News

Local shoppers as well as visitors to the island during this carnival season will have an opportunity to purchase locally produced items in abundance, through the “Buy Dominica Carnival Extravaganza”.

The initiative spearheaded by the Dominica art and craft producers Association (DACPA) in collaboration with the Dominica Manufacturers Association (DMA) will be held from February 06th-10^th 2013 at the Roseau Market.

President of DACPA, Francis Richards during a recent press conference to launch the event, said this activity is a direct follow up to a similar initiative held during the Christmas season last December, to support local manufacturers.

“This time around we are trying based on the responses from the various participants and the public to attempt to showcase to Dominica and to our visitors. We will offer arts and craft products as well as manufactured products,” Richards said.

Severin Mc Kenzie of the Dominica Manufacturers Association said based on the success and interest shown by the public during the December shopping extravaganza, the association thought it prudent to stage another event during the carnival season, when large numbers of visitors are expected to be on island.

“The fact that we were able to generate some kind of awareness among the Dominican public to start appreciating the things that we are producing locally is by itself a success. It is as a result of that initiative that we decided to continue with it for Carnival” noted Mc Kenzie.

The Manufacturers Association official said the need to get more visibility for Dominican made products is another objective of the activity.

“We want to put our Dominican products on the front. When you go to Barbados and Jamaica you see Bajan and Jamaican products way up front. This is basically one of the objectives that we are trying to achieve with this initiative” stated Mc Kenzie.

He noted that the “Buy Dominica Carnival extravaganza “event will be strategically held during the peak of the carnival activities.

“The activity is going to be from Wednesday the 06^th to Ash Wednesday on the 10^th of February. We are expecting a few cruise ships on Wednesday and Thursday next week. In addition we know that quite a number of Dominicans will be home during the carnival season and we are hoping that we will be able to supply this demand” said Mc Kenzie.

The “Buy Dominica Carnival Extravaganza” initiative is being supported by the Invest Dominica Authority (IDA). The IDA has been supporting the manufacturers association since 2011, through the promotion of their investments and products.