The dreaded words… Please attend on a scheduled date and time at …… Hours of long drawn out presentations, discussions that seemingly don’t go anywhere and lots of issues and problems presented with no formal solutions. Yes, the typical meeting held everyday and everywhere it’s possible to have one.
Then Along came Eastern Caribbean Trading Agriculture and Development Organisation (ECTAD) with a view to change the usual meeting protocol. Perhaps just slightly to make it a bit more fun. Well meetings can be called fun.
ECTAD is currently hosting 3 days of meeting which began yesterday, 23rd November, 2010 at the SVG CIC and runs through 25th. The first day was planned with agricultural stakeholders. This was very fruitful as stakeholders included Farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture, Bureau of Standards, IICA, Mr John Soler (Sol Caribbean Ltd) and Mr Angus Steele (President of SVGCIC) were present.
Topics surrounded what stakeholders can do to aid ECTAD in its Crop Production & Marketing Programme. An overview was given of ECTAD’s work and current Projects by Ms Nyasha Durrant, ECTAD Administrative Officer. Group work was of key importance as farmers were able to pinpoint to ECTAD what the organisation can do to aid farmers.
A key highlight of the day’s event centred on farmers sharing their experiences after the passage of Hurricane Tomas. This was a moment of sadness and unexpected joy as their stories were being told, sometimes for the first time.
Yes meetings and more meeting. Following the protocols set for general meeting. Today Wednesday 25th November is slated to deal specifically with Farmers whilst Thursday 25th is dedicated for an Internal Meeting of ECTAD Executives.
I will keep you updated
Sustang D. Fergus
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