BARATARIA COMMUNITY COUNCIL LAUNCHES ‘EPIC’ AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE
(L-R) Members of Barataria 4H Club; Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Mr. Avinash Singh; Cindyann Currency, Head of Operations at Digicel Foundation; and Terry Mohammed, Operations HSSE and Emergency Response Manager, Shell T&T, at the site of the Barataria Community hydroponics expansion project on 31 January 2024.
FRIDAY 02 FEBRUARY, 2024: PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – The Barataria Community Council has expanded its community agri-initiative with the launch of a drip-to-waste hydroponics system. The new system was funded by the Digicel Foundation and Shell Trinidad and Tobago through their joint investment in the 2023-2024 ‘Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities’ (EPIC) grant programme.
Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Mr. Avinash Singh (centre) and officials from the Barataria community, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, FAO and the World Food Day National Committee join Mr. Terry Mohammed - Operations HSSE and Emergency Response Manager, Shell T&T (second to right), and Ms. Cindyann Currency - Head of Operations, Digicel Foundation (far right), at the launch of the Barataria Community Council’s EPIC hydroponics expansion project.
The new system was officially launched to stakeholders on 31 January 2024 at the Barataria Empowerment Expo held in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The new system can produce 2,000 crops, increasing the community’s agricultural and food production capacity.
Cindyann Currency, Head of Operations at Digicel Foundation, and Terry Mohammed, Operations HSSE and Emergency Response Manager at Shell T&T, join Barataria's 4H Club on 31st January 2024 to launch their EPIC hydroponics expansion project.
The Barataria Community Council was one of ten organisations to secure a TT$100,000 EPIC grant in 2023 to facilitate a sustainable community project. This year’s EPIC programme focuses on projects making an impact in the areas of Agriculture, the Environment and Renewable Energy.
Speaking at the event, Terry Mohammed, Operations HSSE and Emergency Response Manager Shell Trinidad and Tobago shared, “By promoting community-based agriculture, Shell not only supports food security and environmental sustainability but also empowers communities, like the Barataria community, to thrive...Partnering with Digicel Foundation to be part of the EPIC programme has given CBOs, NGOs and government agencies the opportunity to deliver community-based projects which are impactful, accessible and sustainable.”
L-R) Isiah Daniel from the 4H Club shares his expertise on hydroponics farming with Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Mr. Avinash Singh; Head of Operations at Digicel Foundation Ms. Cindyann Currency, and MP for Barataria/ San Juan Mr. Saddam Hosein.
Cindyann Currency, Head of Operations at the Digicel Foundation, remarked “Sharing this milestone at this community expo is the perfect example of public-private sector partnership. This event allows groups to share information and network so that they can form bonds to help each other in the near future.”
In true community spirit, the Barataria Community Council engaged the Best Barataria Caretakers 4H Club, the Barataria RC primary and Barataria South Secondary schools to be a part of the initiative.
ENDS
About Digicel
As a Digital Operator, Digicel is in the business of delivering powerful digital experiences 1440 minutes of each day to customers – that’s every minute, all day, every day.
Through its world-class LTE and fibre networks, together with its suite of eight apps spanning sports (SportsMax), music (D’Music), news (Loop), local radio and podcasts (GoLoud), TV streaming, (PlayGo) enhanced messaging and marketplaces (BiP), cloud storage (Billo) and self-care (MyDigicel app), Digicel is the only operator in its markets that can deliver the complete digital experience.
Serving consumer and business customers in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America, and Pacific with investments of over US$7 billion and a commitment to communities in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, and Trinidad & Tobago, the Digicel Foundation has contributed to positive outcomes for over three million people to date.
With its Better Together brand, Digicel is promising “simply more” to its customers and communities as the company’s 7,000 employees worldwide work together to make this pledge a powerful reality day in, day out.
For more, visit www.digicelgroup.com
About Shell Trinidad and Tobago
Shell has been in Trinidad and Tobago for over 100 years and has played a major role in the development of its oil and gas industry. With operations in offshore and onshore blocks (both operated and non-operated) as well as a majority shareholding in Atlantic LNG, the sixth largest liquefaction facility in the world, Shell Trinidad and Tobago delivers an integrated gas operation to supply the petrochemical market and Atlantic LNG.
Shell Trinidad and Tobago aims to create measurable, positive social impact at the community and national level, and contribute to the achievement of national priorities, through increasing access to education, skills and economic opportunities and improving access to energy.
Our social investment strategy seeks to contribute to economic diversification and livelihood development through Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STREAM) education, community skills and enterprise development, and community development.