Food Security in The Bahamas

The Bahamas Government National Food and Nutrition Security Initiatives Set on The Front Burners

The Bahamas Government 2025/26 Budget Communication outlines initiatives for sustainable agriculture and food security throughout The Bahamas

By: LEDEDRA MARCHE

GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND , The Bahamas — In its thrust to prioritize food security, reduce the country’s vulnerability to rising prices and grow more of our food on the home front, the Government is making substantial and important new investments in developing agriculture.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis revealed during the 2025/26 Budget Communication in Parliament on May 28, 2025 a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing to construct five hydroponic farms in the Family Islands and the capital to mitigate the high cost of living and the global inflation crisis.

“This past week, we signed an MOU to construct five hydroponic farms in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Andros, and Cat Island as we embrace modern farming techniques that can provide healthy produce to even our most remote islands,” Prime Minister Davis said.

"Additionally, BAMSI is expanding its academic mission with 302 enrolled students and strategic partnerships with Prairie View A&M, Athens State, and Stanford University, providing the youth of The Bahamas with world-class educational opportunities.

“Of course, we are ensuring that scholarships are available for those who wish to launch careers in Agriculture and Marine Sciences.

"Overall, we are increasing support to farmers by 200% and expanding the overall agriculture budget from $25 million to $35 million,” he said.

With its expansion of grants to Bahamians, the Government’s goal is to create a new wave of successful Bahamian entrepreneurs, keep more Bahamian dollars inside the country and lower prices for families.

“We want both small-scale operations and larger food production companies – run and operated by Bahamians – to become much bigger players in our country and the region.  Twenty-first century farming does not look like the old days – this is big business,” Prime Minister Davis said.

With food security an important national priority, the Prime Minister added that the new Centre for Food and Nutrition Security will serve as a multi-disciplinary technical hub, advancing national food and nutrition security through cutting-edge research, policy development, innovation and community-based initiatives.

In the upcoming year, the centre will lead a series of transformative initiatives to strengthen national resilience and food sovereignty, which will include establishing urban farms and community food hubs to increase local food access, promote self-reliance and support neighborhood-based food systems.

It will also address health-related challenges linked to food insecurity; train farmers in climate-smart agriculture practices to enhance productivity while promoting environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change; and establish seed banks and promote native crop varieties to preserve biodiversity, ensure seed availability and support culturally appropriate food systems.

Prime Minister Davis noted that over the past year, his administration has transformed the country’s agricultural and marine sectors through decisive action and strategic investment.

“We launched our National Layer and Piggery Programme, distributing over 10,000 chicks and 3,000 adult chickens.  We also equipped farmers across Cat Island, Exuma and Acklins with tractors and other essential equipment,” he said.

The Golden Yolk Project, another major investment of the Government, has a large role to play in its plans for food security.

“We are investing $9 million in the construction of pullet buildings capable of housing 25,000 chicks, dual layer houses for 20,000 hens and an egg processing facility with capacity to process 8,000 eggs per hour,” Prime Minister Davis said.

Source

Renewable Energy curtailment is an issue that cannot be ignored in Latin America and the Caribbean

Countries like Chile and Brazil are already showing significant figures, reflecting that the accelerated growth of renewable energies has not been matched by proportional transmission expansion or adequate regulatory adjustments

The Challenge of Renewable Energy Curtailment

By Arturo D. Alarcón - Martha Carvalho

Indeed, everyone has seen the image of a hydroelectric power plant releasing millions of cubic meters of water through its spillway.  But why does this happen?  Usually, it’s due to an excess flow not anticipated in operational planning or electrical system constraints.

The term “curtailment” has recently been used to describe what happens in solar and wind power plants when they must limit their energy generation due to a lack of transmission capacity or operational restrictions.  The metaphor suggests that we are ‘wasting’ sun and wind by restricting generation and being unable to harness all the energy, letting it continue its course in nature without being utilized.

How Much Energy Is Not Being Used?

