Local bottling and distributing firm Josephine Gabriel and Company Limited has announced that effective January 1, 2011 that the company will undergo a major transformation and will cut a fraction of its staff.
Today, the company’s Director and Transition Manager Marisa Gabriel-Simelda told a press conference at the Garraway Hotel that the company intends to move from a bottling entity to a distributing firm in January.
As of December 31, 2010 the company will no longer bottle any of its Coke, Fanta or Sprite beverages but will import them from distributors in the region. The company will however continue to bottle Quenchi and Trois Piton products here.
“In fact we will be researching to bring new products for the Quenchi product line,” she added.
As a result of this variation, less than 10 employees in the company’s bottling plant are likely to be affected. They were informed of this change during a meeting with management this morning.
Gabriel-Simelda assured that the company was not shutting down. She said that at the moment management is not quite clear as to which staff members will be sent home.
She told the conference that the decision was not an easy one and was taken in an effort to ensure the company’s viability. The name of the company will remain the same. She assured that the franchises’ management of Coca Cola was in support of the decision.
“This will allow Josephine Gabriel to ensure job retention, job creation, become more sustainable and of course profitable. To become more competitive in price and extend our product portfolio and very importantly, to increase our customer and consumer service,” she stated.
“This decision is to ensure the continued success of the company. Josephine Gabriel and Company is adopting a new business model from bottlers of Coca-Cola products to distributors of Coca Cola products. ..staff will be affected. We have not made a clear decision, as to how many but it will definitely be less than 10 persons and these 10 persons will be coming from the production department of the company,” she said.
Marketing consultant for the company Steve Johnson told media that arrangements are being made with the relevant union and staff in the matter.
“We don’t take these decisions lightly…it is not our ambition to put people out of jobs… We’ve met with the union, we’ve met with the staff this morning and we’ve assured the union and the staff that we will be in full compliance with the union’s agreement that binds our employees and us, so we will be totally in keeping with the union agreement and making sure that staff are notified within the accordance of the union agreement and we will also make sure that the this is done in a very humanitarian way,” he said.
“We’re going to make sure that our staff understands… if they need counselling then that will be available to them and we will work with them to try and redeploy as many of them …” Johnson stated.
Johnson said that some remaining staff will be issued new terms and contracts come next year. Salaries are not expected to decrease, he assured.
When questioned by media, the company’s marketing consultant said that he was not sure how much the company will save from the transition but there will be reductions in expenditure as utility bills will be lessened, among other areas.
“We’re regrouping, we’re refocusing,” he stated. He said that the new measures are a solid plan of action the company has come up with.
“For us if we have to send one person home it’s a lot and we have to make the necessary adjustments so that we’re able to continue to move forward… It’s not a matter of how much you are going to save by sending these people home; you don’t expect any company to have staff that are on hand with nothing to do. We have to make sure that we fully utilize the staff that we have… and we maximize the return on the investment,” he added.
He said that with the new business model, marketing and distribution will become much more important to the company.
He touched on some difficulties that the company faces within its production sector. These include high utility and production costs.
Meanwhile, Market Development Manager Shermin Peters told the conference that amidst all this the company intends to expand its carbonated and non-carbonated drinks categories.
I thought long on the brief mention of utility costs in relation to closing down the bottling operations. I’m sure that that is a major cost factor for an industrial process. The other thing is that Nevis is looking to provide its population with cheap geothermal energy by the end of 2011; the work of a company called West Indies Power with funding from the Exim Bank and Bank of Nova Scotia (http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/business/49827.html).
Nevis is more ahead of cheap, geothermal energy than Dominica?? I think that it is well understood that manufacturing will not take off in Dominica unless we bring down the cost of energy. The Gov.t of Dominica (not any party in particular) should take initiative to support renewable energy production, especially geothermal and solar. If we are talking about opening doors for processing, manufacturing and telecommunications businesses then that’s the future for us I see. That is not for A PM, a party or anybody other than the people of Dominica to make their agenda.
@ William McLawrence; Ron; Manufacturer and Fruit Juice: All good points in your comments.
