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Dozens of eager farmers turn out for ADO, CCFG backyard farming kit distribution in Abaco

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ADO, Church Commercial Farming Group distribute dozens of backyard farming kits, many to those trying to start over after Dorian

 

By Diane Phillips

 

#TheBahamas, December 14, 2022 – For Kathryn Cartwright, it was a very long journey to a church not far from the one-bedroom apartment she is renting in Marsh Harbour. It began decades earlier. Cartwright’s family had farmed as long as she could remember. In 1999, Hurricane Floyd took their well-known agricultural landmark, Carrollville, in Treasure Cay. She moved to Leisure Lee, and there, two decades later, Dorian swept away her home, her smaller farm and everything she had.

On December 8, she showed up at the Friendship Tabernacle Church to collect a small starter kit in a carton, one of nearly a hundred who registered ahead. For Cartwright, the emotion of getting her hands back in the soil was even stronger than it was for most, though she was not deterred by the fact that she had to borrow a little plot of land to plant the seeds she was taking home because there is no yard where she is renting.

Many who filled the hall at the church where Abaco pillar Pastor Silbert Mills presides saw the farming kits as another step in the journey back to life after Dorian. There were those, too, like Etheridge Tinker who remembered when Abaconians were farmers and fishermen at heart. Tinker’s family grew crops where the only thing coming out of the ground now in Baker’s Bay is multimillion-dollar residences owned by celebrities, superstars and athletes like Tom Brady.

“Baker’s Bay was my playground,” he said. “I remember my family, we were growing potatoes, cassavas, peas, onion, mango. My grandfather was a fisherman and we gave food to our neighbours and they gave us food in return. I tell my children we went to the well pump for water and they wanna know what the pump is. If you can’t feed yourself, you in plenty trouble. Every seed I get, I plant.”

The distribution in Abaco was the first in a series of Family Island roll-outs of the initiative that got off the ground in a serious way less than six months ago, a program known as the Church Commercial Farming Group. Its formation incidentally coincided with the timing of the hurricane that devasted Grand Bahama and Abaco in 2019.  It was spearheaded by Assemblies of God of Prophecy Superintendent for The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Rev. Pat Paul, a man who believes physical and spiritual health go hand-in-hand, on the pulpit and off, worrying about the rates of diabetes and heart disease in The Bahamas while personally living the example of healthy living.

In the beginning, he said, the farming program was running at “maybe 7.5 miles an hour.” Then in early 2021, along came Philip Smith and the Agricultural Development Organization. Two weeks later, Smith agreed to join forces and not long after, presented a whopping $200,000 donation that came with ambitious goals — we’ll fund you and together we will make farming the hottest new commodity in The Bahamas.”

“Ever since that moment,” said Rev. Paul, “we’ve been flying.”

Requests for kits have been pouring in non-stop – hundreds from Abaco and Grand Bahama, thousands in New Providence. Distribution is measured carefully to allow for each recipient of a kit to be paired with one of a number of field officers who assist, visit on a regular basis, create and document progress and problems, and help find solutions.

The hand-holding, says Abaco Neem farmer Daphne DeGregory, is essential. “It’s all about stickability. You have to be patient. But as a Bahamian farmer, you have a great advantage. You can control what you grow and you have access to some of the best water anywhere.”

There are some things you cannot control, she said, like a wild boar that destroyed a banana patch two nights earlier at the Abaco Neem farm, or the damage wreaked by feral cats and raccoons, but with the weather, you can build rock farms or do container farming with year-round easy access.

“We CAN feed ourselves in this country,” said the woman who, like Kathryn Cartwright, lost so much, including the retail shop and the home above it she and her husband occupied before Dorian, before they moved to the farm. But she also gained an even greater appreciation for all that nature provides and now living totally off the grid, and serving as president of the Abaco Chamber of Commerce, DeGregory applauds the initiative and believes whether you do a little or a lot there is no richer life than farming, no fresher taste than the berries you pick off the tree in the morning for breakfast or the coconut water you drink through a reusable straw seconds after it is pulled from the tree. “Farming is the root of self-sustainability.

“My husband gave up a very lucrative business to farm because he followed his soul. Farming,” she said, “is a prestigious profession.”

Release: ADO Bahamas

Photo Captions: 

Header: Farmer and Abaco Chamber of Commerce President Daphne DeGregory, left, gives a backyard farming kit to a recipient in Abaco during the launch of the Agricultural Development Organization and Church Commercial Farming Group initiative in Marsh Harbour December 8.

1st insert: Reverend Clyde Bain, Church Commercial Farming Group administrator, helps to distribute dozens of backyard farming kits to residents of Abaco who registered online for the program operated in conjunction with the Agricultural Development Organization. ADO is headed by Philip Smith (below), who spent 17 years feeding the hungry before turning to a way to end hunger and live healthier through growing what you eat and eating what you grow.

