By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Caribbean Supermarket Association (CSA) has been launched.
The launch took place on Tuesday at Krave Restaurant, Marabella.
Heading the association is the President of the Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SATT) Rajiv Diptee.
Former government minister Vasant Bharath has been selected as the vice-chairman.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), at the recently concluded Investment Forum at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), to recognise the significance of supporting sustainable efforts towards food security.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley also signed a declaration with the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation, stating that Trinidad and Tobago was committed to working with the CSA.
In a media release, SATT stated, “The CSA is in the process of negotiating with CARICOM territories to bring supermarkets and distributors under the CSA. This would allow the association to assist with increasing the regional production of agriculture and value-added products, where their retail markets would be identified and readily accessible.
“This would be achieved by coordinating and incorporating CARICOM involvement, cross border trading, job creation and value chain activity. The CSA will be expected to grow beyond its inaugural membership to attract and include more participating nations within the region to expand its sphere of activities.”
The 2022 to 2023 Interim Board of Directors are:
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Rajiv Diptee – Chairman
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Vasant Bharath – Vice Chairman
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Curtis Mohammed – Executive Director
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Nirmalla Debysingh – Secretary
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Professor Marlon Knights – Assistant Secretary
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Shamshad Ali – Treasurer
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Jody White – Public Relations Officer
