School Meals To Increase Business With Local Suppliers

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Business News

Tuesday, 03 July 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John’s – The management of the National School Meals Service (NSMS) has begun to explore avenues whereby the level of support for local producers and manufacturers can be increased.

According to a press release, this action is the direct result of a policy directive from the Minister of State with responsibility for the NSMS, Senator Winston Williams.

Samuel Spencer, the Chief Executive Officer of the school feeding programme said his team has held several meetings with senior technical officers in the Ministry of Agriculture, the Central Marketing Corporation (CMC) and local water producers as part of efforts to implement this policy.
 
He said that while the NSMS has been procuring goods locally, the comparatively higher prices of some products has been a limiting factor for some local purchases. But following the directive from Senator Williams, the early negotiations with CMC and the water producers for the short, medium and long term needs of the programme arre in an effort to lock in better prices on quality, locally produced goods.
 

Spencer described the meetings as being very productive, with the local producers expressing appreciation for the opportunity to have dialogue with the management of the NSMS. 

The CMC has given a commitment to work closely with all farmers and livestock owners to provide affordable, locally grown vegetables and animal products for the quality and quantity required in accordance with the scheduled delivery times.
 
The local water producers have also made a similar commitment for the provision of water to the Service.

Meanwhile, Senator Williams said the directive was given as part of Government's renewed commitment to support local businesses and the overall strategic goal of the Ministry to provide an economic stimulus for local producers and manufacturers.

He also encouraged all local crop and livestock farmers to contact the Central Marketing Corporation to discuss how they can become a partner in the programme.
 
Senator Williams added that, in addition to the 18 established centres, an announcement will be made shortly on plans for the opening of new centres during the upcoming academic year.
 
The National School Meals Service, a hallmark social programme of the UPP Government, presently provides approximately 3,000 hot, nutritious meals to students and teachers across the island on a daily basis.

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