Caribbean millers lauded for contribution to region

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE 12th Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean Millers’ Association, held at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino, featured Minister of International Trade and Consumer Affairs Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris who highlighted the invaluable contributions of the Association to the Caribbean markets.

The Caribbean Millers’ Association provides the Caribbean with quality flour and other milled products at affordable prices, and participates in the development of all of the constituent countries to which it supplies goods.

Harris noted that his government is cognizant, appreciative and supportive of the important role that the Association plays in its efforts to protect, sustain and advance the interests of the regional flour milling industry.

“The relevance and importance of the milling industry to the Caribbean must be underscored as it provides not only food for the people and animals of the region, but also employment opportunities for residents and tax revenue to member governments in those jurisdictions in which they operate. 

“Given the intricacies of the milling industry specifically, and coupled with the vagaries and vicissitude of the prevailing global economic environment, it is clear that the challenges and obstacles which you confront are humongous and demanding. Nonetheless, as you seek to surmount them, they should not daunt your fortitude, but rather you must be resilient and purposeful, and demonstrate to the world at large that Caribbean people are world class leaders.”

Dr. Harris indicated that it must be an inherent obligation of the Association to undertake the necessary assessments of the industry and engage its thoughts on the ways in which direct industry related issues and the overall global economic scenario can affect regional markets.

“It is most certainly a truism that we live in a world where, apparently, the only constant principles that exist are those of change and turbulence. Thus, the Association convened amidst vulnerabilities and volatilities that precipitate the melodrama of the upswings and downturns in the price of wheat including adverse weather conditions and the international financial meltdown.”

The Minister of Consumer Affairs encouraged the Association to be even more assiduous in its efforts to fill and satisfy the demands of the people of the region and stressed the need for the Association to always be on the cutting edge of technology.

He underscored that the Association’s willingness to analyze, implement and manage risks has become a standard requirement in a “fiercely competitive global environment” and has ensured that its products are sold at reasonable prices.