This Is Guernsey

By Tom Edwards

THE Mines Awareness Trust evolved into a business organisation to survive in an increasingly commercial world, according to its MD. Ben Remfrey believes that this adaptation could be one of the reasons why the Awards For Achievement judges chose the charity as the BWCI best medium business award.

‘In this age, you have to be realistic about what you can achieve unless you have more of a commercial approach,’ he said.

‘Historically, humanitarian and commercial organisations were separate, but with bodies like the UN putting their work proposals out to tender, we have adapted appropriately in times of change.

‘We are still a charity, but we are also a limited company, although it’s wholly owned by the charity and any profits we make are fed back in.’

MAT was set up in 1999 in response to the risk to life and limb posed by landmines and explosive remnants from the war in Kosovo.

It is the operating name for Mines Awareness International Ltd and is headquartered in Guernsey.

MAT believes the greater the efficiency of its business, the more effective its life-saving services can be.

Its mine action is more than just removing explosive items from the ground - it is concerned with recreating an environment in which people can live safely and where economic and social development can occur as it did prior to conflict.

‘I don’t mean to be rude to other charities, but we don’t just pop out to a country, we stay there 365 days a year,’ said Mr Remfrey.

‘We survey countries, educate people, provide data, train people to clear mines, sign off countries to international standards and hand back the land to the people.

‘Our country programmes are funded by First World governments and we provide training to the likes of the Ministry of Defence.

‘We’re bringing down the cost of getting rid of landmines. It used to be $2,000 an item, but we have found a way of doing it for just $250.’

MAT employs 59 full-time staff and approximately 240 seconded personnel from the governments of the countries in which it operates.

The staff, under MAT’s command, operated in hazardous environments in five countries in 2007 and eight so far this year.

There are some 100,000,000 landmines in the world, covering an area the size of France and Germany combined.

Innovation is a vital component to MAT’s development and the effectiveness of its business.

Its dog-training centre in Kenya spends $25,000 on each animal for the detection of a wide range of unexploded devices.

MAT also undertakes training for staff belonging to other companies, enabling them to clear landmines and thus globally raising the standards.

‘We are a business with humanitarian aims and a global reputation for excellence and I think as a Guernsey company that deserves some recognition,’ said Mr Remfrey.

‘Winning the award was proof of how far we have come from just a Land Rover and a laptop in 1999.

‘We were delighted to have the honour of being up there in the first place among such serious competition.

‘It’s down to the people who are on the ground 365 days a year and our chairman, Major General Griff Caldwell.

Mr Remfrey was delighted the winner of the Commerce and Employment Guernsey Business of the Year Award was Meadow Court Farm.

‘If we were going to be beaten by anybody, I’m glad it was the Guernsey cow.’

Article posted on 11th February, 2008 - 12.00am