$800 Million to Rehabilitate Cane Roads

Some $800 million will be spent to rehabilitate 80 kilometres of cane roads in sugar-producing parishes, under the Sugar Transformation Programme.

This was disclosed by Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, as he closed the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 12.

The works will be undertaken in St. Thomas, Hanover, St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, Westmoreland and Trelawny.

“In Westmoreland we will be spending $82 million; $103 million in Hanover; $170 million in Trelawny; in St. Thomas $68 million; and in Clarendon $134 million,” Mr. Samuda said.

He added that some $30 million will be spent to rehabilitate cane roads in St. Elizabeth and $170 million in sections of  Race Course Lane, Round Hood Lane, Woodlands Road,  Hillrun ( Phase II) and Wilkens Lane, in St. Catherine.

The Minister said despite the challenges facing the sugar industry, there is hope. “For the immediate future, we must maximise on the versatility of the sugar cane to produce multiple products, diversify our markets and invest more in field operations to attain higher levels of productivity and efficiency,” he said.

The Sugar Transformation Programme aims to strengthen the economic diversification, social resilience and environmental sustainability of sugar-dependent areas, and maintain progress towards macroeconomic goals.