The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE OPPOSITION’S agriculture spokesman yesterday challenged the Government to explain how its Golden Yolk initiative can expand from its current 200,000 eggs to the millions originally promised, while questioning how much more taxpayer money will be required to reach that target.

Leo Ferguson, the FNM’s MICAL MP and shadow agriculture minister, asserted that - more than three years after its February 2023 launch - the Government’s flagship agriculture project has yet to show it can deliver the scale of production needed to significantly reduce The Bahamas' reliance on imported eggs.

“The Golden Yolk project was sold as a symbol of resilience and self-reliance, but three years and $15m later, it stands as a symbol of poor planning, lack of accountability and broken promises,” said Mr Ferguson.

He questioned the gap between the programme's original production ambitions and its current output, asking: “How do we scale from 200,000 eggs to 13 million? Must we wait 15 years to achieve even one million eggs? At what additional cost?”

Mr Ferguson also questioned whether the programme's economics can support the Government's objective of reducing the country's dependence on imported eggs. “The economic case has also collapsed,” he said, pointing to the price of Golden Yolk eggs compared with cheaper imported alternatives.

Golden Yolk has produced 200,000 eggs to-date, according to Prime Minister Philip Davis KC, who visited the project this week. It currently has 10,000 laying hens in production and about 8,000 pullets being raised to add to future output.

Mr Davis said the Government's focus is now on turning that capacity into a consistent supply of Bahamian-produced eggs, reducing reliance on imports and creating opportunities for local farmers and businesses. But Mr Ferguson said the latest production figure needs to be considered against the scale of the original ambition.

When Golden Yolk was launched in February 2023, the Government said the $15m initiative would increase domestic egg production from roughly 700,000 eggs annually to about 28 million eggs through a network of poultry houses across New Providence and the Family Islands. The project was also promoted as a means of reducing the country's egg import bill and moving The Bahamas toward self-sufficiency.

Mr Ferguson said Bahamians deserve a clear accounting of what has been spent and what production targets remain achievable. “How many more millions must be invested to accomplish the goal of self-reliance the Prime Minister so confidently boasted?” he asked.

The MICAL MP is also calling for greater transparency around the programme's financial and operational performance, including what he described as a need for “a full accounting of the program's structure, a detailed breakdown of all expenditures associated with egg production, and a clear, realistic timeline for increased output”.

The cost of the initiative has previously been disputed by the Government and Opposition. Michael Pintard, the FNM leader, alleged in April 2026 that between $50m and $60m had been spent on Golden Yolk, while government officials rejected that figure and maintained that the original $15m allocation had not all been spent.

A government document reported by The Tribune at the time showed an original construction contract of about $23.4m, with contingency bringing that allocation to about $25.7m, while an additional $14.6 million was identified for civil and site works.

The project has also faced criticism over its lengthy roll-out. In February 2026, Mr Davis acknowledged delays but said the initiative was finally moving forward, forecasting production of about 8,000 eggs per day once the 10,000 birds were fully in production.

Pricing has emerged as another challenge. Golden Yolk eggs were selling for under $5 per dozen in June, down substantially from their earlier price, but they remained more expensive than imported alternatives. Jomo Campbell, the agriculture and marine resources minister, defended the premium by arguing that the locally-produced eggs' quality justified the cost.

Mr Ferguson argued this raises a broader question about whether the programme can deliver genuine import substitution at an economically sustainable price. “Is cost-effectiveness and self-sustainability in egg production even achievable under this model?” he asked.

His comments come as the Government seeks to present Golden Yolk's latest production figures as evidence that the programme is finally moving towards its intended scale. Mr Davis said this week that the focus is on converting the project's existing capacity into a consistent domestic supply while creating opportunities for local businesses and farmers.

Mr Ferguson said the Government must now demonstrate that progress with measurable results. “The Bahamian people are not asking for miracles. We are asking for results, for accountability, and for respect for the public purse,” he said.