By Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Wednesday 1st May 2024)- Minister of Tourism, Marsha Henderson, has announced a new policy initiative aimed at eliminating the sale of counterfeit merchandise at ports, encompassing items such as jewelry, alcohol, and fabric.
Speaking at the second wave lineup reveal of the Music Festival held on Wednesday 1st
May 2024, Henderson emphasized the importance of upholding standards and protecting the integrity of the tourism industry. “I’m pleased to announce a new policy initiative aimed at eliminating the sale of counterfeit merchandise at our ports.
As the Minister of Tourism, it is imperative to uphold the standards of our local products and protect the integrity of the tourism industry,” she stated. “Counterfeit goods not only deceive visitors and our customers but also tarnish the reputation of our destination,” Henderson continued.
“Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism is taking decisive action to address this issue head-on and raise the standards at our ports.” The Tourism Minister indicated that legislation already exists to tackle the issue, noting “we are working closely with the Attorney General’s Chambers to implement stricter laws and regulations to combat the sale of fake merchandise. The support of the Attorney General’s Office is crucial in ensuring that these measures are – LOCAL NEWS –
effectively enforced and violators are held accountable.” She added: “We value the collaboration of our partners and partners-in-law, and we are committed to ensuring that we are able to do this. We are working with our merchants operating at our ports, both in Porte Santé and at the airport, and in our efforts to eliminate counterfeit goods.” “We encourage merchants and other stakeholders to reach out and assist the Ministry of Tourism in identifying and combating the sale of fake merchandise.
By working together, we can ensure that our port offers only genuine, high-quality products to visitors and locals.” “I am confident that with the implementation of this new policy and the support of all of you, the stakeholders involved, we can significantly reduce the prevalence of counterfeit goods at our ports and enhance the overall visitor experience,” Henderson highlighted. 7
