January 1st, 2011
Routinely, families and friends give gifts on several occasions each
year. Birthdays and anniversaries are two of the more common events
for families, with one person being honoured. Valentine’s Day may find
a young lady receiving a gift from an admirer or a husband.
American Thanksgiving is not recognized in The Bahamas, but many of
our families here have a similar gathering often with friends and
relatives sharing in a feast of thanksgiving. This is another form of
giving - a meal and fellowship.
The Christmas holidays represent the largest giving of gifts for the
year. Children get the most attention, but gift giving is common among
friends and relatives. Employers often treat their staff to a company
dinner and may also give presents or bonuses.
On a larger scale many gifts are given to schools, charities, Junkanoo
groups, sailing regattas, heritage events and other community
happenings. These may take the form of a cash donation or grant,
needed materials or labour, food or merchandise. Many of these
donations are made anonymously while others are publicly given with
photos and fanfare.
Many of our community projects are funded entirely by donations. These
donations have helped Abaco be where it is today. But it is not only
the large donations we need to be thankful for. We need to be grateful
for even the least of the gifts.
Even with the poor economic conditions in the United States and the
slowdown it has caused in The Bahamas, Abaco is believed to be doing
better than other Bahamian islands. Corporate gifts and donations may
be lower than normal, but they continue to flow to worthy causes.
We live in an area where many of our visitors are generous. Their
contributions to our communities have helped us develop to the stage
we are today. All Abaco residents need to be grateful that we live
where there are so many generous people.
It seems that Abaco’s general prosperity coupled with well meaning and
generous second homeowners, visitors and successful business ventures
donate so often that it is expected and accepted without thanking the
donor.
We have seen several instances this season of substantial gifts being
accepted by organizations without any thanks or recognition given in
return. In one instance, besides not saying thanks, the attitude
seemed to be that the gift was a burden they could have done without,
even though the donated items were extremely useful to the
organization’s goals.
We have a tendency to take these kind and generous actions for
granted. But we need to mend our ways and show our appreciation of
what others do for us.
Saying “thank you” is the least that should be said. It does not cost
anything, and the gesture goes a long way toward future good
relations, even possibly future donations. Saying thanks is especially
appropriate at this time of the season.
Big agriculture returns
About three weeks ago we were asked to go to the landing at the
Treasure Cay ferry dock as the first of several loads of farm
equipment was being off-loaded. The range and size of the equipment
were impressive; a large road grader, large and small bulldozers,
front loaders, generators and a variety of large farm implements.
More impressive was the fact that this was the first of more boat
loads still to come. Immediately, tractors and the grader began
improving the four-mile road leading to the farm area. Since that
first shipment arrived on December 12, two more ships have brought
full loads.
We were introduced to Mr. Paul Baker by Mr. Edison Key. Apparently,
the two men met earlier and Mr. Key convinced him of Abaco’s farm
potential. Of the 3,000 or more acres of fallow land in the Norman’s
Castle area, 1200 acres have been leased to Abaco Foods Ltd. for large
scale farming. Mr. Baker said the operation will focus on organic
farming without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It was said that
the farm’s output is to be geared to the domestic market which imports
half a billion dollars of food products annually. Government’s goal is
to produce more food domestically and reduce the foreign exchange
required to purchase food imports.
The massive show of equipment is being staged at the derelict and
vandalized office building used by previous farm operations and close
to the labour camp. The few Haitian families still living in the farm
settlement are elated with the prospect of farm jobs.
Very little advance information has been given on this large
agricultural operation, but it is obvious that it has the blessing of
the political chiefs. The goals of this operation are large and
impressive as evidenced by the size and variety of equipment now here.
Abaco has a rich tradition in agriculture dating to 1830 when
pineapples were exported followed by 322,000 pounds of citrus and
other fruit exported in 1854. We forget that farming then was by hand
and shipping was by sailboat.
Agriculture rose and fell for the next 100 years on Abaco with the
first large-scale farm being undertaken in the mid-1950s by J.B.
Crockett on 3,000 acres south of Marsh Harbour. That area has recently
been leased to local farmers on five and 10 acre plots.
Agriculture began in the Norman’s Castle area, where the new farm will
locate, in 1972 by Gulf and Western along with partners Edison Key
and Morton Sawyer. Five years later Key and Sawyer were the sole
owners. This farm eventually expanded to the 3,000-acre Bahama Star
maintained as citrus groves. That operation ceased in January 2005
when the grove was found to be infected with the citrus canker. The
trees were uprooted and burned. The land has remained fallow and
unproductive for five years.
North Abaco now seems to be poised for another agriculture boom with
the arrival of the Abaco Foods operation. This project is worth
watching.
David & Kathleen Ralph
www..Abaconian.com
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