Leading a small demonstration in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, proprietor of O’Brien Chicken Farm, O’Brien Knowles, donned placards which read: Farmers Suffered Financial Loss; Bahamian Farmers First: Not FTAA; and Market Flooded – US Chicken.
It was another bid to turn up the pressure on the issue.
During a press conference last week, Mr. Knowles claimed the Ministry was blatantly allowing foreign poultry imports to flood the market, a claim Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Alfred Gray shot down.
But according to Mr. Knowles, the arrangement has resulted in his business suffering a staggering loss of 600 cases of chicken following an overflow in the market.
He claimed those losses amounted to more than $150,000.
“The playing field should be made level,” he said. “Bahamian farmers should be able to sell all [of] their products first before any permits can be issued for poultry imports, but we are not getting this and this is something that has been going on for four years.
“I am only looking for the government to assist me with my loss…because it’s all their fault. And I will continue to protest until I get some answers because poultry farming is my bread and butter.”
Supporting the group, Chairman of Bahamians Agitating for a Referendum on the FTAA (BARF) Paul Moss claimed that there is an element of corruption in Bahamian culture and that an investigation into the matter is crucial.
“The Bahamas is and must be for Bahamians,” he said. “We cannot allow big businesses to come in and crush small business persons…but that’s what’s happening here. Companies are going abroad bringing chicken in very cheaply, but are selling at the same rate they normally would and this is wrong. It is unfair and God is not pleased with that.
“The Minister must account as to why chicken is being imported and who is issuing the permits.”
Agreeing, Leader of the Bahamas Democratic Movement Cassius Stuart accused the government of “blatant slackness,” pointing out that Bahamian poultry farmers have been “deceived and lied to.”
“These people were promised protection and support from this government, instead they got chicken feed,” he claimed. “The PLP government came to power preaching a fresh new wind, but it only looks like the big merchants are experiencing that cool breeze, while the small man suffers.”
Hitting back at the allegations, however, Minister Gray told the Bahama Journal yesterday that Mr. Knowles was extended an invitation to provide the Ministry with a weekly inventory, an offer he “apparently refused.”
“The Ministry was advised by the two major producers – Abaco Big Bird and Grand Bahama Poultry – that they could not meet the demand, so we issued some permits,” the Minister said.
“But Mr. Knowles’ position was simply not factored in because he did not provide us with the information that was required of him,” he added. “But it is unfortunate that he was not able to sell all his chicken.”
But according to Mr. Knowles, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Agriculture Simeon Pinder was told exactly how much stock the he had stored in his freezer.
He claimed that it was also during this time that an agreement was reached that no permits would be issued, until the chicken had been sold.
“The Minister needs to show Bahamians that he is serious about the farming industry,” he said. “And until he answers our questions intelligently, we will continue to protest.”
By Macushla Pinder, The Bahama Journal