And it is true that while JosGabriel (JG) will shut down Coke bottling, they are opting for something more profitable… for their survival. But for the Dominican economy, another BIG blow… adds to the trade deficit and erodes our GDP per capita! While we cannot always blame or credit the gov’t for these types of things, we have to wonder, for the biggest of the Windward islands, yet so little in population – why is it that measures have not been put in place to make for a more attractive business climate in Dominica. A climate that would not only foster open competition, but one that would encourage exports and earn tax holidays and other incentives for export-oriented manufacturers.
So this brings economies of scale to mind. With a dwindling population, and eroding purchasing power, I guess JG had no choice but to take these measures to ensure their viability (aka profitability). But by the same measures that companies in St. Lucia and elsewhere can benefit from this (thru exporting to our shores), why hadn’t JG looked into exporting and selling beyond Dominican shores?
With such a small population, Dominica needs to start getting serious about exporting and creating a business friendly environment to attract job-generating businesses. So while companies like JG, Pizza Hut, KFC, Subway are gracing our shores lending some familiarity for some US mainlanders visiting DA, but they are exporting crucial cash (royalties, franchise fees) from Dominica, especially during these times when we can ill afford it. So, while a Coke distribution agreement will make good for JG, what will it do for Dominica? More Dominican money leaving – that’s for sure!
The underlying message for us is that while the government cannot decide whether JG stays in business or not, it can play a large part in influencing its success, not only as a Dominican company, but one with importance in the region – thru exports.
Companies that provide services and manufacturer products not only for the Dominican market but also for the export markets should really be encouraged and incentivised. These types of companies form the back bone of a nation. You know, with all this talk about bailouts in the US, Pres. Obama is finally getting it – a true recovery is only helped by an increase in exports. This is why he went on that far east tour recently, drumming up business for American businesses. If there are no exports, every business in the country will be fighting for the same dollar. But if we increase our foreign exchange earnings, then there will be more jobs created and more government revenue to pay for services and infrastructure. If we have better infrastructure, it will attract added foreign investments and create yet more jobs and boost the GDP per capita – lessening Dominica’s dependence on foreign handouts.
So by government helping businesses to develop and export their products, find markets, then they are in turn helping themselves… to be more self-reliant, stronger and maintain more control over their destiny.
I can only hope that JosGabriel will use this as a great opportunity to expand the production of their water brand and export them to the same countries they will be importing these mostly unhealthy drinks from.
It is time that Dominican companies started looking outside of Dominica for their products… Dominica’s purchasing power is not that strong yet to sustain all this spending…
So the government and private industry need to team up maintain a roadshow – traveling salesmen – to drum up business for Dominican exporters. Those who do not export need not complain because it will mean more money comes and stays in the country to sustain their and grow new businesses.
@SF: u are an english teacher man ay ay,,,
@William McLawrence: Good ideas Bill,Patat and anonymous, and u guys made not one typing error.
My feeling on this one is J. Gabriel and Co. had little say in this matter. I would be willing to bet, Coca Cola pulled the franchise licence and this was their fall back position. No one gives up such a valuable licence so easily. Take a look at Marissa’s expression in the picture? Do you see a person who is happy to he there? All I see is sadness.
@Fruit Juice:
Fruit Juice!!!
When are you going to become a manufacturer and take the first step to see Dominica become the paradise you want it to become?
Talk is not met!!! Money is met!!!
Coca Cola would have had an important say in this decision as it are only the bottling of that company’s brands are being discontinued. They are not abandoning our market altogether as future supplies of these products will come in from their accredited bottlers in St. Lucia and St. Kitts. Remains the question: was it no longer viable for Coca Cola to have production take place in Dominica? If so, why? Could it be the fact that we have the highest electricity costs in the region, notwithstanding the fact that the arrangement we entered into with PDV.SA was to address this issue to a large extent? One result flowing from this is that Messrs Gabriel may not be cost-effective in competing with operations in the other islands, perhaps unable to generate enough profit to invest in updating of their plant. The public statement put out is just that but one suspects that the background is more complicated and maybe less palatable for public disclosure. it is no secret that our local cost base is high, which will also affect their remaining products to be bottled here, including water! I wish them well in their efforts to build and expand on what remains.
