourself when you have zero proof to support your ridiculous claim of criminal activity. No damn wonder we as a nation are heading serious trouble. The good citizens better retake Bahamaland.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 2 months ago
Correct all we know right now is someone deliberately set fire to the building, we don't know why. What we do know is more disturbing than who set the fire because mismanagement and incompetence stinks around this project. The PM proposed this as a 20 million dollar project COMPLETED, and even that figure was looked at as sketchy. A shipment of dead trees later, in September Alfred Gray pipes up and says we've spent 50 million so far and we'll spend 100 million or however much it takes to complete. The PM corrects him and says no there's a misunderstanding, we've spent 23 million to date. Alfred Gray later announces that for our 23million we've enrolled 50 students, 5, 0. TOTAL. AND we have to accommodate them in separate accommodations to the tune of an additional 120,000. No one to date has said what that 120,000 covers. Is another 120,000 now due? What is the rate per night per student? What is the rate to rent the classroom space? Alfred Gray has been a POOR, POOR, POOR representative for the government of the Bahamas, he doesn't even know how much was spent on the project, he was off by 25million!!! That's not chump change, and Christie has been a POOR government leader in not removing him. The only thing this government has proven to be excellent at so far is presenting a pretty picture.
It's time for tears...we are here with crumbling infrastructure and blind dumb leaders all because of Kentucky chicken, a few beers and a wide screen tv raffle. We sold our country to fools for Kentucky chicken.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 2 months ago
The national stadium "all steel" was completed for a reported 30 million.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 2 months ago
WThompson, May 16 2014:
"This week, we saw yet again a photo-op of the Deputy PM in Andros and the Chief Architect talking about needing more millions as if you were talking about $10.00 – was it they needed a further $10m on top of the $20m?
Clearly there is no management complement at Agriculture and it is obvious to those without sight that we have to challenge the sense of BAMSI and the capability of the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Minister that they can oversee such a large financial investment which many question from the start as to its commercial viability?
Was this $20m+ project, BAMSI, a political decision to quieten the naysayers that the Christie led government had done basically nothing since 2012? It is an enormous risk of $20m if that is so, but if the feed production plant on Gladstone Road is unable to produce feed for the private livestock owners and now they have to slaughter obviously at a reduced price then this shows there is zero management skills at Agriculture and we had better put BAMSI on hold and fully evaluate the commercial sense of the project."
TheMadHatter 9 years, 2 months ago
While all of that is true, it does not justify someone burning it down. We cannot attack our own selves - or else we will lost this country to outsiders.
TheMadHatter
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 2 months ago
I completely agree. I haven't speculated on why it happened either, because I don't know. What I'm 110% sure of is somebody is STEALING from the Public Treasury under the guise of building an agricultural school. Waiting for the Auditor General's report, just hope he acts before they (the elected thieves) abscond with all the toilet bowls too.
TalRussell 9 years, 2 months ago
If Jesus had selected PLP government construct Hell and Heaven, we'd all be safe from worrying which one we'll end up in ... cuz they'd still be under da construction phases. Comrade ThisIsOurs you are correct in saying the National Stadium cost $30 million. Might have something do with the fact that it was the Chinese government's $30 million and 'twas China's state owned construction company that built it. I would think they knows this PLP in and out and while they might be red communists, they ain't stupid enough let PLP manage their $30 million. Comrade would you? Why else do you think it was, they were kept 21 miles x 7 miles away from Baha Mar's construction site?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 2 months ago
I've thought of that, their labour costs would have been lower than if a Bahamian company built it, but what do you think would account for the bulk of the building costs in any event, labour or steel? I'd venture the steel. And I doubt BAMSI uses 1/10th of the steel in the stadium...but I'm no contractor just taking a wild guess.
John 9 years, 2 months ago
Did you hear the person they say is the contractor for this project? They say he was too drug tainted to run for the PLP but they give him contracts to build school? Where did he get contractor experience? And a reputation for not paying people who work for him. Now the bank is taking his house! That is never a good thing but this man had a long enough rope
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 2 months ago
Bastian? Heard there is no insurance. IF that is true, the PM, DPM, Alfred Gray and the project manager need to resign, seriously. This is THEIR project and this would be gross incompetence, either not to see it done or not to confirm it was done. The project needs to stop NOW and the entire thing has to be reviewed by competent individuals. Throwing more money at it will only result in more money wasted. I wonder which insurance company would take the risk (NOW) of underwriting the same contractor or anyone hand picked by these people who never assess qualifications/track record when awarding contracts and continue to give unqualified ex criminals second chances. 20 MILLION is TOO MUCH for the NIB building on JFK, I point to the national stadium again.something is wrong at NIB too
asiseeit 9 years, 2 months ago
This government could not manage to wipe it's boungy without getting nanny on itself.
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