KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw, has issued a call for more authentic Jamaican craft products to be available in the island’s hotels and at least one of the island’s airports.

The minister made the call at the official opening of the Things Jamaican Specialty Food Store at Devon House in Kingston on Wednesday, August 22, a release from his ministry said.

Shaw lamented the decline in the Jamaican craft industry and welcomed initiatives such as the Ministry of Tourism’s artisan villages and the launch of the Things Jamaican Specialty Food Store among the efforts being undertaken to revitalise the industry.

He lauded the work of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who was guest speaker at the launch event, for his exemplary work in conceptualising, inspiring and leading the establishment of Things Jamaican.

Things Jamaican is this year celebrating its 55th anniversary and is currently operated by the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.

The JBDC, which specialises in business development for the micro and small business sector, has launched the speciality food store in keeping with the Government’s thrust towards promoting Jamaica as a gastronomic destination and Devon House as a gastronomic tourism centre.