@sideliner:
Boy…we Dominicans are experts on everything. We know everything about everybody, just by a news broadcast, internet blog, or a picture….we are certainly gifted.
It is easy for people who have not run a popcorn stand to comment on how to run a business. Sometimes you are better off to sacrifice a limb to save the body.
You guys may not realise it, but the cost of production in Dominica is very high. Not only that, given the limited consumer base, a business cannot amortize its cost over a wide base. Dominica is just too small to have everything. At some point they have to assess their position and adjust their business model to remain in business. At least they still employ some people.
I wish the owners of J.Gabriel the best in trying to turn the ship around.
The restructuring of Josephine Gabriel and Company is the result of the impact of Globalization on Small Island Developing Stated (SIDS) and effects of the Common External Tariff (CET) on international trade today. Countries must open up their markets to the importation of all kinds of products thus increasing competition with locally manufactured products while at the same time the cost of production for locally manufactured products continue to increase for small companies like Josephine Gabriel & Company Limited who must now short down certain aspects of their aerated drinks production and in the process unwillingly send home workers. We are very fortunate that in this case only the production staff bottling Coca Cola products – Coke, Sprite, Fanta are being affected. Our home grown Quenchi soft drinks and Trois Pitons water will still be bottled…thank God, but, for how long, some form of protection is not guaranteed to the company?
It appears that as of 31/12/2010 the long and historical business relationship, (over half a century???) between Josephine Gabriel and Company (Dominica) Limited and the Coca Cola Company in the area of bottling Coke, Fanta and Sprite under license from Coca Cola will come to an end. Josephine Gabriel must now import these drinks from regional markets, most likely from St. Lucia. For those of you who purchase coca cola in the plastic bottle if you check the label you will see that it is bottled in St. Lucia. Quenchi’s fate hopefully will not be the same although I have seen an increase in local consumption of Busta and Solo among others and our market is not as large as the other islands (Dominica 70,000, St Lucia 240,000, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 110,000 and Grenada 100,000).
While I lament the loss of jobs and the lost of company and state revenue due to cut back in production., I am very concerned about the amount of fruits we have going to waste because we have not been able to take the production of local juices to the next level yet. We definitely need to increase the production of local juices and also increase awareness about the need to consume more healthy and nutritious foods and juices… so those workers who would have been sent home can now use their experience in working in drink production and set up a small juice manufacturing company to supply the local market with fresh fruit juices on a daily basis. So all is not lost for them…they can now become their own bosses by becoming entrepreneurs in the field of drink production. I am sure that a very good market exist locally and some of these drinks can be exported to OECS and CARICOM including the FWI.
They can put a business proposal together and seek financing from the AID Bank and duty free concessions from the Dominica Investment Authority (Invest Dominica). They can access technical asistance from the OECS Export Development Unit, Small Business Support Unit of the Ministry of Trade and the Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA) in developing the proposal, product line, and access to export markets. I am sure there are many private individuals who will be willing to assist them establish such an enterprise including the management of Josephine Gabriel & Company Limited.
Distributors of drinks imported from another country again? Is that what ‘Economic Independence all about?’ When people come up with positive ideas, for example, embarking on agro-processing, going into manufacturing using our local products, many Dominicans ridicule them. For years, ideas about utilizing the tons upon tons of fruits wasting every year to make FRUIT JUICES on a wider scale, are cast aside.
What is wrong with that feasible idea, that up to now, Private Sector or/and Govt. refuse to venture into such a lucrative business. Dominica has fruits in abundance and if the will is there and proper planning done employment would be created from agro-processing. Farmers would be encouraged to plant more fruit trees and much revenue could be derived. Instead we prefer the dollars to be sent overseas.
Our fruits are not grown with all those chemicals as others from outside are. Our fruits are more nutritious, more NATURAL and money would stay in the country. All kinds of companies in the private sector, simply fill their forms, send to order those Busta and other drinks filled with sugar, preservatives and colouring. On arrival they clear their consignments from Customs, put their mark-up, then place the drinks on their supermarket shelves for sale.
