Left to Right: Chris Maxey, Geoff Walton, Josh Shultz, Chairman Forbes, Benjamin Rahming, Clay Sweeting, Joan Stubbs, Danielle Gibson, and Levar Miller.

Cape Eleuthera, The Bahamas —New chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), Arnold Forbes, M.P. for Mount Moriah, along with general manager Benjamin Rahming, Levar Miller, Aarone Sergeant, Joan Stubbs and Clay Sweeting, visited the grounds of the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) on Wednesday afternoon, June 20th , 2012. The BAIC provides assistance to Bahamians through micro-financing and training in areas of agriculture, technology and manufacturing, with the goal of inspiring small businesses and entrepreneurship. The delegation toured the lab facilities at CEI, the renewable energy systems in place around the campus, and the newly operational biodigester.

Renewable energy and innovative agricultural practices represent a tremendous opportunity within The Bahamas for small business creation. During the visit, representatives of both organizations expressed a belief in the importance of collaboration between government, business, and local communities. This visit opened the door to CEI for further partnerships with the BAIC by offering education and training in areas such as agriculture and renewable energy. Chairman Forbes saw the potential for training Bahamians in the field of solar energy, noting, “Our goal is to educate the regular guy on the street, benefits of using alternative power and energy.”

Together both the BAIC and CEI can provide the groundwork for training Bahamian electricians, engineers, and farmers to create small businesses, jobs, and increase economic growth. “Teaching and education is the mission of BAIC and training Bahamians is the best way forward,” Forbes shared with Chris Maxey, founder of CEI, as the two exchanged ideas for future collaborations, and even the possibility of a joint conference.

The visit was arranged by CEI’s director of government relations and outreach, Miss Danielle Gibson, and was the first time Chairman Forbes has toured the campus of CEI and The Island School.


PHOTO 2: Kristal Ambrose, aquaponics technician at CEI, explains the system to Chairman Forbes during his visit.