Saint Lucia’s Margaret Monplaisir makes history!

(St. Lucia Distillers)- History was created in Guyana on Wednesday 21st June 2023, when Caribbean rum producers elected Margaret Monplaisir, CEO of St. Lucia Distillers, as the first woman to lead their organization, in the position of Chairperson. Mrs. Monplaisir is perfectly suited for the job, with 38 years of experience in the alcohol industry, and having already served as a Director of The West Indies Rum Producers Association (WIRSPA) for over ten years. This is also the first time in WIRSPA’s 50-year history that it will be led by a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). ⁠

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WIRSPA is one of the Caribbean’s oldest private-sector trade associations. It represents rum producers in Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Haiti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago. Margaret Monplaisir is excited and optimistic commenting, “We have many challenges to face, both in our supply chains and in the international market, but our products speak for themselves, and we see a bright future for Caribbean Rum”. ⁠

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Also elected at the meeting, was Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence, head of the Jamaica rum producers, to serve as Vice Chair. Margaret Monplaisir and Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence, along with the outgoing Chair, Komal Samaroo, head of Guyana conglomerate Demerara Distillers, will join the representatives of Barbados and the Dominican Republic on WIRSPA’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, with the support of WIRSPA’s secretariat, will drive the association’s activities toward ensuring continued success for the Caribbean rum industry.⁠

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Please join us in raising a glass to Margaret!