Those companies go as far as wetting the appetite of the kids by adopting schools. They invade the schools, donate boxes of those Mal-nutritious drinks to the students with the sole purpose of getting those young persons to develop a taste from an early age for their products.
When we in Dominica FAIL TO PLAN, SO PLAN TO FAIL. Govt. is neglecting the farming communities. Agriculture is abandoned. Agro-processing is a NO-NO. Manufacturing hardly exists. Our politicians, leaders, seem more interested in just acquiring REAL ESTATE than the development of Agriculture. A country like Dominica with rich soil, plenty water and hard-working people could be much better off, if only we realize that the Agricultural Sector and Agro-Processing and other related industries are inter-connected that could seriously put this land on the rightful path of economic independence.
The policies of these times is to stifle creativity and entrepreneurship and to influence an entire nation to believe in almost total dependence on foreign countries. Some openly boast about how good such policies are. Govt. and the present crop of backward-thinking politicians, unfortunately, according to their policies and actions, believe in living off ‘THE SWEAT OF OTHER PEOPLE’S BROWS.’ A MENDICANT SOCIETY is being shaped so that the masses would be under the permanent control of MASSA. That is the bottom line, my people.
Because it is ridiculous, especially in those times, in the 21st, century that given all the education and information about HEALTHY LIVING, Dominicans pride themselves on those carbonated, sweetened water with preservatives and colouring added. Let us refocus on developing our agriculture. Refocus on agro-processing, so we could bottle and box our own nutritious fruit juices. In that way, we would be adding much VALUE to our FRUITS, while at the same time improving our Agricultural production.
TIME TO ACT. JUST TALK AND MORE TALK OF ‘EAT AND DRINK WHAT WE GROW, AND GROW WHAT WE EAT AND DRINK,’ BUT WHO CARES? Those in Govt. and others in Public Office whose monthly salaries are assured by receiving the dollars from tax payers pay little or no attention to the creation of our own wealth. Don’t they realize the benefits that would accrue to the nation? BUT REALLY, WHO CARES?
the people who call on skerrit 2 do something are fools.job security no longre exist in dominica under skerrit charles savarin and (an)thony (ass)taphan`
@MAL PEESAH:
Your name says it all.
Job Retention? Job Creation? how is that possible when you are laying off employees
Haiti has cholera, HIV/AIDS swiping the world.
Dominicans are suffering from Politicisingitis.
@Anonymous: Thank you Anonymous for that.
Really hope some Dcans would sit and read this comment since everything gets so mixed up with politics.
This culture of talk, talk and more talk is only damaging to the country. People must seek to be more productive and be better thinkers, finding ways to establish balance.
Thanks for the comment.
I KNOW IT WAS COMING.ALL PRODUCTION SECTOR WILL BE FACING THIS.THE COST OF UTILITIES ARE TOO HIGH.LIGHTS WATER ETC. AND PEOPLE ASKING FOR FACTORIES.WELL REALTY IS HITTING THE ROOF.IF WE DON’T DROP THE COST OF PRODUCTION WE GONNA LOSE BIG.THE BOARD MEMBERS OF THE UTILITY COMPANIES SHOULD WAKE UP AND DON’T THINK ABOUT JUST MAKING A PROFIT BY HIGH PRICING. AND IT IS MUCH CHEAPER TO IMPORT THESE STUFF THAN TO PRODUCE THEM HERE. IT IS NOT JUST A GOVERNMENT ISSUE BUT ALSO AN ISSUE OF BOARD MEMBERS OF THE UTILITY COMPANIES.CHECK THE COST OF LIGHTS,WATER AND THE IMPORTATION OF BOTTLES.THAT IS WHY IT IS SO HIGH.WE HAVE THE BEST TASTING COCO COLA IN THE WORLD.