Curtailment of energy in wind and solar power plants is not a new issue.  This process occurs in several countries where the growth of these energy sources has not been matched by a proportional increase in transmission capacity and/or when demand does not keep up with electricity generation.

For example, in the United Kingdom, limitations on energy generation began about 15 years ago.  Currently, nearly 20% of the wind energy generated in the north is not utilized due to transmission restrictions to the south, where the main demand centers are concentrated.  The California Interconnected System (CAISO) has experienced increased energy generation constraints since 2019, mainly from solar sources.  In 2022 alone, 2.4 TWh of solar and wind power generation was curtailed, representing a 63% increase compared to 2021 due to transmission system limitations.

This issue is gaining relevance in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in countries that have implemented successful policies to promote solar and wind development but have not developed the transmission system at the same pace.  In Chile, curtailment represented 9.72% of net renewable generation in 2023; in the first quarter of 2024, it had already reached 18.7%.  In Brazil, generation curtailment reached about 10% for wind energy and 17% for solar energy in December 2024, with an upward trend.

Who Bears the Cost of Unused Energy?

Generation curtailment costs the system because the energy not generated by renewable plants—by definition, zero marginal cost energy—must be supplied to the system by other sources (usually thermal or reservoir hydropower, which has a cost above zero) to meet demand needs.

Beyond the additional generation cost, the question arises: Who should bear the cost of the unutilized energy?  This depends on regulatory arrangements.  It could be the power plant owner or the system losing revenue directly.  In some countries, the market compensates plants for the energy that could not be generated if the curtailment was due to system limitations, a cost ultimately passed on to users.

For instance, generator compensation is granted in Brazil only when curtailment occurs due to transmission system unavailability exceeding a certain number of hours defined annually.  The Brazilian market does not compensate generators if generation is limited for system reliability needs or because generation exceeds demand.  Financial compensation for Latin America’s wind and solar energy curtailment is still under development.  Except for Brazil, where a defined regulation already exists, other countries in the region have not yet established precise mechanisms for this compensation.

This issue needs detailed analysis, as regulatory decisions related to curtailment compensation can influence the viability of renewable energy investments, impacting financial flows and developers’ risk perception.

How to Solve Curtailment, and to What Extent?

Energy generation constraints can be technically mitigated through various strategies that involve infrastructure expansion and regulatory adjustments to achieve a better balance between supply and demand. Key strategies include:

• Increasing transmission capacity from generation to demand centers.  Although this would be the “ideal” technical solution, it may not be immediate due to the time required for permits and construction.  Capacity can also be increased by changing conductors (reconductoring) or using technologies that allow increased flows in existing networks (Grid Enhancing Technologies), which generally take less time to implement than a new line.
• 
  
• Energy storage also offers a solution during periods of high generation, making energy available during peak demand hours.  Hybrid projects (generation and storage as a single investment) or stand-alone storage projects operating in a market can be viable.  For the latter, regulations must allow for arbitrage or provide incentives for flexibility.
• 
  
• Demand-side management encourages demand to use the energy that would otherwise be curtailed, for example, in energy-intensive industries, data centers, and thermal storage that can respond to price signals.  It is crucial to implement demand response mechanisms not only for large consumers but also for low-voltage users.  This requires developing adequate market designs and investing in smart meters that facilitate real-time consumption integration and optimization.
• 
  
• Trading surplus energy in neighboring markets: When generation exceeds demand, energy trading with neighboring countries could accommodate surpluses, reducing curtailment.  For example, in CAISO, the real-time market allows participants outside the system to buy and sell energy to balance supply and demand.  In 2022, these transactions avoided over 10% of curtailment.  Implementing this solution requires regulatory arrangements and interconnection infrastructure.

From a planning perspective, it is possible to identify an optimal level of curtailment, considering the total system cost.  In some cases, it may be more efficient from a global optimal perspective to allow a certain degree of generation curtailment rather than excessively oversizing the transmission infrastructure, which would result in a higher system cost.  Determining this level requires detailed studies and adjustments in market design that do not jeopardize renewable energy investments, as previously mentioned.

