MNIB OPENS DELI AT TAMCC

Students attending the T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) can now purchase freshly made fruit juices and other local delicacies right on the Campus. This was made possible as a result of an initiative, which was launched earlier in the month by the Marketing National Importing Board (MNIB) and the College.

MNIB TAMCC Deli was commissioned by Agriculture Minister Claris Charles and witnessed by Principal of the College Dr. Dennis Paul. Also present at the ceremony were General Manager at MNIB Fitzroy James and Board Member Oliver Joseph. The idea to have a Deli at the College was the brainchild of Director of Student Affairs at TAMCC Elsia Ferguson.

Speaking at the ceremony James stated that the initiative was born out of the MNIB's commitment to make nutritious, healthy quality produce, conveniently available to every Grenadian household. He noted that MNIB saw this as an opportunity to encourage the youth of the nation to develop healthy eating habits which they would carry over to their adult life. Agriculture Minister Claris Charles congratulated the MNIB and TAMCC for their initiative. She noted that the new outlet has implications for health and education, since a healthy student is able to perform better.

According to Charles, when students are able to practice healthy eating habits,  the health sector will benefit from reduced cost of caring for persons who develop illnesses such as obesity, or are malnourished due to bad eating habits. The Agriculture Minister stressed the need for students at the College to eat locally grown foods and she challenged the Board to get involved in the bottling of juices and the drying of local fruits to give the youth a healthy alternative to the corn curls and chubby.

Principal of TAMCC Dr. Dennis Paul thanked the MNIB for their willingness to engage in partnership with them. He spoke of the need for the nation to be able to feed itself to be truly independent.

The College Principal also addressed the institution's role in the partnership, which includes the training of young people so that they can get involved in the production, storage and distribution of local products.

Member of the Board of Directors of MNIB Oliver Joseph who made brief remarks at the ceremony also reiterated the call made by the minister for Grenadians to consume more local foods. He believes that this will help reduce the import bill and can translate into savings in foreign exchange.

This is the second Deli to be opened within the past six months. One was recently commissioned at the Excel Plaza, Grand Anse in the south of the island. The MNIB TAMCC Deli will offer to the campus, the widest variety of local products, including fresh fruit juices, sandwiches and fruits. Opening hours are from 8: a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.