John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (seated right) watches keenly as Christopher Emanuel, deputy chief executive officer of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), downloads the latest information from the Internet on the World Trade Organisation's ruling on the imposition of the European Union tariff on bananas from Latin America at the Denbigh showground in May Pen, Clarendon, yesterday. Looking on are Agriculure Minister Roger Clarke (third left) and Senator Norman Grant (right), president of the JAS. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
DENBIGH, Clarendon:
DESPITE THE difficulties haunting the island's ailing sugar industry, especially with the recent introduction of new trade policies that will result in a drastic reduction in earnings on the European market, Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke said Jamaica should not stop producing sugar.
"I am not one of those who subscribe to the idea that we must come out of cane. I believe we should be producing more sugar now than before," said Sir Howard, who was the guest speaker on the second day of the 53rd annual Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show at the Denbigh showground in May Pen, Clarendon, on Sunday.
He added: "I am not one of those who believe that we must send (export) sugar away. They should develop a kind of agro industry so that our sugar and the by-products can be used for development ... so I am appealing to all farmers who are sugar producers to continue to do so."
UNITE TO COMPETE
The Governor-General, however, urged the farmers to unite with their counterparts in the region in order to effectively compete in the globalised marketplace. "Not one of us is large enough to compete, but if we are conjoined and we share the same philosophy, we will be able to compete with the rest of the world," he told the moderate gathering of patrons and visiting guests from overseas.
Wendy Lee-Yuen, president of the Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago, shared a similar view and encouraged her colleagues and the people in the respective Caribbean territories to start the process.
"You need to support your agricultural society, whether in Jamaica, Barbados or Trinidad and we encourage our farmers to join with the Jamaica Agricultural Society to put the right policies in place so that we can embrace each other and complement each other in the CSME (Caribbean Single Market and Economy) that is on our doorsteps," she said. Lee-Yuen was one of the specially invited guests at this year's Denbigh show.
Like Jamaica, she said farmers in Trinidad and Tobago were also affected by inadequate resources, lack of proper access roads and other infrastructure and support from the policy makers.
Upon touring the showground, Sir Howard said he was impressed with the display of produce and livestock, especially with the display of goats at the show. "When I look to the booths, I believe it is the best display we have had for a long time. It shows that despite our disabilities, our hardships and difficulties, our hurricanes and droughts (and) floods, our Jamaican people are a great people," the Governor-General remarked.
