Senior UK official appointed to deal with Sugar Reform
published: Wednesday | February 9, 2005

By Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter

AMBASSADOR DERRICK Heaven, executive chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) yesterday welcomed the appointment of a senior official in the United Kingdom to co-ordinate that Government's role in the European Union (EU) sugar reform process.

A release from the British High Commission yesterday said Gareth Thomas, the U.K. minister for international development (DFID) announced the appointment of Peter Grant to coordinate the U.K. Government's engagement on the issue of European Union (EU) transitional assistance to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar producers.

Mr. Grant, who is director of DFID's Europe, International Financial Institutions and Trade Division, was described as well placed to engage on behalf of the U.K. with ACP governments and the European Commission on the best transitional assistance package for ACP sugar producers.

In an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, Ambassador Heaven said the appointment was a very significant move and said it reflected the importance with which the British were now attending the issue.

INCREASE THE NECESSARY DIALOGUE

"We hope it will serve to increase the necessary dialogue on consultation," said Ambassador Heaven.

At the announcement, Mr. Thomas explained. "The process of changing the existing EU sugar regime is now irreversible. But there's a lot more to be done on the terms of the transitional assistance, particularly to avoid the pitfalls of past experience with banana funds."

Just last month the EU agreed to delay the implementation of the price cut on sugar from (ACP). countries until July 2006 instead of the July 2005 date originally proposed.

Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, who disclosed the postponement, attributed it to the intense lobbying efforts by the ACP, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and his ministry, in collaboration with the (SIA).

The extent of the cut is however, not known at this time, as the minister had indicated that the ACP states were still lobbying for modifications to be made to the EU proposal.

The EU had initially proposed a 37 per cent reduction over a three-year period, beginning with a 20 per cent cut on July 1 and another 17 per cent reduction applied over the next two years.