St Lucia to import sugar from outside CARICOM region

CASTRIES, St Lucia:

ST LUCIA says it is seeking a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) derogation to purchase sugar from outside of the region as the island continues to experience a shortage of the commodity.

Commerce Minister Emma Hippolyte said there had been challenges getting the product from the regular supplier in Guyana, and that Castries had written to the CARICOM secretary general, Dr Carla Barnett, in November last year about the situation.

She said a response had been received on February 5 and negotiating with other suppliers would impact the price of the commodity here.

“The key thing that I need to alert persons with, when we get the sugar outside of the contract period, because with our supplier in Guyana we had a one-year contract, and we would have to negotiate with other suppliers; and that is going to have an impact on the price,” she warned.

Hippolyte told reporters that 10 containers of brown sugar had arrived here last week, with six additional containers being imported this week.

The minister said that the sugar shortage may be as a result of local manufacturers using white sugar.

“I have also met with the manufacturers, and we have agreed to give them permission to place their own orders,” she added.

CMC