Local Manufacturers Cautioned- Protectionism Must End

Contact: Ayodele Hippolyte

Monday, January 29, 2001 - At his first meeting for the year with the newly formed St. Lucia Manufacturers Association on Friday, Minister for Commerce, Hon. Philip J. Pierre said that while government is supportive of the manufacturing sector, it will not be able to continue the kind of protectionism that it has provided in the past.

Minister Pierre told the association that certain concessions such as import licences would have to be discontinued sooner or later due to globalisation and the liberalisation of the world market. He said that the government had to be "frank and…sincere" with the manufacturing community about the matter but that this reduced protectionism did not mean that government would not continue to support the manufacturing sector.

The Minister was certain that through the creative use of incentives, the manufacturing community would survive. He also said that the manufacturing sector should prepare itself for the challenges ahead and that the government is committed to helping this sector.

President of the St. Lucia Manufacturers Association, Lawson Calderon, emphasised that local manufacturers are remaining "upbeat" despite the many challenges to the sector and welcomed the collaboration between the association and the Ministry of Commerce.

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