Craft industry must modernise while preserving traditions, says Seiveright
MINISTER of state in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Delano Seiveright has underscored the urgent need to modernise Jamaica’s craft industry while safeguarding its artisanal traditions.
Speaking at the Sandals Foundation’s Pineapple Craft Market Showcase in Ocho Rios, St Ann, on Thursday, Seiveright called on artisans and vendors to embrace training, innovation, and global standards without losing the authenticity that defines Jamaican craft.
He argued that while craft remains a vital part of Jamaica’s cultural identity and tourism product, “this is 2025, not 1985. The world has changed — tastes, technology, and visitor expectations have shifted. If craft is to grow, all hands must be on deck.”
The state minister pointed to the role of agencies like Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Tourism Product Development Company and Jamaica Vacations Ltd which support product development and business training, as he urged the artisans to build on traditional skills, strengthen customer service, and adapt to international quality standards.
Seiveright also called for increased investment in the upkeep of craft villages and stronger public-private partnerships to improve infrastructure.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to systematically addressing challenges through the National Craft Policy, vendor support, and training programmes designed to both modernise the sector and elevate its cultural impact.
The National Craft Policy is being designed to address factors that are critical to the sustainability and growth of the craft industry in Jamaica and enable successful enterprise in the areas of craft, gifts, visual arts and souvenir products.
Addressing a craft product assessors workshop just over one year ago Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Aubyn Hill noted that the sector is a vibrant contributor to Jamaica’s creativity, and argued that it must be expanded by standards and quality.
“As we strengthen the framework for quality and standards in the sector, we are embarking on a journey that will elevate our Jamaican-made products. Jamaican craft is more than products on the shelves, it is a reflection of our rich culture, heritage and innate creativity as a people,” Hill said at the workshop hosted by the JBDC.
