The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) on Friday announced a partnership with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) in constructing an "entrepreneurial programme" to assist pre-retirement marines in their transition from military duty to "civilian life".

At a press conference at BAIC headquarters on Old Trail Road, the corporation's chairman Dion Smith said the executive leadership team has "joined forces" with RBDF Acting Commander Captain Tellis Bethel in the latter's dream of crafting a programme that would "ease the transition process of pre-retirees of the (RBDF) from military to civilian status".

The purpose of the programme, Mr Smith said, will be to provide "potential, budding and prospective entrepreneurs with broad exposure to proven successful business strategies, best practices, and real life business experiences."

He also said the programme would give RBDF retirees the necessary tools "to enhance their knowledge and to improve their business acumen, such so that if they so desire, they can make a smooth transition from employment to self employment". 

Mr Smith said as the programme is still in its "embryonic" stages, the two organisations will seek to continuously engage in "joint brainstorming" sessions to explore the possibilities and scope of the initiative, as well as to establish a pilot programme. 

Nonetheless, the BAIC chairman told RBDF marines present that the partnership with Capt Bethel and the RBDF is one that will "positively impact" the lives of "those who make such a vital contribution in impacting our lives for so many years".

"We are honoured to be a part of the crafting of a programme that would ease the transition process of pre-retires of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force from military to civilian status," he said.

"We realise you have spent your most productive years in serving our country, giving selfless and sometimes great risks and sacrifice. 

"I honour your valuable contribution and deem it a rare privilege for my team and I at the corporation to join forces with Commander Tellis Bethel in creating a skill development and entrepreneurial programme as an attempt to balance the score of what you gave our country." 

According to Mr Smith, both entities envision a three-year programme with an emphasis on skills development, business coaching, business plan crafting, and "other services necessary to make the entrepreneurial plunge a viable one".

He said RBDF marines that opt to utilise the programme will have access to BAIC's training centre, as well as the opportunity to enroll in any of the corporation's eight personal and professional training courses. 

It is hoped that, on completing the programme, RBDF marines facing retirement would have the necessary skills and business acumen to transition seamlessly to self-employment and become self-sufficient entrepreneurs. 

"The corporation strongly encourages present and prospective entrepreneurs who are a part of the pre-retirees squad, to take full advantage of this timely life transforming programme," Mr Smith said. "The corporation is grateful for the partnership that is being forged with the (RBDF), and considers it a privilege to impact in a positive way the lives of those who make such a vital contribution in impacting our lives for so many years." 

Capt Bethel, the man who came up with the idea of a pre-retirement entrepreneurial programme for RBDF marines, said it is a "joy and a pleasure" that both parties have "begun the first step of a thousand mile journey".

"What we are doing is transitioning from one entity into another," Capt Bethel said. "And when I think about our country I think about the Bahamas being a ship. And that ship is supported by four main pillars: government, industry, church, civil society. And when we disembark from our time aboard that ship, we re-enter mainstream society to rebuild and strengthen those pillars. 

"This here is just the beginning. Of course we're exploring, and of course it's in our nature as military people to explore, to discover and to experience. But I see down the road where the men and women that we have here in the defence force, re-enter mainstream society, rebuild those pillars, and contribute to a more safe and secure Bahamas."