This Is Just the Beginning

Energy curtailment is an issue that cannot be ignored in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Countries like Chile and Brazil are already showing significant figures, reflecting that the accelerated growth of renewable energies has not been matched by proportional transmission expansion or adequate regulatory adjustments.  Countries adopting wind and solar development strategies will face similar challenges in the coming years.

Addressing this challenge will require building more transmission infrastructure and exploring solutions like storage, flexibility in supply and demand, and Grid-Enhancing Technologies.  Each of these strategies requires improved long-term planning to anticipate the expansion of transmission and/or storage and regulatory and market model adjustments to provide the right incentives.

The final challenge will be balancing the cost of expanding the grid and the acceptable level of curtailment for the system.  This will force us to reflect on how we plan our networks and regulate markets, ensuring that investments are viable and that we can fully harness the region’s enormous renewable potential.

Source / Comment

The Bahamas and Cuba are Family

Bahamians, Cubans are not just Our Neighbours - They are Our Family

CUBA IS OUR FAMILY

“Deo adjuvante, non timendum.”  “With God as My Helper, I have nothing to fear”

By Dr. Kevin J Turnquest-Alcena

Nassau, NP, The Bahamas

The dictionaries have many definitions of the term “to bastardize.”  I will quote one such definition which is particularly relevant to the present narrative.  To bastardize an entity is “to change something in such a way as to lower its quality or value, typically by adding new elements.”  The synonyms to bastardize include words like corrupt, contaminate, weaken, pollute, degrade, and depreciate.

Cuba, Karma will never allow a descendent of Cuba to obliterate Cuba and its steadfast principles.  In spite of the neo conservative propaganda against Cuba.

“It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.”

— Voltaire

Cuba has experienced the harsh realities of the imperialist agenda and has made it clear: it wants no part of it again.

Imperialism is a policy or ideology in which a country extends its power and influence over other countries or territories, often through military force, political control, or economic dominance.  This type of expansionism has historically left a trail of exploitation, underdevelopment, and cultural erosion in its wake.

Cuba, geologically, originated from the Yucatán Mountains in Mexico.  Incredibly, so did The Bahamas.  In the early 1970s, fossils of the Cuban crocodile were discovered in the caves of Grand Bahama.  This provided evidence of a deep, ancient connection.  Both Cuba and The Bahamas are made primarily of limestone, a rare geological trait that binds us together in more than just proximity.

We are not just neighbors. We are family.

Cuba is surrounded by three major bodies of water: the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.  Geographically, The Bahamas is Cuba’s closest neighbor.  On clear nights, the lights of Santiago de Cuba can be seen from Inagua and Cay Sal Bank.

Even the fruits we eat, such as guavas and tamarinds, have strong roots in Cuba.  The cultural and botanical heritage is intertwined.  This article exists to highlight this closeness, the geographical, historical, and cultural bonds that make us more than neighbors.  We are kin.

In the realm of geopolitics, this kinship must not be forgotten.  The Bahamas may have emerged from Cuba thousands or even millions of years ago.  That ancestral bond matters.  It cannot be erased by modern politics, foreign agendas, or ideological manipulation.

To turn our backs on Cuba would be to turn our backs on ourselves.

The blockade against Cuba is not a matter of political ideology.  It is a criminal act.  The same nations that sanction Cuba trade openly with countries like Vietnam and China, which maintain similar political systems.

This exposes the truth.  The embargo is not about communism.  It is about control.  It is not about democracy.  It is about power.  And it is certainly not about principle.  It is rooted in bombastic jealousy of Cuba’s resilience, independence, and refusal to be dominated.

Despite immense hardship, Cuba stands strong.  It remains a beacon of solidarity, cultural pride, and endurance in the face of decades-long adversity.

“In politics, absurdity is not a handicap.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte

Indeed, the political absurdity of isolating one of our closest and oldest neighbors must be called out. We must stand on the right side of history, not with those who fear Cuba’s strength, but with those who recognize Cuba as family.

Source / Comment

COHIBA is CUBAN!

