Jamaica tourism shines a spotlight on the craft industry

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Underscoring the importance of the new Craft Council of Jamaica, the Hon. Dr.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Underscoring the importance of the new Craft Council of Jamaica, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, said: “Though craft cuts across a number of ministries, departments and agencies, up to this point there was no central body to coordinate the push to oversee the development of the craft sector in its entirety and monitor the quality of the items produced and sold as authentic Jamaican craft. So this council will be that body.”

Efforts to establish a central body to coordinate the development of the craft sector took a major leap today as the newly-appointed Craft Council of Jamaica had its inaugural meeting, signaling the commencement of a strategic process to totally streamline the craft sector.

Minister McNeill outlined that “there are many long-standing issues which we must resolve in order to effectively develop the sector and harness its potential. Prime among them is the need to implement a proper governance structure and regulatory framework. He added that “this new Craft Council will serve as an integral mechanism to facilitate these changes and foster the sustainable development of the sector.”

The Council will serve as an interim body and includes representatives of local craft traders and producers as well as other stakeholder groups. These include, the Port Authority of Jamaica, the Ministry of Industry Investment and Commerce, through the Jamaica Business Development Corporation, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and the Ministry of Youth & Culture.

It was emphasized that in recognizing the need to more strategically streamline the industry and increase its contribution to the local economy, Cabinet has endorsed the development of a policy for craft.

The Craft Policy is intended to modernize the sector and has several objectives. Among them is to streamline the sector by facilitating incremental improvements in areas such as quality, variety, customer satisfaction and profits to the entire industry. It also seeks to facilitate the sustainable growth of the craft industry and will also promote greater local identity of finished craft and souvenirs. It will foster innovation, greater regulation, as well as better production and distribution.

Minister McNeill stressed that “the Council will play a pivotal role in overseeing the development of the policy. A crucial step in implementing the craft policy will be the establishment of a central legally constituted Craft Authority which will administer this process.”

State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Damion Crawford expressed that “craft is a very important industry and once we organize it sufficiently and market it effectively then there is no reason why it can’t be a very profitable sector. This Craft Council will help to drive this process and ensure that the various players in the sector have a say in the development of craft overall.”

Chairman of the new Craft Council, Mary Helen Reece said “I feel honored to be asked to Chair this important body and I look forward to working with the various stakeholders in the industry to implement the governance structures and regulations needed to transform the craft industry.”

PHOTO: (HM Council Members) KINGSTON, Jamaica: September 9, 2014: Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill (6th left) poses with members of the newly formed Craft Council of Jamaica. From left to right are the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Jennifer Griffith, and Senior Director, Policy & Monitoring, Elecia Myers; President, Ocho Rios Craft Council, Devon Mitchell; Port Authority of Jamaica’s William Tatham; Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Valerie Veira; State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Damion Crawford; Chairman of the Craft Council of Jamaica, Mary Helen Reece; NVL Projects & Trading’s, Neil Lawrence; Lecturer, Edna Manley College of the Visual Arts, Laura Jones-Davis; the Institute of Jamaica’s Ann-Marie Bonner; and National Irrigation Commission’s Kirk Freckleton. The occasion was the inaugural meeting of the Craft Council of Jamaica today, September 9, 2014, at the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment’s Knutsford Boulevard offices. The craft council is an interim body that will seek to put in place programs to streamline the craft industry, help it realize its full potential and increase its contribution to the economy. It will also develop the legal framework for the establishment and operation of a Craft Authority. It is comprised of representatives of key ministries, agencies, local craft traders and producers as well as other industry stakeholders.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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