The West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association (WIRSPA) recognised the sterling contribution of retired chairman Patrick Mayers during a cocktail reception at Accra Beach Hotel, Rockley, Christ Church, last week.
WIRSPA representatives from across the region as well as local rum producers, people from the business sector and Government and diplomats were at the reception where Mayers’ contribution of more than five decades to the regional and local rum industries was celebrated.
In his tribute, Mayers’ successor, Dr Frank Ward, said the retired chairman had rendered long and excellent service to the CARIFORUM rum industry.
“His association with the rum industry started in 1959 when he began working with the West Indies Rum Distillery. From then until retirement as chairman of WIRSPA in 2007, he has provided an almost unbroken contribution to the industry in Barbados and regionally,” Ward said of Mayers.
Ward reminded guests that the 70-million euro programme of assistance from the European Union to CARIFORUM members was delivered under Mayers’ chairmanship, a programme which Ward argued was “one of the most successful programmes in assistance the EU has given to any region”.
Dr Jesu Persaud, WIRSPA director for Guyana, and Evan Brown, WIRSPA director for Jamaica, also spoke in glowing terms about Mayers’ work.
“When the authentic history of true Caribbean rum is written, the name of Patrick Mayers will feature prominently in that history,” Brown said. (GC)
Â
