Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia (October 18th, 2018): Last Saturday, 13th October 2018, preceding World Food Day celebrations in Saint Lucia at Fond D’Or and the official World Food Day celebrations across the globe, a contingent of government officials from The Commonwealth of Dominica were treated to an extensive tour of the Caribbean Grains Feed Mill Facility in the free zone, and the Flour Mill Facility at the seaport in Vieux Fort.
The touring team comprised of Mr. Reginald Austrie Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Dominica, Dr Reginald Thomas Permanent Secretary of Agriculture, Dominica, Mr. Titus Preville, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce of Saint Lucia; the visitors were hosted by Mr. Ravi Ramadhar, Director of Business Development and Mr. Tariq Khan, Director of Feed Mill Operations of Caribbean Grains St. Lucia.
Caribbean Grains Ltd. owns the sole livestock feed milling operation in Saint Lucia; established four years ago with the capacity to manufacture a full range of livestock feed for the domestic and regional export markets.
Currently, Caribbean Grains Ltd (CGL)products are available from Saint Lucia for export to Dominica, Barbados, St. Vincent and Antigua. The company has successfully developed quality products aimed at alleviating the challenges faced by the farmers as it relates to livestock nutrition management, and continues the implementation of industry best practise for increasing production yield.
Caribbean Grains Ltd. and its subsidiary companies in the region view the development of the downstream activities in the agricultural sector and the food and beverage industry (bakeries, caterers, farms, abattoir etc) as quintessential in their strategic mandate for the development of the host country. The company works arduously to maintain its rates, reduce economic strain on the government and supports the local distributors and end users throughout its extensive sustainable programmes.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Dominica expressed his first impression of the facilities as ‘functional, well-equipped and innovative’.
The country’s interest in Caribbean Grains includes the development the entire value chain of the poultry and pig industry in Dominica. He further reinforced the need to partner with entities which can grow Dominica’s agricultural sector and promote resilient solutions needed to withstand natural catastrophes.
The closeness of Saint Lucia and Dominica also bodes well with the interconnectedness of the nations and the support systems already in place. Crucial deciding factors for partnering with Caribbean Grains Ltd is the company’s strength in shipping, adherence to European health standards and the successful implementation of similar developmental programs in other OECS states.
For the team, the most essential takeaways from their first-hand view of the feed mill facility, was the education provided to the farmers and the widespread manner in which the operation yielded gains for everyone in the supply chain; the feed has “No Antibiotics, No Hormones, No Animal by products”.
According to Mr. Ramadhar, ‘We are very happy with the welcoming environment in the region and as a result, have engaged in extensive research before entering the market. We know challenges are still ahead as the market develops and evolves, however, we are confident that the sustained measures we have put in place to keep all our key stakeholders abreast of our programmes and initiatives, will greatly assist in fostering a mutually beneficial relationship. CGL shares in the vision of the OECS mandates to reduce the food import bill, and increase food security for the region.’
The company together with other stakeholders has placed a spotlight on the development of the region and believes it is pertinent to continue in this vein.’
For Mr. Khan, ‘an important aspect to the company is the feed mill’s ability to engage local farmers through open dialogue and support mechanisms to promote our antibiotic free feeds, and how they can be used effectively to gain higher yields in their production thus ensuring the economic viability of their livelihood.’
Mr Austry, good move seeing what others are implementing in their islands, hopefully we can bring some of that business home. We need as many different types of industries to lift our economy. It’s also impressive what Jamaica has done to fill the gap in ‘agriculture’ by legalizing marijuana so as to take advantage of business opportunities, while at the same time not rampantly incarnating their citizens for the herb. By doing so they have even begun exporting oils and other derivatives to Canada that recently legalized it. You also need to setup a delegation to learn what Jamaica has done and farmers have begun earning millions to subsidize losses in agriculture. How about that for new ideas.
What is this to celebrate, to even spend treasury money for all that ticket hotel and per diem? We should be celebrating the factory operating in Dominica and EXPORTING to countries, we doh tire import??? Boy look foolish people in that country. Just look at labourites, all the educated ones left the camp only rumyels and people taking advantage remain. Any person who is literate that still with labour they protecting their cash cow. One day sweet Jesus….
All this comment sound like people that just fool of hate and don’t like to see nothing good for our country I wonder those that making these comment who are they trying to impress for all we know that they did not get what they wanted from the government so they will keep bad talking & crying down the country and they think that the way to go calling people names why don’t some of you spend time giving good advise instead of bashing remember who ever lead it is still your country
These guys see what is obtained in other sister countries,but they return home and fool the poor Dominican that we are the best ..Wickeds!!!!
Austrie one of Dominicas worst minister,biggest and most famous idiot is on tour,!!!!…We are doomed,and doomed and Doomed..
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now
Juat wasting taxpayers money,like the are going to do anything,damn waste.
You call it a waste of money have you ever raise a cat far more a pig or a cow gone are the days when we have cows and would tie them on the savannah to feed I know because I use to take my father cows to graze on the PMH grounds and get stale bread from Erics bakery to feed the pigs now all of that is gone so we have to now buy feed and if we don’t know how and with what its made we are just blind and feeding with what we don’t know I think this was a good trip to enlighten farmers on what they are getting so please people we need to stop jumping and making accusation lets try to put country firs & politics next we all are the same boat when its good say it is good when it is bad say it like it is.