Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after the opening ceremony of the Second Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora, in Salvador, in the coastal state of Bahia on Wednesday. - REUTERS
AN AGREEMENT for a US$100 million (J$6.5 billion) line of credit has been signed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva, to facilitate the importation of machinery and agricultural equipment for the rehabilitation of Jamaica's sugar industry.
According to a statement from Jamaica House yesterday, the credit assistance agreement, signed in Brazil on Wednesday, forms part of an overall programme with the South American nation for the production of ethanol, renewable energy and the introduction of a new, high-yield variety of sugar cane in the island.
NO HELP FOR SUGAR
However, Allan Rickards, chairman of the All-Island Cane Farmers' Association, told The Gleaner yesterday that the billion-dollar line of credit would not assist the divestment of the state-owned sugar factories which the Government put up for sale last year. Mr. Rickards said the credit facility would "allow local (Brazilian) entrepreneurs to access, on credit, equipment in Brazil."
The cane farmers' spokesman noted that the June 30 deadline for the submission of prequalification bids to the National Investment Bank of Jamaica had passed, and added that Indian firm, Damphur, was the only foreign investor to respond. There were no takers from Brazil, where two firms had shown early interest in investing in the factories.
Mr. Rickards confirmed that a joint venture bid has been made by the All-Island Cane Farmers' Association.
Jamaica House also said Brazil is to provide equipment and resources for law enforcement under a new area of collaboration agreed by President da Silva and Prime Minister Simpson Miller during her three-day visit to the South American country where she was attending the Second Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora.
FURTHER BENEFIT
Jamaica is to further benefit from the provision of rapid HIV test kits and the supply of anti-retroviral drugs, while Brazil will be provided with assistance in the area of tropical medicine and, in particular, sickle cell research.
In the area of sports cooperation, both countries are to explore provision of expertise in track and field/athletics and football.
The two leaders also exchanged views on Haiti, with Prime Minister Simpson Miller commending Brazil for its role in assisting the return of democracy to Haiti through the provision of peacekeeping troops to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission.