The COHIBA Brand is CUBAN

COHIBA BRAND is CUBAN

By Prensa Latina

Cuba won a new victory in the nearly 30-year long legal battle over Cohiba, its flagship cigar brand, after a U.S. federal judge ruled in favor of the Cubans once again.

The verdict is the result of a lawsuit filed in February 2023 by General Cigar Company vs. the Cuban Tobacco Company, known as Cubatabaco.

General sought to overturn a decision made by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAH) in 2022, which ruled to cancel the registration of General's Cohiba trademark in the United States.

But this Wednesday, General - which sells versions of the famous brand in the United States - lost the case.

Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia upheld the TTAB's decision three years ago, a matter in dispute in the courts since the William Clinton administration (1993-2001).

According to the magistrate, Cubatabaco's Cohiba was protected by the Inter-American Convention (CIH), a 1929 law that protects international brands.

These cigars - valued among the best in the world - Cuba cannot legally sell them in U.S. territory due to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington on the Caribbean country more than six decades ago.

Cubatabaco, owner of the Cohiba name and the rights to market it internationally, challenged the legality of U.S. trademark and filed the first lawsuit in January 1997, the year the litigation began.

Cubatabaco applied for the Cohiba trademark in September 1969 and obtained the registration on May 31, 1972.  Almost six years later, on March 13, 1978, General Cigar made a similar request before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which was issued on February 17, 1981, the legal document states.

One of General Cigar's main arguments in the lawsuit was the claim that Cuba allowed the Cohiba trademark to lapse for lack of use in the 1970s, an idea that the court rejected.

Source

Financial Services Jamaica

JAMAICA EYES FINANCIAL SERVICES!

Jamaica must not become an ‘al a carte’ financial centre.  It must cultivate a niche in the global financial system and leverage that niche to become a world leader

By Professor Gilbert Morris
Nassau, NP, The Bahamas

During the tenure of Hon Bruce Golding MP - Prime Minister as then he was - I was in negotiations to frame, design and implement a financial centre in Jamaica.

I won’t detail my advice here.

But having advised a dozen or so governments - including the Swiss Private Bankers Association and (believe it or not, the Haitian government - on financial centres), there are some general points to be made. 

- 1. Jamaica must not follow the Caribbean model of low grade tax arbitrage

- 2. Jamaica cannot follow the Swiss model of global custody or the Swiss wealth management model as it lacks the corollary sociology for that

- 3. Jamaica can adopt BVI’s model of an international company centre, if Jamaica have the right treaties in place, together with an advanced digital on-boarding platform

- 4. Jamaica can leverage its world best performing Stock Exchange (although, frustratingly, it lacks an index fund), together with its currency that may give it a pricing advantage

- 5. Jamaica should have established a Jamaican Sovereign Fund - as I advised - which is another leverage point to domesticate its international investments

- 6. Jamaica should have leveraged Port Antonio as a luxury retirement zone, which would be generative to its financial centre ambitions.  In my view, Port Antonio is the most prominent example of under investment, and delayed opportunity in the Caribbean followed by lack of family island development in The Bahamas.

I could go on…but you get the point.  Yet, there are further considerations which I advised:

- a. Jamaica must establish “The Jamaican International Financial Centre” (JIFC) as a location (a square mile in Port Antonio), and as a free trade zone in financial services

- b. Jamaica will require for this, an Assistant Attorney General for the JIFC and an Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for the JIFC.

- c. Jamaica will require an International Arbitration Centre within the JIFC

- d. Jamaica will have to remove immigration requirements for global professionals in the JIFC.

- e. Jamaica will have to establish its own Global Investment Grade Insurance products and establish an Actuarial Association for the JIFC

- f. Jamaica will have to appoint a Secretary General for the JIFC

- g. Jamaica will have to establish a JIFC Research Centre

- h. Jamaica should - having done the above - should lead the world’s international financial centres in establishing an ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRES - as I’ve advised for 25 years now - headquartered in Jamaica.

I’ll leave those general points there now.