@sideliner:
Reading your opening statement to poor people in Dominica and what they have to do, is very ludicrous, nonsensical and sad at best, it just shows the kind of mind set you have . Here is something to think about, empty pockets never held anyone back empty heads and empty hearts can do that. The owners of the company made a decision based on economics, and yes you may not like it, but what that has to do with the owners Family and children personal choices of marriages as you outlined. Please note I’m not defending the company’s decision, if we are to critique them on the decision they made let us do it on the reasons given which is economics.
You said that quote “Dominicans never big up our own if our own stars a business we are quick to bring them down with our negative” why would you make such statement, when in fact you’re guilty of doing it.that just amazes me.
.
Even though a company is restructureing that don’t mean they are going to keep you there till the restructreing is done. I have seen manyyyy companies here in the us lay off folks when they are going through a transition and then rehire people for a lower salary, yes it’s messed up but what are you going to do? Again stop blaming the gov’t for that. Isn’t JG a private company? is it owned by the gov’t of Dominica? The gov’t should be providing unemployment benefits to the ones being laid off not getting blamed. Peeps even mentioning about the new buildings being constructed… Like OMG what does one have to do with the other? stupsssss
Manufacturing for such a small market like Dominica is extremely challenging. Economies of scale is a reallity in business. What Josephine Gabriel & Co can produce in a year some soft drink plants can manufacture in a day.
One can easily undertsand the difference it makes.
The real question is what can be done to allow manufacturers in general to improve their plants and capture new markets abroad so we can keep the jobs home, make some money from taxes and dues, and bring back foreign exchange from export clients.
This has to do with Policies which we do not have at the moment. Gateways for export (air and sea ports) should be made efficient and much less expensive to assist manufacturers and increase possibilities to export. At the moment they are being made more expensive every year and this is penalizing business greatly.
People EVERYWHERE around the world jobs are being cut because of the economical crisis. There are people right here in the US who have been laid off for over 2 years and still looking so what are ya’ll talking about? Some idiot had to put politricks in that where is that coming in. Companies are there to MAKE PROFITS, ECONNOMICS 101. Yeah they provide jobs but at the end of the day if they are seeing no profits they are going to make the necessary changes. Yeah it hurts to lose your job because i’ve been there done that but it’s the reality of how things change. One day you are up the next day you are down, its left to you to be proactive and try to find other means to put bread on the table not seat there and whine like a little kid. We human being too like everything to “fall in our lap” make things happen peeps. Someone mentioned about marrying your own kind / people what does that have to do with anything? why are we so ignorant? that comment has nothing to do with lay offs at JG. How many of you who posted comments own a business? if you did you would be singing a different song, people are not spending money and if people don’t spend the businesses suffer and in return they have to send folks home so stop acting bi-polar and get the facts before some of ya’ll come on DNO and talk crap. kapeeshhhhhh…
Wait a minute, we need to remember that it is employment at will.
The employees can quit/resign at any time and management can lay them off at any time.
While it would be nice to keep them employed, it is not charity and the owners need to run their business the best way they know how.
Too many times people want Skerrit or the Government to Jump in and do something…something like what?
This is a private enterprise and Skerrit can not interfere in a private company.
Everything must not always be political. Why do I say that, some idiot says “Next Level”….as if this has anything to do with the DLP or Skerrit.
In may countries they import the products as it is cheaper than making it in their country…Dominica is no exception.
Cable & Wireless did the same thing a few years back when they changed to LIME…is that Skerrit’s fault too?
I hope that the people affected can find new jobs and that the government can offer them some re-training to aid their search.
“to increase our customer and consumer service,” she stated
REALY ??? how ??? with having more products NOT IN STOCK and be able to blame others. (supplier did not delivered, boat is not in time etc. etc. etc.)
GEE hit the nail on the head!! Here we were producing our local cocoa cola beverage for as long as I could remember, and now the company is going to import them!!!! Not good, support local if not we will be an ATM for companies, meaning that we will distribute goods and services however the profits will go to the originators or producers..
