The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunmedia.net

THE Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) held its first graduation ceremony yesterday, a milestone for the controversial project that Prime Minister Perry Christie has long said will be at the centre of efforts to usher the country into an era of food security.

Top-ranking officials from every sector of the government came together in North Andros to recognise the accomplishment of 23 graduates.

One graduate, Sheri Fountain, said her experience over the past two years “was all that was expected and more.”

A disability worker, Ms Fountain enrolled at BAMSI as part of a desire to address food security issues affecting disabled people in The Bahamas.

“I’m associated with several disabled and non-charitable organisations in The Bahamas and we were looking into decent work and projects for people with disabilities,” she said.

“One of the challenges we have is with food so I came to assist. For me who had no knowledge about

agriculture, what the lecturers have placed in me in such a short period of time, (it’s like) an advanced study in a short period of time…I’m pleased and I’m satisfied.

“I (now) have a clear understanding of what the wrong things are to do and know what are the best practices to use in agriculture and some of the best practices that I can transfer.”

Another graduate, Romeo Josey, said his newly issued associate’s degree in agriculture will be a stepping-stone to further study.

“I didn’t want to (come to BAMSI initially) but then after an intervention in my life (I came),” he said. “(My parents and family) worked really hard to motivate me and even physically moved me from where I was at the time to get me in the Bahamas…to do this programme. When I came I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how to feel about it. I just wanted to move on with my life in terms of getting further education and in pursuing my dream in agriculture.”

The experience, Mr Josey said, has proven to be a worthwhile one.

He has applied to several institutions, hoping to gain specialised qualifications.

“I want to deal with plants because in the Bahamas we have the issue of climate change,” he said. “I want to deal with plants that we can produce in the Bahamas, genetically making plants that can be produced here in abundance.”

Mr Josey said his BAMSI experience was not without issues, noting that despite recent road improvements in North Andros, it was a challenge to adjust to the relatively underdeveloped island.

“I come from Exuma, but Exuma is a bit more developed than North Andros and I went to Nassau to attend COB so we didn’t have the amenities here that we would’ve had in Nassau or Exuma to study sufficiently,” he said.

For his part, Mr Christie assured the graduates of job provision.

“To those of you who have graduated, we know that you will find jobs either here, or where it is you come from,” he said.

The graduates, Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray also told The Tribune, have the option of accepting a grant of land “to practice their craft.”