PM optimistic about sugar industry

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, says he is excited about the growth prospects for the sugar industry, noting that investors have been putting forward the necessary capital for the retooling of plants.
He was speaking Wednesday December 15 at the official opening of National Rums of Jamaica Limited’s state-of-the- art facilities at Clarendon Distillers Limited (CDL), located at Monymusk in Clarendon.
Mr. Golding stated that the Government’s divestment of the sugar industry, is allowing the sector to be placed on a growth path, while at the same time, saving the country billions of tax dollars.
“We are very optimistic that the industry that for a long time has been a burden, a $20 billion burden, is going to become part of the engine of growth that drives the economy. What is required is the level of capital to modernise and get out some of the old antiquated equipment that were in our factories, and to put in state-of-the-art stuff,” he stated.
The CDL distillery was modernised under the European Union (EU) Integrated Development Programme for the Caribbean Rum sector at a budgeted cost of US$11.9 million.
The scope of work done included the erection of a new plant with new fermentation and atmospheric distillation column still plant; new 5500-gallon capacity copper pot still; new cleaver brooks boiler; new 500 kilowatt steam turbine co-generation package; new electronic inventory management system; new weigh bridge/truck scale; new water treatment system; new waste water disposal system; and new cooling system including spray pond/cooling tower basin.
The new facility will add capacity and provide for greater efficiency in production to increase competitiveness on the global market.
The Prime Minister stated that “one of the things that made this project successful is the structure of the partnership that was put together, with Government withdrawing, creating the space, inviting and providing the policy that could support private sector engagement.”
Mr. Golding further added that the commitment shown in reviving CDL, from the management and the inventors, “remind us all of what we are capable of doing if we remain focused, and if we are able to synchronise the support of the critical partners, in terms of private sector partnership and bilateral and multi-lateral support.”