How it can be job creation when you are sending people home. I would think the obvious thing to do is to retrain those you intend to send home in the field of the new creation.
and savarin coming n say boycott O.D Brisbane,,,,ay ay n look it,,,,,them politicians is joke eh,,,,,wat plans n measures will the gov’t take to make the business climate better,,,,,b4 allu ask if is skerrit dat have to do everything,,,,,wat did we put them in office for then huh!!!!!! i have yet to hear of any meeting held by the gov’t together with economic advisors n leading business people on the tangible way forward,,,,,all we do in d/ca is call on china,,venezuela etc to throw money at our problems,,,,throwing money at problems aint gonna solve n e thing unless it is managed n there is a tangible plan in place,,,,,,,besides anyone who simply throws money at problems don’t really care about solving it
Dominicians or who ever are those people writing comments. There are lay offs all around the world isn’t Dominica part of the world. Can you tell me on place in the world where jobs are not cut. I will move there to live.
Well what do we expect, the government is more interested in building towers and skyscrapers and palaces to house the President and the PM… Who should care about poor people losing jobs! The poor people themselves do not care. When they are ready they will do what they have to do!
I believe that we have a better tasting Coca Cola. The imported stuff are rather harsh and tasteless…maybe more carbon in there than anything else. Sorry guys you just lost a customer.
Hope those laid off find employment sooner than later.
This is just a bunch of crap! How can you tell me that it is cheaper to import Coca cola from another country than it is to mix cyrup with our local water? this company has been around for more than fourty years and you come up with this? gabriel is just trying to get away from paying franchise fees, they don’t care about Dominicans, just looking for their family. They take all govt incentives, including tax free for expansion and now they are shutting down. Well I for one will stop drinking coke and all other imported coca cola products. Time for Rum and Coconut water.
Few companies in Dominica today look out for their workers the way that Mr. Gabriel has looked out for his over the last 50 years. I am sure that it was and is a difficult decision for them to have made. Don’t forget the about the fact that Mr. Gabriel and his company have assisted the Dominican community on so many levels over the years. Before we begin to speculate without proper facts, Josephine Gabriel has been one of the longest serving companies in Dominica. Mr. Gabriel is a grassroots man that was awarded one of the highest honors of Dominica. Ask the people of Trafalgar and the Valley about the contributions of Mr. Gabriel and his family. Ask the countless school children that were able to get to school on time about how Mr. Gabriel would only buy pick ups to ensure that he could transport as many people as possible, and still doing so today. Ask what Josephine Gabriel has done for sports over the years. Ask the founder of Fanta Pan steel band how the band got its start?
Let us face facts. The cost of doing business in Dominica is among the highest in the Caribbean. I am surprised that this decision did not come sooner. I am sure that the laying off of staff was one of the biggest reasons for prolonging bottling in Dominica.
The average Dominican has no clue of how much it costs to operate a business in Dominica. The cost of electricity in Dominica is too high. Not to mention the cost of water. What about the companies in Dominica that have been allowed to bring in soft drinks into Dominica free of duty? How long can companies in Dominica be victimized by the very Government that is supposed to protect local investment.
This in no way is the end of Josephine Gabriel and its contribution. This transition is the companies way of ensuring that it can continue to contribute for an additional 50+ years. Let us not think of this news as negative but rather and opportunity for the company to re-group and grow.
My heart goes out to the people who will loose there jobs. I pray that very soon they will find a new source of employment. Who knows before long it might be the very same Josephine Gabriel that will be in a better position to offer them re-employment.
God’s speed!
interesting i thought a year ago from the spin tatics of this corrupted DLP regime Dominica was doing better than many caribbean islands….wonder is the wave has broken on the shorelines of dominica as yet,or its a tidal wave sooner than later…..
DLP boast so much about ties to china,charvez, etc…but seems the locals have nothing to show in their pockets for it……maybe too much spin from labour….just looking for a next general election only….
Dominicans and Dominica just way too passive and childist in the ideas,they think too damm small
see how backwards dominica is they refused to bite the bullet and build a international airport
just crying and thinking in a stone age way…while the rest of the caribbean making international movements……dominica sucks period
It is always easy for people who do not have the stress to operate and manage a business to talk and run their jel.
