West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association Inc. has announced the appointment of Dr. Frank Ward as chairman of the board effective May 1.

He succeeds Patrick Mayers, who retired April 30.

Ward, who is managing director of the Rum Refinery of Mount Gay Limited, has been involved in the rum industry for several years, both at a local and regional level.

Mayers has been asked to continue to advise WIRSPA on its implementation of the Integrated Development Programme for theCaribbean rum sector which is supported by the EU and which was agreed in 2002, the association of producers said.

He will also advise WIRSPA on trade advocacy.

"Patrick Mayers has been a staunch guardian of the interests of regional rum producers for many years and was involved in the effort to secure for the rum industry an assistance programme which provides co-financing of €70 million from the European Community," said WIRSPA.

"This funding aims to support the Caribbean rum sector to upgrade and modernise production, waste treatment facilities and engage in the promotion of regional rum brands."

Project extended

The project, which is matched by rum producers with €88 million, was to have ended this year, but was extended by mutual agreement to 2010.

"This extension will give producers more time in which to implement substantial projects to upgrade their facilities for rum distillation; ageing; blending and bottling; to improve and build waste treatment facilities and environmental management systems; for training and upgrading of skills; and to market their products in the European market," said a release issued by the Europeans at the April 2006 signing in Barbados.

Mayers is also credited for helping to secure new markets for rum producers, including the inclusion of rum in the CBI programme, "as a result of which regional rum producers were for the first time able to ship their rum duty free to the important United States market." WIRSPA said.