Signing MOU

Grenada PM lauds joint UWI-Rum Industry Initiative

Grenada PM lauds joint UWI-Rum Industry Initiative

Signing MOU

Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr Keith Mitchell lauded the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of the West Indies Open Campus and the regional rum industry grouping – the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA).

Signing MOU
Dr. Nicole Phillip-Dowe (left), Head of The UWI Open Campus Grenada and Vaughn Renwick, Chief Executive Officer of WIRSPA, signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Speaking at the signing of the MOU in Grenada, the Prime Minister said the initiative, which will see as its first task the development of an online training initiative for the industry, was a great example of the university applying itself to the needs of the productive sector, one in which the Caribbean possessed a wealth of expertise and heritage.

The MOU was signed during a reception to welcome members of the industry to their annual technical meeting, held in Grenada over the period 9-11th July. The meeting saw over 35 persons from many of the grouping’s large and small distilleries discussing key issues including responsible drinking, production and quality standards, product labelling, environmental management and raw material supplies.

The Grenadian Prime Minister also commended recent efforts on the part of the industry to intensify its support for tackling problem drinking and in particular, the recent announcement to upgrade product labelling in domestic CARICOM markets and its self-regulation code.

Commenting on the signature of the MOU, Professor Julie Meeks Gardner, Acting Principal of the UWI Open Campus, said “The UWI Open Campus is delighted to forge an alliance with The West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association that is mutually beneficial to both regional entities. As part of the leading University in the Caribbean, the UWI Open Campus is well placed to contribute to building the knowledge base in the rum and spirits industry, which has been a vital component of the region’s cultural and economic landscape for centuries.”

Grenadas PM
Dr Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada

According to Chairman of WIRSPA and head of the Guyana conglomerate, Demerara Distillers, Komal Samaroothe MOU will provide a framework for cooperation between the regional rum industry and the University of the West Indies. Our first planned collaboration is expected to be an online certification offering in rum and spirits production which would be offered to our members and more widely internationally, in several languages.” He added, “this is a unique offering in education and training, coming as it does from the home of rum, the Caribbean.”

Chairman of Grenada Distillers, Leroy Neckles, speaking on behalf of the local rum industry welcomed the grouping to Grenada, “we in Grenada are proud to host our first meeting of regional rum producers. Grenada has a tremendous rum and sugarcane heritage which is second to none. We hope to share this unique history with our colleagues from the rest of the Caribbean“.

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