MONTEGO BAY, St James — President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) Davon Crump has called on government to pay more attention to the manufacturing sector.
"I consider it very disingenuous that there are constant utterances of 'supporting local manufacturing' while action suggest the opposite," Crump said
He argued that it is unfair for local manufacturers to be straddled with all kinds of import and customs duties; and general consumption tax (GCT) to bring import raw materials required for business operations, while at the same companies are given "all kinds of incentives and subsidies" to bring in finished imports in the country.
" These companies which get these incentives and subsidies are selling at much lower prices to the detriment of our manufacturing sector," the MBCCI president declared.
Added Crump: "Jamaican manufacturers can compete, if given the same treatment as those businesses importing similar products into the island."
Crump was speaking last Saturday at the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and industry Annual Awards Banquet at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa was held under the theme: 'Celebrating Business Excellence.'

He told the gathering that although the chamber is not an educational institution it has over the years supported various educational initiatives, including mentoring at the tertiary level.
He announced that within a few weeks the chamber will be embarking on a programme offering gratis membership of the organisation to final year business students at colleges and universities in St James.
These students, he added, will offer support to the more than 12 committees of the chamber.
Meanwhile, nine individuals and companies were presented with awards from the chamber for outstanding contribution to the chamber and the Montego Bay community.
Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ) Limited received the Corporate award for sustained and visionary contribution to Montego Bay.

Other awardees were:

* Western Publishers Limited, Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) category;

* Montego Bay Community College, Education category;

* Seawind Key Investments Ltd, Tourism category;

* Barnett Limited, Business Development category;

* Gloria Henry, President's award for excellence;

* Roger Hamilton, President's award for excellence;

* Round Hill Hotel and Villas; President's award for excellence; and

* MediaSol Marketing and Communications, also President's award for excellence.