For years Jamaica has relied on off the shelf trophies and awards to honour their own people. These trophies are usually designed and manufactured by artists, artisans and factories which have absolutely no connection to Jamaica. While these generic, off-the-shelf awards may serve a purpose for the general businesses wishing to show appreciation for their workers or patrons of their business, no national award should be designed and made outside of the country-this especially when we have so many artists and craftsmen capable of designing and producing high quality awards.
Precision Engravers and wooden Products is one such company in Jamaica. The company has been designing and manufacturing awards for over 8 years, satisfying many corporate businesses with not only high quality awards but also unique awards and trophies that can never be found in the “off-the-shelf” dependent trophy shops where what they carry are mass produced and distributed all over the world.
I believe that our national awards should be designed within our cultural space and manufactured within our cultural space. The expertise is here, the machinery available and we would do ourselves an honour if we are able to boast the skills of our own artisans and craftsmen.
The recent Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association awards function was a typical example of what can be achieved when confidence is placed in our own. Precision Engravers did the event proud by designing and manufacturing the awards-and what a bang they were. Not only were they excellent, high quality awards, but the client was more than happy.
We seek the national indulgence, Give Jamaican artisans and craftsmen a chance to be creative.