Minister urges good use of Caroni Lands

Trade and Industry Minister Kenneth Valley issued a challenge to Hi-Lo food Stores that in light of the coming on stream of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), they must be prepared to do business with new farmers who now own lands that were previously used for sugar cane. He said: “Not only would you widen the range of produce, but you would implictly set the stage for export readiness among the new farmers, some of whom are ex-sugar workers.”

The Minister’s challenge came while delivering the feature address at the reopening and ribbon Cutting of Hi-Lo, Diego Martin. Valley noted earlier that not only has Hi-Lo had to face the onslaught of penetration of operators from abroad, but, “you can rest assured that as the FTAA comes into being, there will be others that will come from the rest of Latin America,” he said. Valley added that expanding to the wider Caribbean is a necessity and that Hi-Lo may soon find that they need to consider the FTAA area itself. He also suggested that Hi-Lo take the name of their products across the region and into the wider international community, stating: “We have already seen the demonstrable impact of the freer movement of capital and investment. As people enter our midst with their capital, they are entitled to equal treatment in our country. The same privilege will be demanded by our citizens when we move.”

During the lighter part of Valley’s address, he couldn’t help but recall calypsonian Lord Cristo’s song “Chicken Chest” upon the introduction of supermarket distribution in this country many years ago. He recalled: “The lady could not resist the temptation to conceal a whole pack of chicken breast under her nylon dress. I cannot help but remark that although the price of chicken has gone up, the price of chicken and the value of the merchandise concealed under the poor lady’s dress would have been much higher than in real terms.” Earlier in the programme, Ingrid Caracciolo, sales director, Hi-Lo Food Stores, told the gathering about “Our New Store.” She said that the Starlite branch was the third Hi-Lo food store to be upgraded in the last two years. The Hi-Lo group started the Diego Martin branch on November 19, 1963, hence the reason for the timely reopening.

Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the food store sits on 12,000 square feet of land and it took them the last five months to rebuild. Caracciolo stated that it is to be the pride of their Diego Martin customers, starting with the catering to the elderly and busy working mothers, as they continue to raise their standards. The spanking new refurbished outlet now boasts added services with the inclusion of  a bakery, a deli, more choice and variety of products, bigger produce and frozen foods section, wider aisles and extended opening hours. Already decorated for the Christmas season, Joseph Teixeira, chairman, Hi-Lo Food Stores, told the gathering that there will be live parang throughout the season. The only item not at the branch was the Lotto machine. The blessing of the store was done by Brother Noble Khan, Pundit Bramahand Rambachan and Fr Kennedy Swaratsingh, who also served as MC. Fr Swaratsingh is also Hi-Lo’s human resource director of marketing and distribution.