When you have other companies capable of importing strong alternative brands of your product, product line and product range at drastically lower prices then you must change your business model just to remain in your line of business.
The company offers coke to the public for well over 50 years. The consumer is generally indifferent as to how the product becomes available to him/her – meaning the consumer hardly cares if the product was manufactured here or not; as long as he can have it at the time he needs it and at a price he/she can afford or consider reasonable to him/her.
Historically the product was made available locally under a manufacturing license agreement. The local company has always had to pay for the license, import the raw materials, adhere to the stringent manufacturing processes, and subscribe to many of the franchise owner’s promotional efforts and on top of that could hardly make changes on its own.
All these costs are fixed costs that have increased over the many years under the present business model – costs that must always be met regardless if one bottle of coke is sold or not! Other costs are variable and there is the fixed cost associated with labor – skilled labor at that – chemists, quality control staff and equipment service technicians.
It must also be noted that the product has been receiving constant bashing worldwide about it negative effects on the health of the typical consumer and as a result many alternative or substitutes have become available on the world market for consumption.
There is sufficient notice given to all parties concerned. Employees generally must learn to understand that they must not take jobs for granted and must be careful in the wish list of dreams that they seek to accomplish when in a particular job. Job security no longer exists, though it may be on the law books still. Judges are expected to educate themselves on the dynamics of modern economic realities and be so guided in their legal judgments.
As a Nation we must be careful at rejoicing when a new business venture opens its doors to the public. These new business and their practices come with changes – painful changes (having to work on a Sunday) for the society and pleasant changes as well since there is a whole redistribution of economic resources – the invisible hand that we refer to.
For example if the Nation gives the green light to welcome Wal-Mart into Dominica business environment – may persons would be happy for the first 3 to six months because of the wider variety and cheaper prices. But six months later businesses that have traditionally provided employment begin to change their business model or simply cut their losses and close down. The very same thing will happen if Dominica sees a Home Depot or Lowes Hardware Store in Dominica by next year. The good thing though is that materials may get cheaper since there is a rip-off profit mark-up on building materials all over Dominica.
To the employees likely to be effected, see this change as an opportunity to become your own boss and go into business for yourself where you will be forced to become competitive, productive, efficient, and effective and arrive at negotiated prices for your services. You may have been protected for too long receiving a guaranteed paycheck at the end of the month – it’s about time you chat your own destiny.
@Diaspora/Dominican:
It is always easy for people who do not have the stress to operate and manage a business to talk and run their jel.
When you have other companies capable of importing strong alternative brands of your product, product line and product range at drastically lower prices then you must change your business model just to remain in your line of business.
The company offers coke to the public for well over 50 years. The consumer is generally indifferent as to how the product becomes available to him/her – meaning the consumer hardly cares if the product was manufactured here or not; as long as he can have it at the time he needs it and at a price he/she can afford or consider reasonable to him/her.
Historically the product was made available locally under a manufacturing license agreement. The local company has always had to pay for the license, import the raw materials, adhere to the stringent manufacturing processes, and subscribe to many of the franchise owner’s promotional efforts and on top of that could hardly make changes on its own.
All these costs are fixed costs that have increased over the many years under the present business model – costs that must always be met regardless if one bottle of coke is sold or not! Other costs are variable and there is the fixed cost associated with labor – skilled labor at that – chemists, quality control staff and equipment service technicians.
It must also be noted that the product has been receiving constant bashing worldwide about it negative effects on the health of the typical consumer and as a result many alternative or substitutes have become available on the world market for consumption.
There is sufficient notice given to all parties concerned. Employees generally must learn to understand that they must not take jobs for granted and must be careful in the wish list of dreams that they seek to accomplish when in a particular job. Job security no longer exists, though it may be on the law books still. Judges are expected to educate themselves on the dynamics of modern economic realities and be so guided in their legal judgments.
As a Nation we must be careful at rejoicing when a new business venture opens its doors to the public. These new business and their practices come with changes – painful changes (having to work on a Sunday) for the society and pleasant changes as well since there is a whole redistribution of economic resources – the invisible hand that we refer to.
