Caribbean Rum Producers meet in Guyana

This week, members of the West Indies  Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA) will converge in Guyana for their Annual  General Meeting. 

Rum Producers from all Caricom countries, as well as the Dominican Republic, will convene  under the chairmanship of Komal Samaroo, Chairman of Demerara Distillers to engage in  discussions pertaining to a wide range of issues that hold significant importance to producers. 

“This is our first physical meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic”, says Samaroo, “We’re pleased  to host it in Guyana, during the commemorative year of CARICOM’s 50th anniversary , and to  celebrate 50 years of WIRSPA”. 

As the export of rum, particularly in the premium sector, continues to experience rapid growth,  Caribbean brands are eager to expand into new markets. A key feature of the upcoming  meeting will be an exchange with Caricom’s Assistant Secretary General (ASG) for Single  Market and Trade, Ambassador Wayne Mc Cook, regarding the facilitation of rum exports to  non-traditional markets. Additionally, producers will engage in dialogue with the ASG to  address concerns related to the region’s external trade arrangements and the ongoing review  of the Community’s trade instruments. 

According to Chairman Samaroo, producers will evaluate progress made in supporting  government initiatives aimed at reducing the excessive consumption of alcohol. In 2019,  producers pledged to take more cohesive and coordinated action, and as a result, WIRSPA  member brands now feature enhanced labelling as a standard practice, advising against  drinking while underage, drinking during pregnancy, or drinking and driving, and also  provides information on serving sizes and calorie content. 

In addition to the aforementioned key areas, Samaroo has emphasized that the upcoming  meeting will delve into the ongoing challenges faced by the industry, particularly in their  supply chain. This will include a specific focus on the sourcing of raw materials such as  molasses and glass bottles. He says, producers are proactively addressing the impact of climate  change by exploring methods to reduce their carbon footprint; an emerging area of concern for  consumers. 

After their meeting, the rum producers will visit the DDL Diamond Distillery, renowned for its  iconic collection of working stills, which is arguably the most diverse in the world. The day will  culminate in a rum tasting and reception, where the products of the various producers will be  sampled.