By Bennette Roach
It has been long in coming but Montserrat now has a new abattoir described as ‘built to international standards’, which will allow for the future export of local meat.
On Friday, January 22, the Hon. Minister of Agriculture Claude Hogan declared open the facility located below the power station in Brades, in the presence of Hon. Premier Donaldson Romeo, other officials and the media.
Hogan told the gathering: “As Minister of Agriculture my passion has always been focused on improving the livelihoods of the people we serve. With my Ministry’s present efforts being channeled into improving and increasing the production of pork, mutton and lamb, it is now possible for significant growth in this sector with this abattoir.”
“We hope to generate some revenue for our farmers, producers and Government by using this abattoir,” he declared.
Announcing that the prospects for export to our neighbors is greatly enhanced, he preceded that saying: “Today we are positively moving the country towards self-sufficiency in another agricultural commodity and…There will be more to come in our Agriculture Development Strategy and Marketing Plan which will be unveiled brand new in 2016.”
According to Mr. Mervin Browne, Project Montserrat Project Manager of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), funding for the abattoir to the tune of $3 million came from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), while Government provided the equipment.
The fund managed the project monies received. Hogan thanked Premier Romeo for approving the use of European Union funds to purchase all of the equipment for the slaughterhouse. “…we must salute the European Union through Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Donaldson Romeo for giving generously of EU funds to procure all the equipment in this abattoir.”
Speaking for the Government he said, “As your government, we welcome this abattoir in Montserrat as a genuine investment in our farming community,” calling it, “Montserrat’s ‘first Abattoir’, boasting, ”It was the final additions of this PDM Government, with very able technicians, which transformed this building into an Abattoir.’
Speaking to the long wait for an abattoir, he said: “My research has shown that project documents and proposals for a facility, such as what we are opening here today, were written and presented in many forms to many different funding facilities and donors over the past almost twenty years.”
The building was constructed by Ryan Investments Ltd., Ken Cassell, the architect for the project, in an overview of the facility informed that it is 4100 square feet and confirmed it was designed to international standards to meet the requirements for export. Cassell said he hoped funds will be allocated to complete the processing room.
Minister Hogan delivering the closing remarks and declaring open the facility, urged the Premier, who carries the responsibility as Minister of Finance to find funding to finish the room. The processing room is to be out-fitted with processing tables and equipment such as: meat saws, a meat grinder, a meat dehydrator, a smoker, a patty maker and a vacuum sealer.
Veterinarian Dr. Selwyn Maloney chaired the proceedings which opened with a prayer by owner of the small restaurant and bar Chit-Chat Mrs. Evelyn Searies-Allen.
Following the Minister’s declaration and cutting of the ribbon to open the facility staff guided guests to the inner entrance of the facility, to observe a demonstration of animals being brought in and slaughtered through the other end of the building, where on the outside there are two holding pens separating pigs and other animals.
The Staff proceeded with the demonstration processing two pigs and goats from being brought in to being hung before being disposed into storage.
