Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
MORE THAN 200,000 tonnes of cement will be imported into the island in the coming weeks in an attempt to address the severe shortage of the commodity on the local market.
Minister of Information and Development, Senator Colin Campbell made the disclosure yesterday while addressing the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
"Cabinet did deal with the cement situation and I am happy to report that ... the cement supply situation was steadily improving even though there is still some level of shortage in the market," said Mr. Campbell.
The minister revealed that the importation was being done through the Jamaica Bauxite Institute, which will this week finalise an agreement with the Government of Cuba for 64,000 tonnes to be delivered in three tranches.
The first shipment, he said, is expected within the next two to three weeks.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and Planning has approved some 150,000 tonnes of commercial imports with the first shipment expected within a matter of weeks. Other imports include 20,000 tonnes by local manufacturer Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL).
WORK HAS RESUMED
Mr. Campbell said that work had resumed on all government projects, including the transportation centre in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew, and the two cricket stadiums at Sabina Park in Kingston and at Rock in Trelawny.
He said that the CCCL had also resumed its daily production of cement.
The minister said CCCL had received 220 claims from consumers for compensation. The country has, over the past six weeks, suffered from a severe shortage of cement following the recall of 500 tonnes of faulty cement by the CCCL.
The recall led to a halt in construction projects, the temporary laying off of an estimated 30,000 workers, and a fear of likely funeral delays. Some buildings that were constructed during the period had to be demolished.
Carib Cement has admitted that the defective cement was on the market for much longer than it had earlier stated and blamed, among other things, the quality of the material for the sub-standard product. The company hinted at changes in its quality control department.
