by Denis Chabrol (Demerara Waves) The West Indian Rum and Spirits Association (WIRSPA) is lobbying Caribbean Community (CARICOM) stakeholders to reject an application for tariffs to be imposed on glass bottles produced extra-regionally on the grounds that a Trinidad-based company would be unable to satisfy regional demand.
WIRSPA Chairman Komal Samaroo specifically asked the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) to join forces with regional rum producers and other manufacturers to “vigorously oppose this proposal” because jobs could be lost if companies move out of he region.
“There is a proposal under consideration of the CARICOM Trade Ministers to seek to give tariff protection to a sole regional producer of packaged glass that cannot meet total quantity and quality presently required by the manufacturing sector in the region,” he told the recently concluded 27th annual awards of the GMSA.
