MONTEGO BAY, St James — Plans to place the regulation of the craft industry under one governing body took a significant step forward with the endorsement of craft vendors and producers.

Craft vendors and producers were unanimous in their endorsement of the proposed Craft Authority and Craft Policy, which has four main objectives.

The objectives are to streamline the craft sector by facilitating incremental improvements in quality, variety, value, sales, customer satisfaction and profits; facilitate the sustainable growth of the craft industry in Jamaica to enable a successful enterprise; and promote greater local identity of finished craft and souvenirs, innovation, better packaging, regulation and production and distribution facilities.

The policy will outline strategic objectives, including the sourcing of raw materials, the packaging and branding of an ‘Authentic Jamaica’ brand, and ensuring that local craft producers and traditional artisans benefit from the marketing and commercial opportunities provided by the tourism industry.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Dr Wykeham McNeill outlined the framework for a Craft Policy, which will be administered by a legally constituted Craft Authority, to representatives of the island’s craft traders and producers at a recent consultation at the offices of the Jamaica Tourist Board.

McNeill told the craft traders that while the legal aspects of establishing the Authority are being addressed, a Craft Council will be put in place, in the interim, to start streamlining the industry as a matter of urgency. The Council will include representatives of local craft traders and producers as well as other stakeholder groups.

He said the establishment of the Craft Authority will take governance of the craft industry out of the hand of the political directorate and place it before a board on which the traders and producers will have adequate representation. Through the Authority, he said they will help to determine what they want done and how resources earmarked for improvement of the sector will be disbursed.

McNeill said also that the initiative was recently discussed by the Economic Development Council, which is chaired by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, paving the way for the establishment of a Craft Authority.

President of the National Craft Traders and Producers Association Melody Haughton-Adams said the initiative was a “very, very good idea”.

“I am thankful for the Council. We and the producers’ association met and the very same thing was recommended,” said.

Meanwhile, Michael Senior, secretary of the Jamaica Indigenous Artisan Co-operative Society, a representative of the craft producers, said “the presentation was everything I imagined it to be and I’m happy”.