By Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter 
Clarke
DESPITE THE fair-sized turnout, only three cane cutters were present at the National Cane Cutters Competition yesterday at the Guardian Life headquarters in New Kingston.
The three include last year's champion women Julet Haughton and her daughter Racquel Green, and John Green, who is one half of the male champion team.
Responding to detractors, who have been calling for the demise of the sugar cane industry, the theme for this year's competition is 'Life Wouldn't Be The Same Without The Sugar Cane'.
Roger Clarke, minister of agriculture told the gathering that it was once again time to salute the cane cutters for their incalculable contribution to the industry.
"It is a time when we give true recognition to a set of workers, who over time, have been the backbone of the industry," he said.
The agricultural minister added that the cane cutters in their despised profession accentuated the old adage, which says that there is dignity in labour.
HARD WORK
"It is back-breaking work. Cane cutting is not easy. And, those who are engaged in cutting cane they must be recognised (because) not many people want to do it," he said.
But while lauding the cane cutters, Mr. Clarke lamented that a few other factions in the industry, namely the factories, needed to be a lot more efficient.
He warned that the industry must gain and sustain an acceptable level of efficiency quickly because time has become a foe.
"Some work has started towards improving efficiency but we have got to understand that time is not on our side. The time for action is now. As a matter of fact we are late out of the box ... we have to move twice as fast to catch up" he said.
Mr. Clarke argued that the native industry has enough experience under its belt with regards to growing sugar cane to assume the role of tutors to the rest of the world.
Despite the daunting task of gaining efficiency, the agricultural minister, who is also a sugar cane farmer, said that he is unwavering in his belief that the industry can thrive.
