Ja: Business as raffle

IF LOCAL uniform manufacturers are given the chance, they could produce high-quality products, says Doreen Frankson, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association.

Miss Frankson made the claim on Saturday night, while addressing the association's annual awards banquet at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.

She said the JMA had been meeting with banks to encourage them to source uniforms locally for their employees. On Wednesday, a local manufacturer secured a contract with National Commercial Bank Ltd., to supply 22,700 garments.

"We can build this industry, but we need to have a common goal. We must support each other, we must buy Jamaican and build Jamaica," Miss Frankson said.

The problem with buy local is that businesses become smugly uncompetitive and the consumer suffers. If Jamaican uniform manufacturers want the uniform business, then let them compete for it by providing a quality product, at reasonable cost, and on time. Protectionist policies to benefit uniform manufacturers will only ensure the decline of the product. That's the way life is.