http://www.newsday.co.tt/business/0,170884.html
THE newly-established Cane Producers Secretariat is expected in January, to begin its research work into the socio-economic needs of 9,000 former cane farmers and cane cutters.
Speaking with Newsday via telephone yesterday, General Secretary of the Cane Producers Association (CPA), Seukeran Tambie, said “we expect to hire three key people very soon, and once they’re in place, work can begin apace.”
The three vacant positions are: Director of Grant-Funded Research, Business and Social responsibility; Director of Marketing; and Director of Information Technology.
The Secretariat does however have an executive director — Thomas Sotillio, who is a long-time member of the CPA. His post became effective on Monday, December 17, following the signing of a $1 million Memorandum of Understanding that day between the CPA and the Food Production Ministry.
The money will be used to set up and staff the Secretariat, inclusive of a fully furnished office at one of the buildings, still owned by Caroni 1975 Limited.
Tambie said Sotillio was well-versed in the “nine-year struggle to get what they were promised — a proper exit strategy” following the 2003 closure of Caroni 1975 Limited.
“Mr Sotillio has been working with me on this issue for the past two years. He assisted me in developing the proposal we submitted to the European Union in April last year, which included a plan for an Economic Zone between Hindustan and Penal,” Tambie noted.
Tambie said he hoped to hire three suitable persons “by week’s end, so we can get going with the interviews and research necessary to determine the most viable crops and agri-businesses that we should invest time and money into, for the benefit of these 9,000 men and women.”
Traditional crops such as tomato and cassava, as well as non-traditional ones like Aloe Vera, are under consideration by the Secretariat. However a final decision on which crops/businesses to pursue would be based on the outcome of research conducted during the six-months in which the Secretariat has to do its work.
The three vacant positions are: Director of Grant-Funded Research, Business and Social responsibility; Director of Marketing; and Director of Information Technology.
The Secretariat does however have an executive director — Thomas Sotillio, who is a long-time member of the CPA. His post became effective on Monday, December 17, following the signing of a $1 million Memorandum of Understanding that day between the CPA and the Food Production Ministry.
The money will be used to set up and staff the Secretariat, inclusive of a fully furnished office at one of the buildings, still owned by Caroni 1975 Limited.
Tambie said Sotillio was well-versed in the “nine-year struggle to get what they were promised — a proper exit strategy” following the 2003 closure of Caroni 1975 Limited.
“Mr Sotillio has been working with me on this issue for the past two years. He assisted me in developing the proposal we submitted to the European Union in April last year, which included a plan for an Economic Zone between Hindustan and Penal,” Tambie noted.
Tambie said he hoped to hire three suitable persons “by week’s end, so we can get going with the interviews and research necessary to determine the most viable crops and agri-businesses that we should invest time and money into, for the benefit of these 9,000 men and women.”
Traditional crops such as tomato and cassava, as well as non-traditional ones like Aloe Vera, are under consideration by the Secretariat. However a final decision on which crops/businesses to pursue would be based on the outcome of research conducted during the six-months in which the Secretariat has to do its work.
