[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ore pats on the backs, awards and “well dones” will be offered come April 14, when the Saint Lucia Manufacturers Association (SMA) will hold its 4th bi-annual awards ceremony. The event, at Sandals Halcyon, will see worthy manufacturing companies receive awards in five categories: Leadership, Implementation of Standards and Best Practices, Human Resource Development, Social Responsibility and The Lawson Calderon ECO Manufacturing Award.
The SMA held a press launch on Tuesday March 27 at its headquarters on Bridge Street, where First Vice President Maguerite Desir, on the significance of the event, said, “We are local manufacturers and we produce excellent products with international standard . . . I think it is also very important that we recognize we need to support local . . . then we will see the growth in our economy.”
Throughout the years the SMA awards were facilitated through sponsorships and this year is no different. Platinum sponsors include Bank of Saint Lucia, Invest Saint Lucia and Saint Lucia Distillers, along with ten additional gold, silver and collateral sponsors across Saint Lucia.
Omari Frederick, Senior Marketing Officer of Bank of Saint Lucia, spoke at Tuesday’s event, highlighting the bank’s objective for continuously supporting the initiative. “This programme allows us to fulfill our mandate to ensure the development of a strong and bustling manufacturing sector, which is a key factor for the promotion of economic development and growth in Saint Lucia,” he informed.
Movng forward, Frederick hopes that this initiative influences other sectors to follow suit. He added, “The bank is pleased to be on board and wants to extend our commendations to SMA for recognizing the importance of this programme and we hope that other sectors will use this opportunity to create pilot projects of their own based on this programme.”
Representatives from Invest Saint Lucia and Saint Lucia Distillers (also platinum sponsors) echoed Fredrick’s thoughts on development. Dainea Augier-Stevens, Corporate Communications Officer of Invest Saint Lucia, added, “We are, in fact, looking to help the SLU manufacturing association of Saint Lucia, Bureau of Standards and Trade Export and Promotion Agency develop the sector and grow the sector to what we know it can become, and make a bigger contribution to the GDP of Saint Lucia.”
Saint Lucia distillers Brand Ambassador, Sergin John Baptiste offered, “Being able to assist an initiative such as the awards is important because, apart from us as a more established manufacturing agency, a lot of the newer manufacturers coming up need to have the platform and the outlet to be able to develop themselves, their skillsets and the products they are providing for the consumers, as well as to be recognized for the steps taken to provide quality products.”
Along with the five initial award categories, the Minister’s Award for Innovation and the overall award for excellence will also be distributed on the night. Paula James, Executive Director of the Association, informed the media, and by extension the public, that the rubric for measuring performance was established with the support of the Bureau of Standards which visits all the companies involved to make the assessment. Audits are also undertaken by international auditors. She assured that as a result of the process several businesses have had the opporunity to grow and develop after receiving recommendations.
