Sugar imports to offset shortage - Montague

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is assuring worried merchants and consumers that adequate arrangements have been made for the importation of sugar to satisfy the domestic trade.

"It is traditional that we import sugar to make up for shortfalls in our production after fulfillment of our overseas obligations," Agriculture Minister Robert Monrtague said yesterday in apparent reaction to a Gleaner report about a local shortage of sugar.

"This was the case this year. For this year our international commitments were not met on a timely basis due to the underperformance of the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) factories and sustained rainfall resulting in the premature closure of factories."

Montague said sufficient supplies were received in July and adequate supplies were in place for August.

He also noted that a shipment was received on Tuesday while another was due last night with one shipment expected each week for the next two weeks.

"In addition, the Monymusk Sugar Factory will continue operations until the first week in August, processing cane from the parishes of Clarendon and Trelawny," he said.

Montague also noted that the agriculture ministry had placed an order with Guyana to provide sufficient supplies up to November.

He said: "We are aware of the increased prices of sugar on the world market, and have implemented measures to increase cane production by an additional 30 per cent for the upcoming crop."