WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — The Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill, is scheduled to meet with members of the Castor Oil Association and honey producers on Thursday to explore the establishment of a geographical indication (GI) for their products.

“I have some good news. My technical assistant…has just reminded me that I’m meeting tomorrow (Thursday) with the Castor Oil Association and the honey producers to look at a geographical indication,” revealed Hill.

Hill was addressing a question-and-answer session of a Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce and Industry meeting held at the Hotel Commingle in Savanna-la-Mar on Wednesday.

A geographical indication is an intellectual property tag used on products that have a specific origin and contain qualities and characteristics. It acts as a certification that the goods were made using traditional methods in a particular region.

Such a move is expected to underscore the power of intellectual property in boosting a product’s value and market competitiveness. Hill, who was initially responding to a question posed by a stakeholder in the castor oil business, said his input is important.

“I’m doing the intellectual property end of the business. What I want is the numbers to make the case to say we must develop this castor oil industry,” argued Hill, who suggested that “this is why I would [ask you] to let us meet and see what we can do for you. That’s why I’m out here”.

The stakeholder revealed that in the past, meetings were convened at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) where a plan was established on how to benefit more from Jamaica’s brand and quality of castor oil. He said the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Scientific Research Council (SRC), Bureau of Standards, and the University of the West Indies (UWI) were also present in those meetings.

The stakeholder, who claimed that licences were handed out for the importation of castor oil and seeds into the island, said there is now an excess supply in the market.

“We have a glut of castor oil here in Jamaica now. We are not even going back to the fields because licenses have also been given for seeds to be imported,” he said.

However, the minister interjected.

“Wait, who gave the license, my friend?” questioned Hill, to which the stakeholder replied, “It wasn’t me!”

“And I am purely in the Shaggy business — ‘It wasn’t me!’” noted Hill. “But seriously, that I suspect would be under agriculture. I’m about commerce. I’m down here pushing you to create Jamaican businesses and export. You send me your case, make your case to me, and I’ll make your case to [the] Cabinet. Give me the data, and I’ll do the job.”

The chamber meeting on Wednesday also had in attendance representatives from the business community, government agencies and key stakeholders to discuss opportunities, challenges and initiatives aimed at strengthening economic growth and supporting the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Westmoreland.

— Anthony Lewis