The construction of an egg production plant for the Golden Yolk project began at $25.7 million and grew to $40.3 million, after the contractor explained that he inadvertently left the cost of civil works for the plant out of the original contract price, according to a leaked tender document obtained by Guardian Business.
The document, titled “Tender Report for Additional Funding to Cover Cost of Civil and Site Works at BAIC (Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation) Golden Yolk Egg Production Plant”, explains that the total funding for the plant was initially $25,712,477.90, however, “the original project funding did not allow for the civil works required to the site”.
The document states that Trade Winds Builders Co. Ltd. is the general contractor for the Golden Yolk Egg production plant.
“The civil works were inadvertently omitted from the contract price and, as this scope is essential to overall completion, the authority requested the general contractor to submit a quotation to undertake the works as detailed.”
The work outlined includes excavation, grading and filling, drainage and paving, and signage.
The document explains that the client ministry is the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, led by Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Jomo Campbell. Campbell told this paper he didn’t know anything about the tender report, which is dated February 19, 2026. He said the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs would likely be the ones to know about the tender. Calls to the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs yesterday were unsuccessful.
The document explains that the total funding for the production plant landed at $40.3 million, after architectural firm Alvan K. Rolle and Associates Co. Ltd. priced the scope of civil works at $13,286,600, with a $1.3 million contingency added.
“The rates have been checked, agreed and are acceptable for the type of work to be undertaken, the document said.
The Free National Movement (FNM) has been deeply critical of the government’s spending on the Golden Yolk program.
FNM leader Michael Pintard said recently: “If you look around the country, they have billboards talking about this program,” he said.
“They have spent between $50 million and $60 million… on this program, and we want to know where the hell them eggs are today.”
The government has stated that Golden Yolk eggs will be on store shelves by the end of this month.
