Citrus growers finally consolidate leadership

An outbreak of common sense appears to be infecting residents of the Stann Creek Valley as the new management committee of the Citrus Growers Association seeks to leave behind the acrimony of the past. According to a release from the C.G.A., the committee, whose membership was reduced from nine to six following the resignations of Tony Chanona, Frank Redmond, and Steve St. Cyr, held its first meeting on Wednesday. Their immediate priority was to bring the three men back into the fold and this was done when the six signed a letter that commits the committee to review the twenty-five million dollar investment deal and not automatically seek to overthrow it. It was the failure to add that decision making flexibility that had caused the trio to resign in the first place. Once that housekeeping matter was taken care of, the committee unanimously elected Frank Redmond as chairman and Denzil Jenkins as vice chairman. What was not decided was exactly when the C.G.A.’s 2007 annual general meeting will be held. Viewers will recall that the A.G.M. held last Saturday was adjourned in chaos before any of the agenda matters, including the financial reports, could be addressed. It is believed that the management committee will meet next week to select a date for that important gathering.