Gopee-Scoon praises Grand Bay

She made the comment following a tour of the company’s operations located on the O’Meara Industrial Estate in Arima. The visit included a tour of the plant and a presentation by the executive team on the operations of the business. Accompanying the minister were Norris Herbert, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry; John Tang Yian, Chairman, EXIMBank; Brian Awang, CEO, EXIMBank; and Grand Bay officials.

Kevin Marcilliat, Managing Director and CEO at the company said, “We are proud that we are creating and pioneering an industry in Trinidad, as we continue to invest and grow and prosper in this business.” He said Grand Bay Paper Products Limited’s vision is “to become the leaders in manufacturing, marketing and service with the highest quality products” and currently operates in 25 markets with 400 members of staff.

In addition to getting recent orders to supply its products to Cuba, a company executive said Grand Bay had just begun penetration of the Haitian market and was exploring other French speaking markets in the region. Also accompanying the minister was Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries, Clarence Rambharat; who was interested in “an important by-product for use in agriculture,” produced by the company. He told journalists that “in Trinidad and Tobago we suffer with poor quality soil (so) farmers invest a lot of money to purchase lime to increase the yields and the productivity of the soils; and Grand Bay Paper Products is considering the use of a calcium carbonate byproduct of the paper manufacturing process on agricultural lands.” The paper sludge can boost soil productivity for farmers; provide benefits as a fertilizer, using the inherent fibres made of cellulose, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Its moisture retention capability can also be another benefit. He said that the ministry believed that “it is viable and we are moving to the stage of testing and to determine whether it will work and moreso if it meets all the environmental criteria in terms of environmental quality and the way it will interact with the water table and water courses.” He added that it is a “good opportunity for the farmers and makes an excellent case for recycling.”