Dominican National, Dr. Peter Alfred, has called on all manufactures to work together for the advancement of the Dominica Manufacturers Association (DMA).
Alfred was the keynote speaker at a DMA national symposium held on Thursday at the Goodwill Parish Hall.
“We are no doubt aware of the fact that for manufacturing and by extension, exports, to advance in our homeland, all hands need to be on deck including the public sector, the private sector [and] the multilateral agencies,” he stated.
Alfred said given the relatively small size of the vast majority of manufacturers and businesses, it is advisable to broaden the membership of the DMA in order to benefit from having a louder and more widely supported voice.
He said that there is also a need to have a vibrant and dynamic member’s organization.
“The DMA should strengthen its organization and strive to present a compelling value proposition that will serve to attract, keep, mobilize and stimulate its members,” he advised.
Alfred further urged manufactures to see DMA as their “campaign” and “mouthpiece” adding that the DMA should also deliver on the expectations of its members.
Meantime, Minister for Trade and Commerce, Ian Douglas said that the manufacturing sector holds tremendous potential to address food security concerns and reconfiguration of Dominica’s import and export dynamics.
“My vision places manufacturing at the core of the new ministry and as the minister for trade and commerce I’m happy to share this new vision of increase production for sustainable employment and export,” Douglas stated.
He said this new direction should spur sustainable growth in the production and manufacturing sector.
“I am certainly in agreement with this vision since it is in sync with the ministry of trade and commerce to be the driver for export development,” the minister remarked.
Douglas commended the members of the DMA for what he referred to as a progressive theme: “To step up production for sustainable employment and export.”
So Peter, I did some family research on you and found something very interesting; you might want to talk with me, if the name Robellto originally out of Marigot means anything to you.
Forgive me if I spell “Robellto incorrectly, nevertheless, you might want to talk to Louis Robinson, or yours truly, Francisco Telemaque.
Here is a number where you can reach me: 951-743-4748.
Admin, I will appreciate it if you allow this one.
30-40 years ago China was the poorest country in the east. Now China is the leading the world in manufacturing everything. How did they do it ? We just need to be dedicated. It starts with setting standards n Ideas. Every Chinese President study Industrial Engineering.
Every election our Ideas and Standards changing. We are not dedicated to anything.
China did it with dedication and staying on one course.
You know before we talk we must know what we are talking about whether it is fact or fiction!
Your comment ” 30-40 years ago China was the poorest country in the east” is absolute fiction, and not fact; because you are insinuating that in 1980, China was the poorest in the East.
For your information, in the year 1980, even the wealthiest nation on earth, the United States of America owed borrowed billions of dollars to China.
And still owes China money!
So if China was that poor in 1980, how come they were loaning money to nations of the world?
If you say thirty (30- 40) years you are talking about way back in the year 1950, and even then as a hard core communist nation; one could not consider China the poorest nation in the “East!”
Manufacturing at best will play a very minor role in the economy. We should look to our other sister islands that have relatively well and learn a thing or two about what they are doing.
The potential of manufacturing outweighs tourism. Industries like tourism and agriculture rely on manufacturing. manufacturing has the potential to employ more than tourism. It can transform our economy if taken seriously. Manufacturing faces a number of issues in Dominica. Shipping, high operational costs, lack of readily available skilled labour, financing options (dont say AID Bank because you cannot refinance), availability of raw and packaging materials, Lack of SUITABLE production space, lack of production standards and testing and research facilities, etc etc. In the end, the average “manufacturere” here is operating a cottage industry and is unable to increase its capacity. the government has thrown money at small business people in the past with no accountability. It is time to put something in place where all of these issues are addressed and managed in a way they we become a powerhouse in manaufacture or AT LEAST agro processing. we are the nature isle.
Peter, here you are beating, the drums and dancing to the same song of manufacturing.
We’ve heard that so many times over the years; nevertheless, we have yet to see a single manufacturing company or entity developed in Dominica.
When we speak of manufacturing industries we need to keep in mind that whatever is produced; manufactured in Dominica, there must also be a market; be it in the Caribbean, in Europe, or North America where whatsoever the manufacturing products can be sold; since our population is very small and may not be in a position to consume a quarter of whatever is manufactured.
And we should not get carried away by simply talking about manufacturing, when we are not into any such thing as R& D; that is (research and development).
Sweet sounding words are one hype; nevertheless, in reality we must have something to manufacture!
It is my understanding that we have a product in Dominica from which cement can be manufactured, also Garnet material that’s a…
So, when we are talking about Manufacturing, we must have raw material to transform into something, even an invention of some kind!
So again what do we have to manufacture?
I am knowledgeable in the field of electronics and electrical engineering; I do have the ability to design some sort of electronic devise, and market the product; nevertheless, if what I design is not something to attract buyers, the product will not sell!
Hence the idea of manufacturing is to have a product that sells, something people want.
Right now this talk in Dominica about manufacturing, is simply to detract from our ability to attract investors into the country to aid in the development of the nation.
The sale of passports, cannot cut it; Roosevelt cannot sell enough diplomatic passports to make enough to develop the country!
The building of Apartments and giving to people for free is not development, what that does is cause people to loose the will to work and become poor dependents on…
The Minister complimented the DMA for its progressive theme ( a compliment written for him) but he does not say what his government will do to resuscitate the manufacturing sector which has been in sharp decline since the exit of Colgate-Palmolive in 2015. But it is not surprising. Ian Douglas has been in government for 20 years, and during that time he has proved time and time again he is out of his depth. Ian and the rest of the Cabinet are simply not up to the job of building Dominica. They do not have what is required.
Ian, your government and your PM will do absolutely nothing, zilch, nought, zero. That is a sad truth of the matter!
DCP Successors is operating at the old DCP plant. They manufacture soaps and process oils.