ST GEORGE’S– The Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, and Forestry is looking forward to improved operations at the Mirabeau Abattoir in St. Andrew, as part of efforts to strengthen Grenada’s food security and risk management.
The abattoir is being rehabilitated with funding by the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), through a project supported by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
During a recent trip to Grenada, Chief Executive Officer of the CDF, Rodinal Soomer visited the abattoir with members of his delegation, including Programme Specialists, Kyron Barker, and Christopher Mc Nair; and accompanied by National Specialist at IICA, Derek Charles, and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.
“We want to understand the operations better and how the contribution from the CDF will impact the operations while ensuring that the facility is operated at international standards,” explained Soomer, who further stated that “elements in the project, apart from the provision of equipment, will ensure that we meet health and safety requirements; that includes training of staff in the application of HACCP procedures and food and nutrition security, that is absolutely critical at this time.”
Manager for the abattoir, Karen Samuel, said the funding will help to significantly boost operations. “We will have safer meats available for the public, along with better working conditions for us here,” she said.
The Mirabeau Abattoir is the largest and most modern of the three such facilities in Grenada. It processes approximately 75 animals per week, although its throughput is estimated at 55 animals per day.
It is designed to meet international public health standards with slaughtering capacity to meet national demands.
It is anticipated that the rehabilitation project will lead to an improved Mirabeau Abattoir that will build customers’ confidence through the processing of safe and quality meats, thus increasing productivity and reducing the level of backyard butchering done under poor handling practices and unhygienic standards.
