DMA member urges manufacturers to make good use of government assistance

Bonnaire described the government-provided financing as a blessing

Executive Member of the Dominica Manufacturers Association (DMA) Jean-Yves Bonnaire believes that the manufacturing sector in Dominica has great potential.

Bonnaire spoke at a signing ceremony at the State House last week for the establishment of a special loan facility at the Aid Bank for on-lending to manufacturers to improve and expand that sector.

“We believe that the manufacturing sector in Dominica has great potential…,” he said. “And it is time for us to move to a next level because we (are) plagued with small production and it is in those conditions it is very difficult for us to meet export demand.”

He  added, “We have to work also on quality and of course to achieve all this we need some financing.”

Bonnaire described the financing provided to the sector by the government as a blessing and encouraged “all the manufacturers in diverse sectors” to make good use of the money.

He charged the DMA with bringing sustainability to the sector which he said will also bring stability to jobs. The manufacturing sector, he noted, can attract skilled jobs.

“I think that the plan is to, on a regular basis assess what has been done with the money, how it has been used and see what jobs (have) been created, what companies that (have) been consolidated and see how it has benefited to the country and the people of the country,” Bonnaire remarked.

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12 Comments

  1. Hendricks ismael
    August 28, 2017

    After independence and 50 years of college in all Countries where the colonial masters was. We have no system in place to take full control of our destiny . We keep making every excuse in the world why we cannot do any thing meanningful. All I am saying we have to have more confidence in our selves that we can do more. Who decides how much the budget is going to be. With the education and technology of today one well educated college person can supply chicken and pork to the entire island and have surplus to ship to other islands . One college person can manage a water plant , it is easy The government makes the money available , never again say everything is difficult if we keep talking and thinking like civil servants we will never get out of slavery, it starts with every thing is possible . The Arabs came to the caribean speaking no English with a suitcase We taught him the language today he sells us chicken and pork . We are in control of the money , change what’s in our…

  2. Solomon
    August 28, 2017

    It would be very very very interesting to know how much of the 15 million will be assigned to Mr Bonnaire
    It really is a blessing for him as intended.
    It would also be interesting to know how much revenue Govrnment has earned from lafalaise quarry and what the profits are to date from 2006.
    What money has been paid to the land owners to date besides what is registered on the “book”paper money.
    How many public works employees were rehired by your company as intended
    The barge that was bought with a loan from the aid bank where was the company registered and in whose name.
    Mr Skerrit this manufacturer will indeed be very happy for the soft loan you facilitated.You are indeed Soloman from bible days oh cunning one.Hope you demanded shares in the company for that.Then you can demand real money from him for the favor.Not paper money.

    • theLateBath
      August 28, 2017

      Solomon you sound like a rum shop gossiper. How and why would skerrit demand shares from the company if he accesses the loan?
      Even if he took the whole 15 mill how and why would the PM consider himself a share holder? IS Skerrit a private investor? Wasnt it THE GOVERNMENT OF DOMINICA that put the money? and not the PM from his own pocket? you people urk me with the ignorance that comes out of your mouths.

  3. Solomon
    August 27, 2017

    Mr Bonnaire besides advising the manufacturers to take advantage of the 15 million you must also advise them to be honest and display integrity when dealing with people from whom they buy or rent products or land. I would be grateful if you would advise them to take the money and settle some of their outstanding debts .This would go a long way in renewing confidence in the local manufacturing sector that they would deal with those supplying them goods for export or manufacturing with honesty and integrity and that they would not be taken advantage of.It would also be useful for Government to ensure that all manufacturing entities receiving cash are registered companies in Dominica

    • theLateBath
      August 28, 2017

      The money isnt the the purpose of debt clearance. the bank will or should not grant or approve loans based on the premise of clearing a debt. Solomon i dont see your point really. .

  4. #1
    August 27, 2017

    It seem to me that between you and the chairman of the AID Bank all you really HOPING this facility will be taken advantage of eh. LOL.

    • theLateBath
      August 28, 2017

      Hope yes. Will it be attainable? left to be seen. the hotel industry got millions but the requirements are too stiff to access.

  5. Hendricks ismael
    August 27, 2017

    That nonsense is being said year after year, the aid bank has been making money available to the manufactures association, and yet still you cannot find a chocolate or candy bar that says made in dominica. All we do is blame the government for not doing enough. Take the $15 million and open one plant and bottle water, and manufacture every other product there, that mom and paps mentality must go.

    • Pointing out
      August 28, 2017

      You obviously do not know about Pointe Baptiste Chocolates, produced in Calibishie for the last few years. A bit expensive and high end but these tasty and nicely packaged chocolate bars are very popular with visitors and come in many flavours. Tours are given to vistors who call in at the small factory. Cocoa growers benifit from the sale of their fresh cocoa pods to the factory.

    • Roger Burnett
      August 28, 2017

      I totally agree.

      The existing DCP factory is well placed and large enough to be the “one plant” that houses every other product. In that way it could justify the recent Government investment.

    • theLateBath
      August 28, 2017

      Clearly you have never visited the Buy DOminica Shop at the roseau Market where ONLY local products are sold. also FB point baptiste chocolates.

    • theLateBath
      August 28, 2017

      People like to just say oh just bottle water. Usually those are the people who know nothing about bottling water. they think it is just filter it and put it in a plastic bottle. they think water is water and doesnt spoil. They dont know the complete science in operating a proper bottling facility which ENSURES the water remains at a distinct PH and salinity levels. If that is the case why dont they open their tap and sell water from their homes?

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