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Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss (third right); and Gervase Warner, President & CEO of Massy Group cutting the ribbon to Massy Stores Supermarket at Sunset Crest during the re-opening on Thursday night. Looking on is Reverend Beverley Sealy – Knight; Frere Delmas, Country Manager of Massy (Barbados) Ltd; Randall Banfield, Managing Director of Massy Stores Supermarket; and Thomas Pantin, Chairman of Massy Retail Line of Business.

HIGH PRAISE FOR MASSY

A leading, regional retail chain is being commended for its continued investment in Barbados.

Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss, has assured Massy Group that its efforts have not gone unnoticed, as he lauded the swift re-opening of the Sunset Crest Supermarket.

He said that the Bds$45 million investment at the St James location is evidenced by considerable infrastructural development, enhanced operational sophistication, increased job creation and a level of targeted business facilitation that promises industry excellence and standard upgrades, which can result in foreign exchange savings as greater opportunities are afforded to local suppliers and entrepreneurs.

“While all of this remains forever true, we must not lose sight of the significance of this investment in terms of the signal it sends to the local, regional and international business communities that Barbados remains open for business,” he stressed. “That amidst the prolonged challenges facing the Barbadian economy, Barbados has positioned itself as a society and an economy that is resilient, focused and determined.”

Addressing the grand re-opening ceremony on Thursday night, Inniss also described the investment as a strategic marriage that aligns two reputable brands, namely “Massy” and “The Government and people of Barbados” who, working together, can birth a technological and ideological solution to promote personal, business and cultural excellence and position Barbados among those in-enviable jurisdictions that have significantly benefited from the product & service-quality interruptions in the local marketplace.

Inniss also took the opportunity to reiterate government’s commitment to working with all stakeholders including the private sector, the workers’ unions, non-governmental organisations and academia in promoting enterprise, social cohesion and behavioural change as they collectively strive to get this society and economy onto a stronger platform.

He therefore explained that for Massy and others; small, medium or large to continue to invest in Barbados’ economy, they must have a level of confidence in the administration of the affairs of the state and the economy.

“You must have the right ecosystem that is centred on consistency, certainty and confidence. Neither myself or anymore currently in or seeking to enter the national political arena can run away from these realities”.

Imports
The Commerce Minister recalled that in 2016, the total value of goods imported into Barbados amounted to $3.3 billion, of which food amounted to $660.7 million or 20.35%.

In fact, he indicated that for the period 2012 – 2016 there was an average total import bill of $3.4 billion and food totalled 19.5% of such.

“For the first six months of 2017 our import bill stood at $1.5 billion, so we are on the same trajectory as previous years,” he pointed out.

“I mention these figures mainly as a reminder that we have to save or earn foreign exchange in order to pay for these goods. I want all Bajans and our guests to be able to come to Massy and purchase any item of their choice, but in so doing let us remember that such privileges have never and will never come easy.” (TL)

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