Finally, Jamaica must not become an ‘al a carte’ financial centre.  It must cultivate a niche in the global financial system and leverage that niche to become a world leader; not merely claim to be a world leader…but a proven leader by the scale of global transactions.

Failing these prerequisites, Jamaica would not be a financial centre.  Like most others, it would be a jurisdiction that offers financial services until blacklisted; a mere bumbling capitulator as so many financial services jurisdictions have become; signing onto unconstitutional processes such as FATF and CFATF protocols - which have no basis in international law, as they nor the OECD are international organisations established by multilateral agreements with dispute resolution protocols.

I pray not..!

Source / Comment

Crisis in Haiti

“The Haitian people cannot be forgotten.”

The UN human rights chief sounded the alarm over the rapidly deteriorating situation in Haiti, calling it a “catastrophe” fuelled by gang violence, widespread impunity and a political process that is hanging by a thread.

Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva that the country had reached “yet another crisis point,” with heavily armed gangs expanding their control, public institutions in ruins and a humanitarian emergency deepening by the day.

“I am not sure the usual description of gang violence captures the amount of unbearable suffering that has been inflicted on the Haitian people,” Mr. Türk said.

Between July 2024 and February 2025, 4,239 people were killed and 1,356 injured, with 92 per cent of casualties attributed to gun violence.

Gangs, armed with increasingly sophisticated weapons mostly trafficked from abroad, are killing civilians, destroying schools and healthcare facilities, and using sexual violence and mass kidnappings to terrorise communities.

Destruction as governance

The rights chief warned that gangs are no longer just operating in pockets of Port-au-Prince – they are implementing their own rule across wider parts of the capital and beyond.

The Viv Ansanm gang coalition and others have launched coordinated attacks, often outnumbering police, and have destroyed or taken over schools, orphanages, courts, media outlets and hospitals.

In one December incident alone, at least 207 people were killed over five days in Cité Soleil.

Sexual violence is being used deliberately to assert control, Mr. Türk said, citing gang rapes in public spaces and even the execution of victims after assault.

The forced recruitment and trafficking of children is also on the rise.

Meanwhile, more than 700 kidnappings were documented during the reporting period.  “Those who attempted to resist abduction were often shot dead,” Mr. Türk said.

Police violence and impunity

Despite efforts by the Haitian National Police and the Security Council-mandated Multinational Security Support Mission, the State is losing ground.

Law enforcement operations against gangs have resulted in over 2,000 people killed or injured – a 60 per cent increase – with nearly a third of those victims not involved in any violence.

OHCHR documented at least 219 extrajudicial executions by specialised police units during the reporting period, up from just 33 the year before.

There has also been a rise in mob lynchings and self-defence groups, sometimes with police complicity.

Mr. Türk stressed the urgent need to accelerate the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission and ensure full human rights compliance mechanisms are in place.

Hunger, displacement, despair

The human toll of the violence is staggering.  More than one million people are now displaced, 40,000 in recent weeks alone.

Half of all Haitians – 5.5 million people – face acute food insecurity and two million have been reduced to emergency hunger levels.

Nearly 6,000 people are living in famine-like conditions, while 500,000 children are displaced -  a quarter suffering stunted growth due to malnutrition.

Only half of health facilities in the capital are fully operational, and 31 per cent have shut down due to insecurity.

“The impact on children is particularly devastating,” said Mr. Türk. “[This] will impact them for life.”

Justice, not just security

The High Commissioner welcomed Haiti’s recent decision to establish two specialised judicial units to tackle human rights violations and financial crimes but said much more must be done.

“The most crucial first step here is to stop the illicit flow of arms into the country,” he said, stressing the need to fully implement the Security Council’s arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes.

Mr. Türk emphasised that “there is a way out”, but only with political will, international support and urgent action to end the cycle of corruption, impunity and senseless violence.

“I call on each and every one of you, including the media, to put the spotlight on this crisis,” he said.  “The Haitian people cannot be forgotten.”

Source

Inclusive Education in Latin America and the Caribbean Now!

Despite strong commitments to inclusive education across Latin America and the Caribbean, the reality on the ground is uneven, with many students with disabilities still placed in segregated schools or special classes...

