by Bajan Reporter / December 18th, 2020
Members of the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA) met recently and recommitted themselves to focussing on collaborative actions to encourage and promote responsible drinking and reducing the harmful use of alcohol. The Caribbean Rum Producers made this commitment despite their businesses suffering heavy losses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The producers, from as far south as Suriname and Guyana and north as Belize, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, normally meet in a member country, but this year, met virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. With all member countries participating, the producers shared a common story across domestic markets -the negative impact of COVID on economic activity and employment, on the tourism industry, and the collapse of travel retail (duty-free).