GLOBAL Seafood Distributors in West Ruimveldt will, on Wednesday, commission its solar fish-dryer as part of its expansion drive, which is opening more employment opportunities for persons in the community. The dryer is all set to launch a brand of salted fish under the name, ‘Butters and Grant House of Salt Fish.’

Remigrant Allison Butters-Grant, who has been operating a fish-processing plant in the West Ruimveldt Industrial Site for just over a year, had managed a similar business in New Jersey, USA.
During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Butters-Grant said that her company decided to invest close to G$1M in the solar fish-dryer to boost its capacity to meet customer demand, even during prolonged inclement weather.
The company now does value-added processing of grey snapper, banga mary, trout and other wild-catch fish, producing such products as seasoned fish, fish fillet, nuggets, steak, headless and head-on fish.

Butters-Grant, who is the Chief Executive Officer and president of the company, said she is no stranger to fish processing, as her parents were owners of shrimping trawlers. She was born into the fishing business right here in Guyana, before she migrated to the United States where she spent 29 years.
Meanwhile, President David Granger is scheduled to commission the solar dryer at a simple ceremony at the company’s West Ruimveldt facility.
Butters-Grant explained to this publication that the company currently employs 15 persons, and that based on its expansion projection, it expects to provide employment for as many as 200 persons. Already, when the workload gets beyond the norm, an additional 10 persons are added to the 15 staffers already on board.
According to the CEO, the company ensures that it spends quality time cleaning its products so that customers would be spared that chore at home.
‘WE EAT WHAT WE SELL’

Global Seafood Distributors, according to Butters-Grant, pays keen attention to quality and standards that are equivalent to those offered in the United States, and the company can boast, “We eat what we sell.”

The solar fish-dryer, which is already in operation, received support from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and its Chief Executive Officer Dr. Oudho Homenauth. During consultations with NAREI, the company was allowed to take samples of the fish it processes to the East Coast location where NAREI has similar equipment that is used only to dry herbs.

A variety of fish was placed into the dryer in a separate section and within three days they were ready for packaging and distribution. It was after that confirmation that the CEO of Global Seafood realised that she could invest in the dryer.
She was provided with a special type of plastic (Ultra Violet) that is used to regulate the amount of sunlight that enters the dryer. There was also the procurement of translucent sheets for the roofing of the dryer and another regulator to determine the amount of lighting that enters the dryer. According to Allison Butters-Grant, there can be no airborne agents to contaminate the products because the entire dryer is completely covered.
Prior to being converted to the operational centre for Global Seafood Distributors, the location had a ketchup factor and then a fish processing plant that was operated by another company.

In its expansion drive, Global Seafood is pursuing water and waste management as well as development of byproducts. The CEO told the Guyana Chronicle that the company sees a lot of opportunities within the industry and is willing to take up the challenge posed by President Granger in advocating product diversification and value-added expansion. (Leroy Smith)