By Cedric Johnson, Freelance WriterWITH THE 2002-2003 sugar crop at Frome Sugar Estate just three weeks old, already some of the major players in the industry are painting a gloomy picture for next year's production.
"As we speak, many of the estate's and private farmers' sugar cane fields are under water," said Preston Barnes, chief delegate of the National Workers Union, in an interview with The Gleaner on Monday. "Some 6,000 hectares of cane have been destroyed in the Eastpole area alone and large acreages have been lost in Barhan, Galloway Lane, Big Bridge and Broughton." With serious concerns about the limited amount of cane likely to reach the factory on account of the devastation caused by the recent flood rains, the leadership of West End Cane Farmers' Association is also quite concerned and is also predicting a dismal 2002-2003 crop.
"We won't be able to do even as well as the last crop, which fell well short of the projected target," said Astill Sangster, chairman of the West End Cane Farmers' Association. "In addition to the expected shortfall in cane production, the poor management of the estate farms is also expected to have a dampening effect on the upcoming crop."
Despite the gloomy forecast for this year's crop, which is slated to start on December 7, Eric Wilson, the head of Security at the Frome Factory, has disclosed that the refurbishing work at the factory is now going at full speed in preparation for the crop, which he hopes will not be as bad as is being projected.
However, a seemingly upbeat Barnes, whose union represents the majority of the workforce at Frome, thinks that things might not be as bad as is being projected as, according to him, the factory repairs have been proceeding well and the workers are energised and ready. "What is taking place at Frome is a phantom operation where no one knows what is happening," said Sangster, in dismissing Barnes' positive outlook. "For our part, we have not yet been able to meet the new management to see what they have to put on the table."
Cedric Johnson
Freelance Writer
WITH THE 2002-2003 sugar crop at Frome Sugar Estate just three weeks old, already some of the major players in the industry are painting a gloomy picture for next year's production.
"As we speak, many of the estate's and private farmers' sugar cane fields are under water," said Preston Barnes, chief delegate of the National Workers Union, in an interview with The Gleaner on Monday. "Some 6,000 hectares of cane have been destroyed in the Eastpole area alone and large acreages have been lost in Barhan, Galloway Lane, Big Bridge and Broughton." With serious concerns about the limited amount of cane likely to reach the factory on account of the devastation caused by the recent flood rains, the leadership of West End Cane Farmers' Association is also quite concerned and is also predicting a dismal 2002-2003 crop.
"We won't be able to do even as well as the last crop, which fell well short of the projected target," said Astill Sangster, chairman of the West End Cane Farmers' Association. "In addition to the expected shortfall in cane production, the poor management of the estate farms is also expected to have a dampening effect on the upcoming crop."
Despite the gloomy forecast for this year's crop, which is slated to start on December 7, Eric Wilson, the head of Security at the Frome Factory, has disclosed that the refurbishing work at the factory is now going at full speed in preparation for the crop, which he hopes will not be as bad as is being projected.
However, a seemingly upbeat Barnes, whose union represents the majority of the workforce at Frome, thinks that things might not be as bad as is being projected as, according to him, the factory repairs have been proceeding well and the workers are energised and ready. "What is taking place at Frome is a phantom operation where no one knows what is happening," said Sangster, in dismissing Barnes' positive outlook. "For our part, we have not yet been able to meet the new management to see what they have to put on the table."
