PNG Echo

Making fish houses
contain a high level of vegetable protein per calorie
and a good amount of omega 3 fatty acids too.
Which leads us to Plantation Island’s other
corporate concerns…
…THE WELL-BEING OF THE LOCAL
EMPLOYEES ON PLANTATION ISLAND
Diabetes Type II is rife in Fiji (and many other
Pacific countries, such as PNG, are not far behind
statistically). Plantation Island resort has three staff
members with lower-limb amputation as a result of
the disease.
Out of concern for the health of his staff – of
which there are 280 – Alex set up a health check.
He was alarmed at the results. Generally, his staff
was overweight and sedentary and their health
check indicated this with the inherent diabetic
warning signs.
He noticed that it was usual for his staff to eat a
big meal late at night that was often refined, fatty,
convenience foods and that they did little exercise.
He also noticed how alarmingly young many of them
were when they passed away.
Leading the way by example, Alex now walks every
Monday morning (at 6 am) with all staff that are
present and on duty. He doesn’t take “no” for an
answer. He says he’s noticed an enormous change.
While I was on the Island, he was also playing host
to celebrated New Zealand chef, Colin Chung and
hospitality trainer, Greg Cornwall of Pacific Islands
Resort Consultants who were conducting staff
training on how to use and serve local ingredients in
new and modern ways.
28 PNG ECHO