Women to launch $4.6M fish processing facility

A women’s co-operative society will soon be launching a $4.6m salt fish processing facility at Stanleytown, West Bank of Demerara.

The project was developed by a group of 13 women from the community who have formed themselves into the “West Demerara Proactive Women Producers Cooperative Society.”

The group on Tuesday held a prayer service to bless the facility prior to its official launch next month.

The Society’s Chairperson Lorein Hooper disclosed that the group is looking to employ 40 women when it becomes fully operational.

“When you come, you will see everything going on, you will see the fish there, you will see the women; everything will be in full operation in a month’s time,” she stated.

“There are people out there who are already inquiring and making requests to become a part of the group and so the opportunity is there. We have our rules, we have all the regulations and so you just have to come in and follow the guidelines and there is a process in which we choose persons,” Hooper added.

The initiative was launched following a training programme hosted by First Lady Sandra Granger and is being funded by the government’s Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Development (SLED) programme.

The funding was used to construct the building and purchase dryers and other equipment.

At the event, Regional Executive Officer, Denis Jaikaran, pledged the regional administration’s support for “the sustainability and advancement of the project and group”.

He applauded the group for taking such a bold step.