Rick Lowe

I happened to be in the car and was listening to two talking heads on a radio station yesterday around noon and one of the gentlemen was lamenting the fact that we used to export tomatos and pineapples from The Bahamas. But no more.

The host interjected something to the fact that we've been talking about farming for 40 years and nothing has happened.

Well it was agreed among them that it was because the country does not have commitment to it.

Seems they believe the government (otherwise they would have referred to citizens and not the country) has to lead the effort of creating farms.

Everyone making comments like this should be challenged to start their own little farm. Prove what they are saying is possible and then train Bahamians to do it.

The only reason for wanting the government involved is to gain access to the public purse through subsidies or grants etc.

As I keep saying, stealing other peoples money to accomplish ones goal by using the coercive state, provides few long term benefits. In fact I beleive it causes more harm than good in both the short and long term.

So the next time you hear someone saying the country is not committed to something like farming, ask them to show you their personal effort to accomplish their desired task without using taxpayer money.

Farming is no different than selling, say, clothes. If it is something the consumer wants – at good quality and prices refelctive of the value – it will sell, and there is no reason to rob the taxpayer even more to "help" an individuals cause.