General Manager of the Grenada Co-operative and Nutmeg Association (GCNA), Roderick St Clair, has been elected to replace Dr Dunstan Campbell, as the Agriculture and Fisheries representative in the Senate.
He was elected among two nominees at a plenary meeting on Wednesday, hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands at the Grenada Trade Centre, Grand Anse, Saint George.
The meeting was attended by representatives of farmers and fishers organisations, as well as individual farmers and fisher folk who are registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands’ Fisheries Division in the Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment, Forestry, Fisheries and Disaster Management and the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs.
On Thursday, St Clair told The Grenadian Voice, “my representation at the Senate level will be the voice of all the stakeholders, [following] consulations.” He noted plans to ensure that the respective organsiations continue to be vibrant to advocate and communicate their plans and issues, which he then will articulate in Parliament.
The Senator-elect said his representation would not be about controversies and attacks, but addressing the business of farmers and fishers for their advancement.
St Clair, who possess a bachelor’s degree in Total Quality Management and a master’s degree in Business Administration, along with diplomas in related fields, worked for over 20 years at the Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB).
His work experience also extends to the Produce Chemist Laboratory and a teacher of Agriculture Science at the St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School.
Dr Campbell, who served in the Senate for the past two years, resigned earlier this month with immediate effect, allegedly due to medical challenges.
Prior to the plenary meeting on Wednesday, former farmers and fishers representative in the Senate, who served for 14 years, Keith Clouden, made recommendation in writing to the Minister of Agriculture to appoint Michael Church as the replacement.
He noted that Church received the second highest number of votes from the 2018 elections, and coupled with his expertise, is best suited for the position.