Caribbean Rum Producers meet today in Guyana

Jun 21, 2023 News

– Marking 50 years of CARICOM and WIRSPA

Kaieteur News – Today members of the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA) will converge in Guyana for their Annual General Meeting.

Rum Producers from all CARICOM countries, as well as the Dominican Republic, will convene under the chairmanship of Komal Samaroo, Chairman of Demerara Distillers to discuss matters pertaining to a wide range of issues that hold significant importance to producers.

Chairman of the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA), Komal Samaroo

“This is our first physical meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic”, said Samaroo who noted that, “We’re pleased to host it in Guyana, during the commemorative year of CARICOM’s 50th anniversary, and to celebrate 50 years of WIRSPA”.

As the export of rum, particularly in the premium sector, continues to experience rapid growth, Caribbean brands are eager to expand into new markets.

A key feature of the upcoming meeting will be an exchange with CARICOM’s Assistant Secretary General (ASG) for Single Market and Trade, Ambassador Wayne McCook, regarding the facilitation of rum exports to non-traditional markets.

Additionally, producers will engage in dialogue with the ASG to address concerns related to the Region’s external trade arrangements and the ongoing review of the Community’s trade instruments.

According to Samaroo, producers will evaluate progress made in supporting government initiatives aimed at reducing the excessive consumption of alcohol.

In 2019, producers pledged to take more cohesive and coordinated action, and as a result, WIRSPA member brands now feature enhanced labelling as a standard practice, advising against drinking while underage, drinking during pregnancy, or drinking and driving, and also provides information on serving sizes and calorie content.

In addition to the aforementioned key areas, Samaroo has emphasized that today’s meeting will delve into the ongoing challenges faced by the industry, particularly in their supply chain.

This will include a specific focus on the sourcing of raw materials such as molasses and glass bottles. He said producers are proactively addressing the impact of climate change by exploring methods to reduce their carbon footprint; an emerging area of concern for consumers.

After today’s meeting, the rum producers will visit the DDL Diamond Distillery, renowned for its iconic collection of working stills, which is arguably the most diverse in the world. The day will culminate in a rum tasting event and reception, where the products of the various producers will be sampled.

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Caribbean, CARICOM, Guyana, producers, Rum

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