INGENIO SAN ANTONIO FORMS BOARD OF ADVISORS
In April 2016, the Board of Directors of Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited, owner of Ingenio San Antonio, announced the formation of a Board of Advisors as a key part of the company’s efforts and initiatives to combat Mesoamerican Nephropathy (MeN).
The Board of Advisors is comprised of prestigious and highly qualified experts from the areas of epidemiology, toxicology, nephrology research, medical practice, education and occupational health and safety.
The Board of Advisors will advise the company on three key issues:
– How to maximize its investment in support of the institutions that are investigating the possible causes of MeN;
– The specific steps it needs to take to be at the forefront of best labor practices in the sugar industry and;
– How to further improve the lives of those afflicted by the disease.
FIRST BOA MEETING
June 7th, 2016, Miami, FL. The Board of Advisors met with the President and Chairman of NSEL to discuss the importance of the board’s role for the company, define the strategic objectives of the board and establish a short, medium and long term work plan.
SECOND BOA MEETING
November 21st & 22nd, 2016, Managua, Nicaragua. On the 21st, the BOA conducts its first site visit to Ingenio San Antonio to see first hand the sugar cane fields and the labor conditions. The visit also included a stop at the company hospital, the filtered water distribution center, the hydrating drink production center and ASOCHIVIDA (a prominent organization of former sugar cane workers afflicted with chronic kidney disease of non traditional causes).
On the 22nd, the second BOA meeting was held and progress to date was reviewed and discussed. In addition, the board defined the key milestones to be attained in 2017 in fulfilling the board’s objective of deciphering the MeN epidemic.