The Editor, Sir:

WITH reference to the editorial in the June 26 edition of The Gleaner titled 'Not another patty war, Mr Azan', the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA) is of the view that some Jamaicans are missing the point. It is neither a patty war nor an attack on the diaspora. The recent illustration by the JMA on the importation of patties is intended to build consumer awareness and promote Buy Jamaican ... Build Jamaica.

The issue is not just about patties, as the illustration could have been centred on any other locally produced good. However, the fact that we are importing products which are made in Jamaica at the highest quality and competitively priced is a matter of grave concern. The message is that while we are in a free-market economy and have a choice, as Jamaicans we must choose to buy goods that are made locally, especially in a time of crisis.

Building manufacturing

What is more fundamental to the development of the manufacturing sector than to encourage consumer support and hence increase demand for and production of locally manufactured goods? This is about building manufacturing and improving Jamaicans socio-economic conditions by enlightening our people about the realities and stressing the importance of supporting local producers to retain and create jobs and to earn and save foreign exchange to improve our standard of living.

The JMA is simply saying:

"At a time when the earnings from tourism, bauxite and remittance have been waning, resulting in a shortage of foreign exchange for local producers to purchase raw material and pay suppliers, why is scarce foreign exchange being used to import an indigenous or 'grass-roots' product or any other product which can be supplied locally?

Challenge

"Our challenge as a country is that we are importing more than what we produce, resulting in a trade deficit of US$5 billion. We seek to encourage persons to make the choice to buy local to reverse this trend.

"When you go to purchase goods, look for the label 'Made in Jamaica'. Agreed, if there was not a market for the NY-based patty, the importer would not have brought this into our markets and we must, as an organisation, raise public awareness on the impact of our individual choices.

We will continue to stand as an advocate for local manufacturers and will fight the battle on all fronts necessary to " ... build Jamaica".

I am, etc.,

OMAR AZAN

President

The Jamaica Manufacturers' Association Ltd