President of the Dominica Manufacturer’s Association, Severin McKenzie, has revealed that one of the main challenges for manufacturers in Dominica is the cost of exporting products to the regional market.
Savarin, who owns Nature Island Paper Products, gave an example of where he said he was presented with a bill of about US$2,500 to export products from his company to Guadeloupe in a 20-foot container.
He was speaking at a press conference announcing the new ownership of Nature’s Water on Monday.
He also lamented the cost of importing goods into the country in comparison to that of the export bill.
“We have an import bill of close to $600-million and an export bill of about $80-million …. So we can understand what the trade imbalance for Dominica is,” he said.
He also noted that selling local products is major concern for local manufacturers.
“We have a serious difficulty in the country where we have to fight to get Dominican products sold,” McKenzie stated.
He added that a Buy Dominica Carnival Extravaganza which will be held from February 6th to 12th.
He said the event will give local manufacturers the perfect opportunity to display and sell their products.
McKenzie urged manufacturers to ensure that some of the money that is made in Dominica stays in Dominica.
The very same men cried wolf when the UWP took the country into debt. Now for 13 years we have been stuck in debt and falling further into debt. The worse thing is the people have not earned anything from the excessive expenditure and imbalance of trade. It is clear that they are incapable of running the country
The other countries will tax your products the way the Dominican govt. taxes any products brought into Dominica. Who are the losers? The Sellers and the buyers. There is no free trade and the govt.s get rich at the expense of the entrepreneurs and business people. The consumers have to pay more for the products.
Wow if a Dominican making toilette paper cannot make
it no one can.
The next level people. Noice Peeping Tom cannot comment. I wonder why.
Thank you Mr Mckenzie for the work you do on behalf of all of us
Don’t feel sorry for McKenzie, he is quite capable of taking care of himself.
Dominicans are the ones hurting. ROSS University has reached its wits end in trying to convince government that if they, ROSS, provide housing for 400 FIRST year students, there is potential of the student population increasing by 1000.
No the government wants their boys to provide ALL the housing and so ROSS remains stagnant.
The building at ROSS are all Steel Frame, easy to dismount, so too are the machinery for manufacturing. Easy to put in a container and ship out.
We are taking opur business else where.
Psalm 18: “The Lord liveth and blessed be our rock”.
Annica:
You got it all right. He can take care of himself.
He survived under Eugenia, Patrick and will under Skerrit.
Psalm 37:
We saw the evil spreading his wings like a big bay tree and in a little while, he was no more.
There is a time and season for every thing.
Being open-minded and employing a pragmatic approach to decision making are two basic keys to success. Unfortunately, these charactristics do not exist in our leaders or our small island, and hence the issues that we continually deal with.
These additional students travel, they pay departure taxes, purchase goods and services etc. It’s sad to read your comment.
Aye Lassss poor mckenzie why can’t our Govt do something to help a local manufacturer!
talk to dem severin
Well I only buy natures falls toilet paper when I can’t get toilet paper anywhere close or if I run out of old news papers. When a certain Mckenzie think one of the bigger money making US company in Dominica is hers and taking bread from people with family and mortgage mouth, how the h-ll they expect people to support there business.
NEWS PAPER ANYONE
Mudd:
If you have a problem with Domlec, do not use my sister in-law as your “scapegoat”.
Domlec is not hers and do not act as such.
She,is in charge of human resources and administration,and has a boss to report to.
Little business management 1:
Investors go into business to make money not to
keep people employ.
When their overheads(expenses) is greater than their revenue they have to cut cost. Some may result in laying off employees. However, Domlec do have a certain amount of responsiblity and accountability in the community where they do business. If your are not dissatisfy with the way they do business, mobilize a group of “concern” citizens and demonstrate as you all did in the past.
My sister in-law is only the messenger.
We do not need you to support our business.
Send me your address and I will supply you with all the used newspaper you will need, when you run out of “toilet Paper”,because we do not want your money.
FYI Domlec is no longer owned by a US Company.
Oh my god. We wonder why Tony , SKERRIT and Alick take us for their door mats! Just think MUDD. this is truly truly sad
THIS IS SO TRUE EH. BOY, ALAS
It’s all a part of the next level in the economic development of the country. Any small island nation in the OECS with such a large trade deficit of $599,020-million, and continues to operate without taking drastic measures to at least lower the trade deficit, clearly demonstrates the symptoms of incompetence in the governance of the country. Indeed, these are sad days for the manufacturers. Question. How long are the voters going to allow the trend to continue? I know that’s exactly what they voted and permitted, but for how long? For now, they must deal with it.
Correction; $600-million import and export $80-million. Trade deficit $520-million, or a little over half a billion dollars deficit.
The countries entire approach to this is wrong. Name one of the economically leading countries today who because #1 because of making and selling their own products to themselves? The problem is more so on imports rather than exports. If the country wishes to prevail it needs to lower rates for both instead of taxing its own citizens to make a profit. More profit for the overall country would be made if people and businesses didnt pay more for exporting/importing than the actual worth of the goods.
STOP TAXING!
Right on.
change skerrit and you will see the change,tell skerro to focus on that.