Sugar probe finalised
Published:Sunday | October 3, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Commission of enquiry established to assess the regulatory, institutional, and pricing arrangements in the sugar industry has wrapped up hearings and passed on the findings to the governor general.
But the report will not be made public until after stakeholders in the sector have reviewed and commented on the contents of the document, Sunday Business was told Friday.
The commission was led by Professor Alvin Wint, pro vice-chancellor and chairman of the board for undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies.
The hearings, seen as critical, especially at a time when the industry is once again fully owned by the private sector, were held between June 14 and July 16 at the Bernard Lodge sugar estate in St Catherine. Sixty oral and written submissions were received from individuals and organisations.
Wint and the other members of the sugar commission - Marjorie Henriques and Wilfred Baghaloo - also visited two factories and met with farmers in communities adjoining these estates.
The review is part of the specific conditions for release of about €17 million of EU grant funds during fiscal year 2010-11.
eight years of aid
The financing agreement under which the sugar funds will become available was signed between Jamaica and the EU in March 2007 under the Jamaica Country Strategy for the Adaptation of the Sugar Industry to address the social and economic fallout resulting from changes to the sugar protocol.
This entitled Jamaica to aid over an eight-year period under the EU Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol Countries of 2006, with financing earmarked for the restructure and upgrade of the sugar industry, diversification, research and innovation, human-resource development, and programmes for sugar-producing areas.
The sugar review was conducted at a cost of J$7.5 million, inclusive of J$3 million, provided to industry groups to facilitate their presentation at the hearing, a release from the commissioners, signed by Professor Wint, revealed.
This is less than half the J$15.3 million approved by Cabinet to defray expenses.