THE EDITOR: SirTHE JAMAICAN sugar industry has been in an unsatisfactory state for many years. The lack of investment and retooling has set back the industry tremendously and contributed to its uncompetitiveness.
While other cane growing countries have moved ahead through automation and technology, we remain behind utilising archaic machinery and dependence on manual labour to reap cane. With the industry slumping, and the Government continuing to subsidise the industry with no relief in sight, it seems to me quite irrational for the recent march on the EU embassies protesting against WTO ruling to remove preferential pricing afforded to ACP countries.
This protest is untenable as the industry had sufficient time in which to put its house in order, so that when the day came for pricing adjustment we would be ahead of the game. The sugar industry is not a force and it's time for a critical assessment to be taken, with total divestment as an option. Notwithstanding the level of direct and indirect employment the industry creates, it is time good sense prevails.
If competitiveness cannot be achieved through a comprehensive modernisation process, through diversification and value added products and direct investment, then the industry should be downgraded as a minor crop in the agricultural sector.
I am, etc.,
N.W. CHAMBERS
Kingston 8