2nd insert: Philip Smith founded Agricultural Development Organization to help end hunger by growing what you eat and eating what you grow. He was driven to find a better way to fight hunger after spending 17 years feeding the hungry, the last nine as head of Bahamas Feeding Network where he continues to serve on the board.

3rd insert: Reason to smile – Reverend Pat Paul, General Superintendent Assemblies of God Church in The Bahamas including Turks and Caicos, tells the crowd gathered at the church in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, for a backyard farming kit distribution that if we grew only 25% of our nutritional needs, we would save more than $250 million a year in food import costs.

 

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THE BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION EMBRACES ‘TOURISM AND PEACE’ FOR WORLD TOURISM DAY 2024

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24 hours ago

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October 8, 2024

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The Bahamas, October 8, 2024 – The leadership behind the destination marketing and management efforts that have built The Islands of The Bahamas into a pacesetter of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean is embracing the theme of “Tourism and Peace” from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in celebration of World Tourism Day, September 27, 2024.

Reflecting upon the many ways that tourism brings people together, the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation for The Bahamas, observed: “We are fortunate to live in one of the most remarkable nations, where the beauty of our environment is truly exceptional. The growth of our tourism sector is a shared responsibility for all Bahamians, much like the pride we collectively feel in celebrating our nation’s accomplishments. Together, we build on our progress and embrace the rewards it brings. We have deployed aggressive strategies to grow our industry over the past several years. I thank Team Tourism globally for executing the challenge.”

While 2024 is far from over, tourism statistics for The Bahamas for the year thus far are looking good. Preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism indicate arrivals via sea were up 19% during the first 8 months of the year compared to the same period in 2023, and arrivals via air were up 2.1% in the same period. Additional factors keeping the island nation on top in tourism include:

  • Over the past seven decades, The Bahamas has capitalized on its natural beauty to build a world-class tourism destination that welcomed close to 10 million visitors in 2023. Tourism is now the bedrock of the country’s economy, with income generated by the industry going to build vital infrastructure including roads, schools and hospitals, and providing the standard of living the local population enjoys today.
  • From hoteliers and tour operators to employees on the front lines and in the back of the house, stakeholders across the tourism industry in The Bahamas are dedicated to making the island nation a thoroughly satisfying, memorable, and sustainable destination for travel. This is evidenced by recent honors bestowed upon The Bahamas, including the Caribbean Destination Resilience Award from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in collaboration with the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST); as well as the Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Destination 2024 and the Caribbean’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination 2024, both from the World Travel Awards.
  • While The Bahamas is known for its beautiful beaches and wildlife, the country has a heightened focus on showcasing cultural heritage which, as travelers quickly discover, includes local cuisine, music, dance, folklore, artisanal crafts, and more.

Latia Duncombe, Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, remarked on the growing global recognition of Bahamian culture, stating: “Our culture and talent have always set us apart, but now the world is truly taking notice. Bahamians are sharing their unique gifts with the world, captivating audiences both at home and abroad.”

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GBPA REGULATORY COMMITTEE SUSPENDS REVIEW OF GRAND BAHAMA POWER’S PROPOSED RATE PLAN UNTIL SERVICE RELIABILITY IS REESTABLISHED

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1 day ago

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October 8, 2024

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE GRAND BAHAMA PORT AUTHORITY, LIMITED

 

Freeport, Grand Bahama  – The Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) Regulatory Committee held an urgent meeting yesterday, September 30, 2024, with executives of the Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) to discuss current electricity service challenges and resulting impact to utility customers across the Island.

“During yesterday’s meeting with Grand Bahama Power, we stressed the critical importance of restoring reliable electricity service to Grand Bahama’s residents and businesses,” said GBPA President Ian Rolle. “These interruptions in service take a tremendous toll on the Island’s economy and our quality of life, and service reliability must be reestablished as soon as possible. As such, we have directed GBPC to immediately develop and implement a plan to alleviate ongoing power disruptions.”

Additionally, GBPA advises Island residents that it has suspended review of GBPC’s proposed rate plan, submitted on August 1, 2024, covering the period of 2025 to 2027, and its public consultation efforts until a period of electricity service reliability has been established.

“GBPA will suspend any review of the rate plan until GBPC demonstrates significant improvement in power reliability,” added GBPA’s Regulatory Chair Sarah St. George. GBPA remains committed to transparency and public participation in the rate process and will reopen public consultation and encourage feedback from residents at an appropriate time.

GBPA’s Regulatory Committee will continue to monitor electricity service reliability and work with GBPC to ensure stable, dependable power supply for the Island.

