by Linda Straker
- MNIB was established in 1982 to be sole commodity importer of milk and rice
- Ministry of Finance suggests MNIB losing as much as EC$1 million per month
- Government taking critical measures to swiftly address MNIB operations
The Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB) which was established in 1982 to be the sole commodity importer of milk and rice, and at the same time engage in the exporting of fresh produce, may see its operations wind up or evolve into another entity.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell disclosed on Tuesday that operations of the MNIB are costing Government, and based on preliminary briefings from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, consideration is being given to shutting its doors.
“I want to be very clear that based on my preliminary briefing as it pertains to MNIB, we may have to seriously consider ending the life of the MNIB and reconstituting either a new entity, or an entity that really was meant to carry out the mandate of the MNIB,” he said. PM Mitchell was elected to office on 23 June 2022.
“I am saying this early, it may not, or it does not come as a surprise if we find ourselves there sooner rather than later. We are here to take decisions, sometimes hard decisions. We simply cannot continue kicking the football down the road and expect that you can always come to the Government for bailout after bailout, after bailout, with no turnaround in the fortunes of the entity, with no real plan to achieve the things that the MNIB was meant to do,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that for the last 20 years the MNIB has been one problem child or another. “It is haemorrhaging money. My initial brief from the PS in the Ministry of Finance suggests they are losing as much as EC$1 million per month,” he said.
The MNIB as a statutory body falls under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance which is one of the ministerial portfolios of the Prime Minister. Speaking about the operation and management of the entity Prime Minister Mitchell said that there have been significant issues in the recent past pertaining to mismanagement.
“Corruption; all kinds of things; you may be aware that the Integrity Commission has also had to investigate the comings and goings at the MNIB. And crucially I don’t think you will find a farmer or any agro-processor in Grenada who holds the MNIB or who views it positively; and so we are going to have to take critical measure swiftly to address that. Hence the need to have the board put in place so we can take control of the situation, so we can have firm recommendations as to how we go forward,” he said during the post-cabinet briefing on Tuesday, 19 July 2022.
1 million a month?? Where, in what areas? Does MNIB have bankers, accountants,auditors?
A note of levity, one has to have something to lose it .
Tell us Mr Brilliant Minister of Finance. Give us facts, figures supporting documents not sweeping , attention- getting generalizations.Not the old codswallop.This is a new administration – transparent accountable, responsible .Remember . …
Governments cannot run business, apart from corruption nepotism etc, they just arent very good at it. The really funny thing is that its possible as seen in lots of other countries to outsource government itself, to let companies run – efficiently – to tight contracts which of course the government is also lamentably poor at – government services like customs and excise, and ports.
The trick is to set companies against each other – to have company A provide a service, while company of lawyers B write the contract and company C of accountants audits performance… Governments job – to be small efficient and oversee such arrangements.
Over the years MNIB has been used as a get rich for few unscrupulous folks.
Instead of highlighting poor and corrupt management, institute laws that will send these folks to jail.
This viscous corrupt cycle must stop. If folks will not operate in and with integrity they must be compelled to do so. Violators must face the consequences.
Good, stop this wasteful government spending. Run finances like a successful and profitable business that wants to remain in business.
Governments are not supposed to be ‘run lime a business’ – because it isn’t one, and the considerations while running a community are entirely different. “Business-Governments” never ended in anything but utter disaster.
We are living in difficult times with strange challenges. We live in a country with high debt levels and limited policies that can improve the welfare of its citizens. Our island is increasingly dependent on foreign investors for help. Any government that scrounges for funds to meet its needs is a disaster in waiting. Medical school, tourism, and meager remittance from foreign entities are our main sources of revenue. What plans does the current administration have to improve the lives of our people? Everyone knows that the Marketing board does not meet its intended goals, but a loss of one million monthly is an exaggeration. Friends have to be repaid and the marketing board, the cruise ship port, the airport, and the electricity company are what they are interested in. Tell us the truth. In a time of crisis, it is prudent to cut spending, however. they promise to substantially increase civil servants’ pay and embark on massive infrastructure spending. retrain workers and pay pensions. Where is the money? Maybe we could adapt the theory of Equivalent economic hemopathy. We are in a bad place; we sold our children’s lands to foreigners the only thing left to them by their forefathers. Today, we walk around in a daze with grandiose dreams and a wish for easy money. If this strange malady that inflected our people (greed, love of money, jealousy, and hatred) for others does not stop the only thing that will remain is God’s love as our heritage. Who is going to rescue us now?