For example if the Nation gives the green light to welcome Wal-Mart into Dominica business environment – may persons would be happy for the first 3 to six months because of the wider variety and cheaper prices. But six months later businesses that have traditionally provided employment begin to change their business model or simply cut their losses and close down. The very same thing will happen if Dominica sees a Home Depot or Lowes Hardware Store in Dominica by next year. The good thing though is that materials may get cheaper since there is a rip-off profit mark-up on building materials all over Dominica.
To the employees likely to be effected, see this change as an opportunity to become your own boss and go into business for yourself where you will be forced to become competitive, productive, efficient, and effective and arrive at negotiated prices for your services. You may have been protected for too long receiving a guaranteed paycheck at the end of the month – it’s about time you chat your own destiny.
skerrit can’t and won’t do anything about it cause he is looking foward to invest in himself while u morons cheer him on.why don’t u guys forget about government and look for all u self like they are doing.
What are you talking about DOMINICA have been in recession before this recession and you know how many years we have been told to tighten our belts by president?/ well well well Dominica is in a hole that it will never come out of maybe deceased Rossie was right annex to France.
Skerrit is y’all savior…Everything call on him,he must be God now for some of y’all idiots….
********WHAT A SHAME*********
Again…. we need to control the many different drinks being imported!! I believe, too much competition is killing our local companies. Too many beverages are being imported. It’s ok to have choices BUT not if it’s costing us JOBS. So, instead of us being “producers” we are now becoming “Distributors”!!!!! Hey!! that’s not good is it? We will never make it in this country if we cannot protect our own. WE NEEED TO START SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING OUR PRODUCERS. That’s the only way we will retain jobs and make progress as people and country!!
I”M I RIGHT???
This is something the poor people of Dominica have to live with because a lot of them kiss these very people backside and their children never marry native Dominicans they always look for another of their kind either in Trinidad Suriname or in they former homeland. We DOMINICANS never big up our own if our own stars a business we are quick to bring them down with our negative talk , actions and obea. THERE IS NOTHING SKERIT can do because soon those very DOMINICANS are going to put him out Just like they did Patrick John and Edison James. Dominican have done a lot for these people but they never do anything positive and meaningful and tangible for DOMINICA .even their children grab DOMINICANS JOBS because Government employed one of their child and nothing productive came out of his work . I have see so so much taken place sometimes it makes me feel like Hugo Chavez.
oh boy…what a load of crap! I guess more imports for DA! Our loss is somebody else’s gain. I’m just curious which island we will be importing from? Could it be Trinidad? Where are these people from? just curious. I think it’s time that we start bottling more of our juices.
Another thing in my lovely DOMINICA is that some of the business people dont know how to deal with difficult economics times which is effecting people all over the globe so D’ICA is not immune instead of terminating the jobs of those ten individuals why not keep them on the job and just cut back on their hours untill things start to turn around I am sure they would accept that than nto having a job that is just common sense right now I am working with a company that did that and things are getting better and folks are happy sometimes one have to look for other avenues to explore than fring employees because they are the one who makes the company and without them the company is dume. So I would appeal to the administration of the company to go back to the board and owner and say lets look at the decision once more dont cut them loose find ways to keep them and make it happen for the benifit of all because hard times are all over business just have to find other ways of doing business.
What can we blame this on? Global economic crisis? High cost of energy in Dominica? Poor investment climate? Whatever it is, I am really sad to see people loose their jobs. We cannot afford an increase in unemployment, things are hard enough already! May God help us in this Dominica!
rough times ahead ppl… brace yourselves for the next level!
This move is not an isolated one, several other businesses are getting ready or have started laying off staff. The crisis impacting the Caribbeans and our island is far from being over.
IT’S SAD FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE LOSING THEIR JOBS,on top of all this,Savarin and company still want to add more workers to the unemployment list by asking public servants to boycott the purchase of anything/everything from Brisbane….LORD HELP DOMINICA!!!!!!!!
thats crap dominica already doh have jobs i feel those who will be affected pain and there families too–skerrit do something