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Partnerships formed to deal with complaints of emissions from industrial plants in GB

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2 days ago

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October 7, 2024

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FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas — The long-standing issue and litany of complaints by residents of Pinder’s Point regarding strong and possibly harmful emissions from industrial plants within the area is being addressed by the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, the Hon. Vaughn Miller, with a promise to “bringing a permanent solution” to the problem.

Minister Miller, along with members of his Ministry were in Grand Bahama recently to form a collaborative partnership with the Ministry for Grand Bahama, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and stakeholders from the Industrial Park to discuss a vexing problem that has plagued some Grand Bahamians for years.

During a press conference on Thursday, October 3, 2024, in the Collab Unit of the Ministry for Grand Bahama, Minister Miller revealed the meetings he has had with all of the partners involved to bring about a solution and outlined some of the steps that will be taken to deal with alleged emissions from nearby industrial plants.

“We’ve come to Grand Bahama, because we’ve heard the cries of the people,” said Minister Miller, during Thursday’s press conference in Grand Bahama. “We’ve heard the complaints. We’ve come because of the complaints that we’ve been hearing from the residents, particularly of the Pinder’s Point area, and surrounding communities as to the alleged emissions and odors from industrial activities in the area.”

Residents making their complaints have referred to Buckeye, a nearby Industrial Plant, as the source of those emissions. For Minister Miller, it was important to get Buckeye in on the discussions.

“So, in partnership with Buckeye, the Ministry of Grand Bahama, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and my Ministry, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, we will be seeking to put together a number of short and long-term solutions to address the issues,” added Minister Miller. “The principal objectives will be to return to regular monitoring of the air quality, of the soil, of the ground water and other areas.

“This has been a vexing problem for successive governments who have sought to address this issue over the past thirty or more years. But there have not been any sustained efforts to bring final resolution to this issue. But that’s the reason we are here, to bring the sustained effort and because we want to bring a resolution to this matter.”

Joe Votta, Vice-President of Buckeye Caribbean Region said the company appreciated the opportunity to engage and collaborate with members of the government and all of the company’s external stakeholders on the matter. He said Buckeye will continue to dedicate its efforts to being a safe, environmentally responsible and collaborative corporate citizen in Grand Bahama.

Buckeye Bahamas took over the industrial plant in 2009. The recent complaints are being attributed to unplanned maintenance to its facility. Minister Miller stated that Buckeye may not be the only industrial plant on the island who may be guilty of harmful emissions.

“We believe that other industrial plants on the island could be guilty as well,” said Minister Miller. “It is our intention to do a complete review to identify where these emissions are coming from and let the chips fall where they may.”

Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Ginger Moxey admitted that the complaints from the residents of Pinder’s Point and surrounding communities have persisted for years. Therefore, she was more than happy to have the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources come in to conduct collaborative meetings with all of the agencies involved in an effort to address those concerns.

“Buckeye is here, represented, and we had a great meeting on the way forward on things we intend to do to make sure that conditions are improved,” said Minister Moxey. “So, I’m grateful to the Ministry of Environment for taking the leadership on this. It’s going to be all-hands-on-deck. We cannot work in silos and expect to get things done.

“I’m thankful to all who are involved and a part of this. We want to see results. We want to see action, not business as usual. So that we can ensure that people’s lives improve, and the area is impacted in a way that improves their lives.”

Minister Miller assured that the efforts to correct whatever issues that may exist in the communities near the industrial parks will be a continuous one. In fact, he noted that in the very near future, representatives from his Ministry will return to Grand Bahama to meet with the other stakeholders, the other corporate entities in the Industrial Park.

The purpose for this, he said, is to let them know that the health, well-being and lives of the residents living within that community is important to his government and his ministry.  Once the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources has met with all of the industrial park stakeholders, they will then go to the people in those affected areas and hold very candid conversations with them about the plans to deal with the issues.

“Our intention is to bring a resolve to this vexing issue that’s been hanging around for far too long,” said Minister Miller. “We’ve heard the cries of these residents and we’re taking it very seriously.”

 

PHOTO CAPTION

FORMING PARTNERSHIPS – Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, the Hon. Vaughn Miller (center) speaking to the press about a partnership between his ministry, the Ministry for Grand Bahama, the Grand Bahama Port Authority and Buckeye Bahamas to bring about a sustained solution to the decades-old problems of strong, harmful emissions in Pinder’s Point and surrounding communities, during a press conference on Thursday, October 3, 2024 in the Collab Unit of the Ministry for Grand Bahama.  Also on hand for the press conference was Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey; Minister of State for the Environment and Natural Resources, Zane Lightbourne; Member of Parliament for Central Grand Bahama, Iram Lewis and Vice-President of Buckeye Caribbean Region, Joe Votta.

(BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

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