Bridging the Gap: Inclusive Education in Latin America and the Caribbean

by Claudia Martinez A. - Suzanne Duryea - Maria Antonella Pereira

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 10-15% of school-aged children live with disabilities or learning difficulties, making inclusive education both a moral responsibility and an economic imperative.  With 12.5-18.9 million children at risk of being left behind, inclusive education— in which children with and without disabilities learn together—offers a crucial path to ensuring equal opportunities.

Despite strong commitments to inclusive education across Latin America and the Caribbean, however, the reality on the ground is uneven, with many students with disabilities still placed in segregated schools or special classes.

Legal Frameworks and Policy Commitments—Building the Foundation

Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have established a foundation for inclusive education through strong legal frameworks.  All nations in the region have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ensuring that children with disabilities have the right to education within the general education system.  National laws further reinforce this commitment, with most countries mandating reasonable accommodations in schools to support the inclusion and learning of students with disabilities.

However, the implementation of these policies varies widely across the region.  While countries like Chile and Brazil have developed comprehensive programs that facilitate the inclusion of students with disabilities in mainstream schools, others continue to rely on segregated schooling models.  This gap between policy and practice underscores the need for ongoing advocacy and support to ensure that all children can interact and learn side by side.

The Enrollment-Completion Disconnect—A Persistent Challenge

One of the most significant challenges is the disconnect between enrollment and completion rates for children with disabilities.  While enrollment rates for children with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean are not particularly low, these students must still finish their education.  Most children with disabilities attend primary and secondary school, but gaps widen with age, particularly with regards to completion.

Evidence suggests that inclusive education policies play a role in reducing these disparities.  In countries like Chile and Brazil, where most students with disabilities attend mainstream schools, enrollment gaps at the primary and secondary level are minimal, at under 3 percentage points, and more than 68 percent of students with disabilities complete those levels of education.

In contrast, countries with lower levels of inclusion, such as Bolivia and Peru, still show substantial completion gaps, with secondary school completion rates for students with disabilities lagging behind those of their peers by as much as 48 percentage points.   This might be related in part to the low rates of disability measured in surveys in these countries.

In contrast to other countries in the region, the surveys may only be only capturing people with disabilities with high support needs.

These people are thus also more likely to experience discrimination or lag behind.  The large gaps in Peru and Bolivia may thus not actually be as large as they seem to be.  Still, the fact that gaps in completion rates vary significantly across countries and appear to be smaller in those that have expanded access to inclusive education bolsters the case for boosting inclusive education regionwide.

Learning from Leaders—Chile and Brazil’s Inclusive Education Models

Chile and Brazil have emerged as leaders in the region in this regard, pioneering innovative approaches to inclusive education.  Chile’s Education Integration Program (PIE) offers additional funding to schools that enroll students with disabilities, promoting inclusion within mainstream schooling.  Similarly, Brazil’s Specialized Educational Support Program (AEE) provides additional resources and learning support within mainstream schools, substantially reducing segregation.

These programs have yielded positive results, and there have been substantial increases in the number of students with disabilities attending mainstream schools.  In Brazil, students with disabilities in mainstream schools increased by 69.5% between 2014 and 2021, while in Chile their numbers rose by 36.5% during the same period.

Taking inspiration from the successful implementation of those endeavors and adapting Chile and Brazil’s models to their own contexts, other countries might similarly prioritize resources for inclusive education, including investments in teacher training, assistive technologies, and infrastructure improvements to make schools accessible to all students.  As in Chile, other countries may also consider providing financial resources for schools that are implementing inclusive education programs and monitoring outcomes.

Countries might develop more robust systems that identify students with disabilities and learning difficulties.  They might develop learning plans based on individual assessments and monitor progress toward these goals.  The key is creating sustainable and scalable programs that ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.  Inclusive education is an essential goal.  It is a pathway to a more equitable and prosperous future for Latin America and the Caribbean in which all children are given the opportunity to succeed.

Source Full Article / Comment