Several volunteers from the Canadian Executive Service Organisation (CESO) are currently in Region Two – Pomeroon/ Supenaam, training local agro-processing businesses to raise their standards to international levels.
CESO was founded in 1967 and is a non-profit organisation that seeks to transfer Canadian expertise to micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses to enhance operating efficiency, production quality/quantity and increase export initiatives; and to strengthen government institutions and private sector associations.
Yvon Bertrand, a volunteer advisor, told Stabroek News that he and another advisor, John McDonald were on assignment looking for agro-processors and manufacturing companies that had potential to implement good manufacturing practises in order to raise their standards to be able to export to international markets. “Our focus is on the Original Juice Centre and some other local businesses in the Pomeroon area. We are working with the producers in moving their businesses towards global standards since the markets are increasing,” Bertrand said.
He added that they also implemented prerequisites for the businesses that can be used to train employees. CESO is working along with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) which will transfer the information and technology to ensure that the programme continues so that international standards can be met by other local businesses.
Owner and Managing Director of the Original Juice Centre, Nateram Ramnanan, told Stabroek News that several recommendations had been made by the CESO advisors and he had already put into effect these suggestions. “I am very happy that CESO has come to train us and I can say that we have seen tremendous improvement in our production.” The Original Juice Centre has been producing local juices from fruits grown in the Pomeroon for several years and they are working towards becoming an international juice supplier in order to trade with other countries.
