Chaplaincy service brings improvements

By PETER ESILA
AT LEAST three people sought private counselling from Pastor Israel Arua on the first day of his appointment as chaplain for Paradise Company Ltd (PCL) about two weeks ago.
Paradise Foods chief executive officer James Rice said while it was business as usual for many companies, there was a big need for companies to have chaplains.
“The reaction inside our company has been huge, more people are smiling, showing up to work early and hanging out in the cafeteria to talk to our chaplain,” Rice said.
“Three people sought private counselling on Pastor Arua’s first day with us, and two employees so far have taken him home with them so he could help with family issues.”
Meanwhile, Rice said that when the food and beverage company through its Queen Emma Chocolate Company introduced the K1 chocolate bars, business doubled.
“It created 15 more new jobs in the production last month,” he said.
The chocolate business gets cocoa from 2,000 farmers.
“We are aiming to be PNG’s leading producer of food and beverages; to make products that are trusted, affordable and nutritious that feed the people of our country; to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all our employees and a profitable growing business for our shareholders.”
With just three months as CEO, Rice is adamant in replacing all imported items the company uses with locally sourced products such as Sepik vanilla for its ice cream and West New Britain’s palm oil for its brand Highland Meadows.