Gov’t will never return to operating sugar factory, says Holness

While acknowledging the role and responsibility of a government to protect its citizens and intervene when lives are disrupted, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is calling for a deeper conversation about the future of sugar, but is adamant that his administration will never return to operating a factory.

“The conversation cannot always be about preserving it (the sugar industry), but (instead) how quickly can we see to the transformation and diversification of the economies around sugar,” Holness said yesterday.

He argued that the economic challenges that are manifesting themselves now such as the closure of sugar factories and production grinding to a halt had been problems dating back 200 years ago when the trade ran into similar difficulties.

The prime minister was speaking yesterday at the handover ceremony of a one-bedroom house, consisting of bathroom, kitchen and a living area to 88-year-old Winston Wint of Bogue district in Braes River, St Elizabeth. The house, which was completed at a cost of $5.9 million, is a project of the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), managed by the Government’s HOPE initiative.

Many Jobs at risk

Basil Waite, who was representing the member of parliament for St Elizabeth North East, Evon Redman, pleaded with Holness for the Government’s intervention to prevent any fallout should Appleton Estate shuts down production. “You are in the cane belt of St Elizabeth,” Waite said. “If we witness the closure of Appleton, you are talking about direct employment for minimum 5,000 people, not to mention the indirect employment and the spin-off effect on local businesses.”

However, the prime minister indicated that the role of Government is to facilitate and create an enabling environment for the private sector to invest. He said that his administration has created the ideal climate with the lowest interest rate, while the inflation rate and access to credit are at the best they have been in 40 years.

The prime minister also pointed out that the focus of his government is to stabilise the economy.

“While others are running up and down the country, trying to bring on an election or trying to create all type of mischief, misinformation and mayhem, there are some economic realities that your prime minister cannot take his eyes off,” Holness said. “Whenever it is time (to call the election) I will know.”

“What I do know is that it is now time to keep the focus on our economic recovery and I am trying my best to make sure that there are no slips in that regard.”