Omar Anderson, Gleaner WriterIN A rare show of support, Government senators yesterday endorsed two Opposition private members' motions urging the Ministry of Finance and Planning to conclude investigations into the ailing sugar industry.
One of the two motions moved by Senator Anthony Johnson, leader of Opposition business, earned the approval of the entire Upper House following an amendment.
That motion was tabled in the Senate in September, before Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's October 25 address to the House of Representatives on the way forward for the sugar industry.
In the motion, Senator Johnson contended that the 2004/2005 sugar crop produced 124,000 tons. He claimed this was the lowest since World War II and that the price of sugar was now the lowest ever. He also said thousands of farmers, who depended on the industry, were financially embarrassed.
HALT FURTHER LOSS
"This honourable Senate requests the Minister of Finance and Planning to conclude investigations with the greatest urgency, and arrange for assistance to the industry and save the loss of further millions of dollars of foreign exchange to the Jamaican
economy," Senator Johnson said in his amended motion.
In leading the debate, he said there was an urgent need for clearer disclosures on the future of the sugar industry.
He particularly criticised the timing of Mr. Patterson's address to Parliament and argued it would reduce the sale price of designated sugar factories.
Senator Johnson also claimed the Sugar Enterprise Team, set up to oversee the divestment
of the sugar industry, was
"unbalanced".
He said there were no representatives from two of the major stakeholders, the farmers and the workers.
"The day is long past when negotiations of this type can occur without all the stakeholders being called to the table," he added.
Contributions to the debate also came from Opposition senators Dr. Christopher Tufton and Dwight Nelson as well as Government senators Norman Grant, and Professor Trevor Munroe.
Senator Burchell Whiteman, leader of Government business in the Senate, said he was heartened by the good spirit in which the sitting was held.
In October, Mr. Patterson announced that some 4,000 jobs would be lost resulting from the rationalisation of the sugar industry. He also announced that two Sugar Company of Jamaica factories, Long Pond in Trelawny and Bernard Lodge in St. Catherine, would be closed on a phased basis.
