JAS Backs Protest against Sugar Price Cut

The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), has come out in full support of the ongoing protest by sugar industry stakeholders against the European Union’s proposed cut in the price of sugar from African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
“The present protest now being carried out by the unions, sugar workers and the (All Island) Cane Farmer’s Association is fully endorsed by the JAS and we will join that process in the interest of the cane farmers of Jamaica”, said association president Senator Norman Grant, as he addressed the annual general meeting of the St. James Association of Branch Societies held at the St. John’s Methodist Church Hall in Montego Bay recently.
Senator Grant noted that a price cut of the magnitude proposed by the EU would create tremendous hardships for the cane farmers. “For us to be told that the preferential price for sugar to the ACP countries has to be reduced by 39 per cent, we are saying that this is unacceptable for the sugar workers, farmers and all the sectors involved in sugar in Jamaica. The JAS, the unions and the farmers will certainly intensify this campaign until we get positive audience from the European Union”, he indicated.
He commended Prime Minister P. J. Patterson for taking the matter to British Prime Minister, Tony Blair on his recent visit to London.
On another matter, Senator Grant called on the Ministry of Agriculture to impose a quota on the importation of chicken meat.
“To the extent that we can produce chicken meat at the present levels in Jamaica, we need to restrict the amount of such meat coming into the island so that our local farmers can prosper and can utilize the market that exist”, he stated.