Sale of sugar factories to leave gov’t in debt

[Lazie]

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has revealed that his administration will be saddled with an $18 billion debt incurred by the cash-strapped sugar industry when the privatisation exercise is completed.

Mr. Golding was asked by Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture Roger Clarke whether the Government was prepared to assume full responsibility for the ballooning debts of the five factories which are to be privatised.

This was one of several supplementary questions presented by Mr. Clarke, after Mr. Golding responded to questions which were placed on the Parliamentary agenda at last week's sitting.

In another first for Parliament, the Prime Minister Tuesday brought answers to the questions on the divestment exercise, tabled only seven days ago.

He had up to 21 days to answer the questions.

Asked by Mr. Clarke whether the arrangements made by the former administration to privatise the five sugar factories and their assets would be maintained, Mr. Golding answered in the affirmative but with one significant exception.

The Prime Minister said Cabinet reversed the decision by the Portia Simpson Miller administration not to carry out a comprehensive valuation of the assets of the sugar industry.

He said the cost to carry out the valuation was $26 million, but contended that despite the seemingly high price, it would be irresponsible not to do so.

[HL]

None of the two jamaican parties, the JLP and PNP has the balls (as well as vision) to know that sugar cane production is a waste of time in jamaica........................................... .................................................. .................................

[Mosiah]

Not if it's done under a greenhouse!

What should we do with our rum industry, HL?

By the way, where you get all this vision from?

[Karl]

Not if it's done under a greenhouse!

What should we do with our rum industry, HL?

By the way, where you get all this vision from?

Good point!
It seems to me there should be greater focus on the way we cultivate cane, reap and process the sugar-cane and the by-products...in a nutshell increase efficiencies...
...additional efforts should be made to expand/grow markets.

Soooo - more efficient production methods + greater saturation of existing markets were possible and widening of exposure and penetration of new markets.

This industry is user of large labour force...this in a country where there are not enough jobs. It would be silly on its own merit to close down the industry...and, also political suicide. Make the current production processes more efficient and introduce more acreage to sugar-cane using on those new farm entites most efficient modern technologies. (this reduces total costs of production + increase total out-put of by-products) Expand and saturate current markets & find and grow new markets (greater volume sales and larger earnings).

Allows for *gradual planned move to most efficient production methods as growth in other areas move to alleviate problems and absorb numbers from our under-employed work-force.

*gradual - refers more to planned sensible shifts, therefore rate of "gradual" depends on "speed" with which the optimum shifts can occur without "violent" social disruptions. Finding that equilibrium between "speed" of implementation of modernisation and increased efficiency - lowering costs + improved out-put - and shifting of production methods to being less labour intensive...as we maximize returns from the industry (Sugar and other by-products - rum, other spirits, ethanol, etc., etc.).

[Muadib]

and the reason this has not been undertaken over the past 2 decades ?

'We always believe that we are best for the country, so ANYTHING that will cause us... etc, etc'

[Mosiah]

So, like crime, if the PNP didn't take care of it in 2 decades, then why should the JLP.

Instructive.

[Assasin]

"So, like crime, if the PNP didn't take care of it in 2 decades, then why should the JLP."

you left something out "in 1 month"

[Mosiah]

Who wants them to do it in one mon...mi cyaan bodda.

[Muadib]

Now yuh on the right track.

Just go back to sleep.. I will wake yuh before the fireworks...