Private sector backs call to strengthen manufacturing

Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) Chairman James Jimmy Clarke. The Barbados Private Sector Association has backed calls for stronger support for manufacturers, as industry leaders warn that imported construction materials are eroding domestic capacity during the island’s building boom. James Clarke, chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA), has signalled broad support for the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA) in highlighting the vital need to champion Barbadian industry. Responding to BMA president Rosie Noel, who warned that the island is “outsourcing its own survival” by importing foreign building supplies during a historic construction boom, Clarke urged cross-sector collaboration while stressing the need to establish clear standards and compliance frameworks. The BPSA’s support stems from the BMA’s urgent call on the government to introduce a formal local content policy. The BMA urged authorities to guarantee manufacturers the first right of refusal on construction projects, arguing that unchecked foreign imports – particularly from jurisdictions without trade agreements – are quietly undermining domestic capacity in goods such as paints, doors, windows and steel structures. “COVID-19 taught this region a hard lesson: when the rest of the world turns inward, no one is coming to save Barbados,” Noel said, warning against treating local manufacturing as a nostalgic industry rather than essential national infrastructure. She pushed back against relying solely on data collection, arguing that “you cannot data-collect your way into a decision that no policy requires anyone to make”. The BPSA leader emphasised structured dialogue over immediate regulatory mandates: “The BPSA supports the BMA for highlighting the importance of supporting local industry, especially in this era of very high global competitiveness, geopolitical tensions, and rising transportation costs. You Might Be Interested In “The BPSA also supports dialogue around the topic of the utilisation of locally manufactured products in the construction industry to the benefit of all parties involved.” Addressing the practicalities of integrating domestic goods into large-scale developments, Clarke emphasised that any push towards local content must go hand in hand with strict quality controls and modernised building regulations. “This raises the need for a Barbados building code and compliance with recognised local and international standards for manufactured goods,” Clarke said, expressing hope that ongoing discussions among all stakeholders would lead to a mutual agreement. When asked how commercial developers and domestic manufacturers could better align project demands with the island’s production capacity, the BPSA chairman highlighted the rapidly evolving nature of modern construction and the imperative for joint product development. Clarke said: “Given the changing needs and development – different technologies, different requirements for customers, the impacts of climate change, and the need to save energy or even create energy – the time is very much right for developers and manufacturers to collaborate. “They must examine what it is that they need, how it can be produced here, where are you going to get it from otherwise, and whether you can do it cost-effectively to the right standards and quality.” Rejecting the idea that domestic production should remain static, Clarke called on producers to remain agile and forward-looking as Barbados seeks new avenues for economic expansion. “Barbados is always looking for different ways to grow our industries,” Clarke said. “Manufacturing is not static; things change constantly. Given the world that we are in right now, the time is right for examining whether it be a new take on an old technology or something brand new and cutting edge.” He suggested that constructive engagement remained the most viable path forward for national development. “We will stand to gain a lot more if all the parties involved in the process can come together and have those types of discussions,” Clarke said. (RR)