Appleton Estates closure sparks St Elizabeth protests

Protesters have blocked several roads in North East and North West St Elizabeth.

The affected areas include the famed Holland Bamboo main road as well as the roads leading from Lacovia to Maggoty and Appleton Estates.

Residents are reportedly protesting the non-opening of Appleton Estate, three weeks after it was reportedly scheduled to be opened for production.

J. Wray & Nephew Limited (JWN), the owners of Appleton Estates, has sought to explain why the facility has not been opened.

In a release which was issued today, JWN stated that the company was served with a claim by Algix Jamaica Limited, alleging damage to its property, due to discharge of trade effluent from the sugar factory at the Appleton Estate in Siloah, St. Elizabeth.

The company noted that Algix is seeking compensation for the damage allegedly suffered.

JWN also disclosed that it is vigorously defending the claim, which it said is not well-founded.

“Algix Jamaica sought an interim injunction against JWN to cease the discharge of trade effluent from the Appleton Estate sugar factory until the trial of the claim,” the statement added.

The spirit producer stated that during the period of the injunction hearing, JWN was prevented from commencing harvesting of the sugarcane and operations of the sugarcane factory as scheduled at the start of the 2016 crop.

On January 25, 2016, Algix’s was reportedly granted the injunction.