Professor Wint to Head Sugar Commission of Enquiry

Professor Alvin Wint, Pro Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Board for Undergraduate Studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI), will chair the Commission to enquire into the regulatory, institutional and pricing arrangements in the sugar industry.
This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, at the weekly Post Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (April 21) at Jamaica House.
Mr. Vaz said that Cabinet on Monday approved the terms of reference for the conduct of the enquiry, the appointment of Professor Wint as Chairman of the Commission and an expenditure of $15.3 million to defray the cost. The Commission will review and make recommendations on changes, if any, to the current regulatory, institutional and pricing arrangements in the sugar sector.
“Given the prospect of a sugar cane industry dominated by private players and the change in sugar market situation in Europe, as well as the prospect of new value added projects emerging from the divestment, it is critical that a review of the industry’s regulatory, institutional, cane pricing and marketing arrangements is undertaken,” Mr. Vaz said.
Under the European Union’s (EU) Accompanying Measures for Sugar (AMS) programme, the Government undertook to restructure the regulatory and institutional framework of the sector. A review of the relevance of the current regulatory and pricing arrangements is part of the specific conditions for release of approximately Euro17 million (J$2.2 billion) of EU grant funds during Financial Year 2010/11.