Gov’t Committed to Ensuring Viability of Sugar Industry – Kellier

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Derrick Kellier, says the Government is committed to ensuring that the sugar industry remains viable and sustainable, as it is the life blood of many rural communities in Jamaica.

“Come 2017, the industry stands to be impacted by the removal of duty-free access to the European market. In spite of this, we remain confident that with co-operation of industry stakeholders, with continued investment, with co-generation of energy and continued improvement in production and productivity, this industry will remain viable and sustainable,” he said.

Minister Kellier was addressing a ceremony to officially open a library at the Savanna-la-Mar Infant School in Westmoreland on Friday (May 8).

He noted that under the European Union (EU)-funded Jamaica Country Strategy for the Adaptation of the Sugar Industry, the Government has spent some $10 billion on the provision of housing solutions for sugar workers across the island since 2009.

He said monies have also been expended for the cane expansion fund, cane road rehabilitation projects, social infrastructure initiatives, including schools, clinics, sporting facilities, water supply systems, community centres and school libraries.

“In addition to the modernisation and expansion work being undertaken by the sugar companies, the Government has been focusing on the social transformation of the industry, as we work to transform people’s lives and communities. For that reason, we are also training people and providing them with vocational and entrepreneurial skills,” Minister Kellier informed.