ST. JOHN'S Antigua, July 2nd, 2012 -- Following a policy directive from Sen.Hon. Winston Williams Jr., the Minister of State with responsibility for the National School Meals Service (NSMS), to explore avenues of increasing the level of support for local producers and manufacturers, the Management of the NSMS has been conducting meetings with key stakeholders.
According to the CEO, National School Meals Service, Mr. Samuel Spencer, 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 shared that while the National School Meals Service has been procuring goods locally, the comparatively higher prices of some products has been a limiting factor for some local purchases.
The CEO explained that following the directive from the Minister of State, his team's early engagement of CMC as well as local water producers in negotiations on the short, medium and long term needs of the programme have been done in an effort to lock in better prices on quality, locally produced products. The CEO 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.
Armed with the information provided by the NSMS, 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 also made a similar commitment for the provision of water to the Service.
In commenting on the policy, the Minister of State with responsibility for the NSMS shared that the directive was given as part of his 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. Sen. Williams 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 also shared that in addition to the already established 18 feeding centres, an announcement will be made shortly on plans for the opening of new centres in the upcoming academic year.
The National School Meals Service, a hallmark social programme of the UPP Government, presently provides approximately 3000 hot, nutritious meals to students and teachers across the island on a daily basis.
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Antigua News