One of the greatest travesties of the past week was how the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources showed great contempt and utter disrespect for the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, whose well being which he once swore to work in best interest of. 

When he [Minister Gray] suggested that the Chinese agri-fisheries deal was still open to negotiation, despite the overwhelming opposition to it by the population at large, his contempt then reached a point where he suggested that he was ‘untouchable’ in any and all wrong-doing by himself and his government.

“Gray Suggests Chinese argri-fisheries deal still open negotiations” – The Nassau Guardian; 11.10.2016

Excerpt from this article; “Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V. Alfred Gray yesterday suggested that the $2.1 billion proposed China-Bahamas agricultural and fisheries initiative is still on the table and also expressed fear that the Chinese would discontinue investments in the country in wake of widespread criticism over foreign investment.”

It is totally amazing the manner in which the minister would still proceed with this proposal, give the manner in which has transpired to date.  A proposal which he first denied even existed i.e. lied about but it now saying to the public; since he has been totally exposed, yes, I gave the approval and I stand behind it an no matter what your objections are, whether they be credible or not, I am still open to it.

In a nutshell, the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources sent the Bahamian ambassador to China to ‘chat up’ the Chinese government with a $2.1 billion agri-fisheries project; question, who is putting up the $2.1 billion and why would they agree to a 50/50 ‘deal’ with the Bahamas government where they [the Chinese] have virtually no control; I mean the only thing that the Bahamas government brings to the table is valuable agricultural and fisheries resources.

Minister Gray, then goes on to be less than truthful to the people of the Bahamas, when it is said [he] expressed fear that the Chinese would discontinue investment in the country in the wake of widespread criticism over foreign investment”, has the minister forgotten how this government berated Izmirlian but then I tend to digress and it would come to seem that China has some ‘favorite nation’ status and is not to be offended, when one realizes that the entire Baha Mar fiasco began as an argument between the developer and the contractor [the Chinese].    There was no and is no criticism over foreign investment with the Chinese but rather with the total lack of transparency that these ‘deals’ are being handled.

As the Minister and his government prepare to hand over the Bahamas to the Chinese; we would like to know under what conditions we are being sold out.  As Zimbabwe has now made the Chinese Yuan its legal currency after Beijing cancels it debts, some of us would like to know if we are headed in the same direction or have ‘arrived’, with it all beginning with our natural resources, most notable our marine resources?

With this potentially at stake, Minister Gray seems to have taken the position that this is all about him and he will do whatever he pleases.

We need a recall system wherein we can pull ministers like this back into line or remove them from office, especially when they have reached a point where their interests outweigh those of the many; the Bahamian people.

Through it all we have yet to hear the Prime Minister’s opinion on the issue but it seems he is being the usual ‘bury my head in the sand’ Prime Minister, because I cannot fathom that one this deal was not known to him before Gray gave his first instruction and also I cannot imagine Gray making a statement of the deal still being open to negotiation without the Prime Minister’s approval.

The Progressive Liberal Party fails for one reason, it is within their nature.

END