CLARKE

A proposal for the divestment of the island's coffee industry is tobe submitted to Cabinet soon.

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Roger Clarke, says his ministry is only awaiting the approval of the Accountant General's department to complete the proposal.

He says this is necessary because the Accountant General is really the owner of the industry. "We have got to sit with them and look at the modalities," he said.

However, Mr. Clarke said the Coffee Industry Board will continue to have oversight responsibility for the industry to ensure that standards are adhered to and that the quality of the Blue Mountain Coffee brand is maintained.

Re-examine the industry

However, Mr. Clarke says it has become necessary to re-examine the industry, with a view to overhauling the regulatory framework to ensure the growth and sustainability of the industry.

The Minister was speaking on Wednesday during his post-Budget press conference.

A day earlier, Mr. Clarke announced in Parliament that the Government would be divesting the coffee industry.

"We do not therefore consider it necessary or desirable for the Government to play such a substantial role in the coffee industry in relation to our marketing and production activities," he said.

The Agriculture Minister noted that a study to examine the regulatory issues has been commissioned. It is to start at the end of May and will last for six months.

Last year, coffee production exceeded the projected target of 10,787 tonnes by 15 per cent. Mr. Clarke explained that this was largely driven by a 62.1 per cent increase in the delivery of Blue Mountain coffee.