Guyana tops regional sugar production figures

Jamaica has emerged as the second largest sugar producer in the Caribbean for the current year.

Year to date data show Guyana as lead producer, with 221,836 tonnes, followed by Jamaica 154,361 tonnes, Belize 118,811 tonnes and Barbados 14,854 tonnes.

The current year-to-date figures indicate total exports of  300,484 tonnes, with the European Union accounting for 90-per cent of  total output.

Guyana has been the lead exporter for the current sugar crop, followed by Belize and Jamaica.

Karl James, Chairman of  the Sugar Association of  the Caribbean, said on Tuesday the group was optimistic, that when the final report for the 2013/14 crop is compiled, it will show improvement over the previous two years, both in production and export.

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Guyana tops regional sugar production figures

Sugar Ray teaches Usher to box

file – Usher

Usher has been taught how to box by Sugar Ray Leonard. The R&B singer is playing the legendary boxer in upcoming movie ‘Hands of Stone’ which is a biopic about Leonard’s most famous opponent, Hall of Fame pugilist Roberto Duran.

Usher has revealed Leonard got him in the ring to show him the basics of the fight game and the two have become almost as close as “brothers”.

Speaking in issue 19 FAULT Magazine, Usher said: “I spent time with him in Atlanta, and in Los Angeles. We boxed together; we chilled. He became a great friend of mine, almost like a brother to me.”

Usher stars in the movie with Edgar Ramirez – who plays Duran – and Robert De Niro, who portrays Duran’s trainer, Ray Arcel.

The pop star is pleased to have landed the role as he wants to diversify his career, something that was one of his main motivations for accepting a position as a coach on ‘The Voice’ USA.

Usher – whose new single, She Came to Give It to You, is out on September 28 – said: “Part of the reason why I did ‘The Voice’ was so people would get a chance to get a different perception of me.”

Speaking about what he learnt on the show, he added: “The more I know about life, the more I know about people, the greater the person I am, the more understanding I have about how to make music and how to do things that will grow us as people.”

The singer was photographed by Sinisha Nisevic for FAULT magazine (www.fault-magazine.com/issues) and was styled by Sammy and Judy (aka The Kids).

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Sugar Ray teaches Usher to box

Sugar Ray teaches Usher to box

file – Usher

Usher has been taught how to box by Sugar Ray Leonard. The R&B singer is playing the legendary boxer in upcoming movie ‘Hands of Stone’ which is a biopic about Leonard’s most famous opponent, Hall of Fame pugilist Roberto Duran.

Usher has revealed Leonard got him in the ring to show him the basics of the fight game and the two have become almost as close as “brothers”.

Speaking in issue 19 FAULT Magazine, Usher said: “I spent time with him in Atlanta, and in Los Angeles. We boxed together; we chilled. He became a great friend of mine, almost like a brother to me.”

Usher stars in the movie with Edgar Ramirez – who plays Duran – and Robert De Niro, who portrays Duran’s trainer, Ray Arcel.

The pop star is pleased to have landed the role as he wants to diversify his career, something that was one of his main motivations for accepting a position as a coach on ‘The Voice’ USA.

Usher – whose new single, She Came to Give It to You, is out on September 28 – said: “Part of the reason why I did ‘The Voice’ was so people would get a chance to get a different perception of me.”

Speaking about what he learnt on the show, he added: “The more I know about life, the more I know about people, the greater the person I am, the more understanding I have about how to make music and how to do things that will grow us as people.”

The singer was photographed by Sinisha Nisevic for FAULT magazine (www.fault-magazine.com/issues) and was styled by Sammy and Judy (aka The Kids).

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Sugar Ray teaches Usher to box

Sugar exports up, Coffee down

Jamaica has been exporting more sugar this year.
Data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, Statin, show exports in the first five months of the year were valued at US$44m.
That was up 11% from a year ago.
In the meantime, coffee exports have dipped.
Trade data show coffee exports were valued at US$7.4m between January and May.
That was down 14% when compared to 2013.

Despite the dip, coffee remained the biggest traditional agricultural export.

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Sugar exports up, Coffee down

Half-a-million tonnes of sugar produced so far by SAC members

As the 2013/2014 sugar crop in the Caribbean winds down, Jamaica, Belize, Barbados and Guyana have produced just under 500,000 tonnes of  the commodity, up to the end of  June. The Sugar Association of  the Caribbean (SAC) says year-to-date production figure is 499,272 tonnes.
Guyana was the lead producer with 218,708 tonnes, followed by Jamaica with 152,868 tonnes. Belize was in third place with 113,337 tonnes and Barbados 14,359 tons.

Last month Belize was the lead producer followed by Jamaica.
The crop in Jamaica is expected to end this month.
Exports                                                      
In the meantime, the SAC has revealed that, for the current sugar crop, regional producers have exported 291,524 tonnes of  the sweetener. The bulk of the exports went to the European Union, followed by CARICOM and other markets.
Jamaica will this month dispatch its final cargo to the EU for 2013/2014.
Karl James, Chairman of  the SAC, says Caribbean producers are now considering how they will dispose of sugar produced in the future, in light of  the depressed EU market.

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Half-a-million tonnes of sugar produced so far by SAC members

Half-a-million tonnes of sugar produced so far by SAC members

As the 2013/2014 sugar crop in the Caribbean winds down, Jamaica, Belize, Barbados and Guyana have produced just under 500,000 tonnes of  the commodity, up to the end of  June. The Sugar Association of  the Caribbean (SAC) says year-to-date production figure is 499,272 tonnes.
Guyana was the lead producer with 218,708 tonnes, followed by Jamaica with 152,868 tonnes. Belize was in third place with 113,337 tonnes and Barbados 14,359 tons.

Last month Belize was the lead producer followed by Jamaica.
The crop in Jamaica is expected to end this month.
Exports                                                      
In the meantime, the SAC has revealed that, for the current sugar crop, regional producers have exported 291,524 tonnes of  the sweetener. The bulk of the exports went to the European Union, followed by CARICOM and other markets.
Jamaica will this month dispatch its final cargo to the EU for 2013/2014.
Karl James, Chairman of  the SAC, says Caribbean producers are now considering how they will dispose of sugar produced in the future, in light of  the depressed EU market.

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Half-a-million tonnes of sugar produced so far by SAC members

Sugar Industry under threat as Government implements $30m drought plan

Jamaica’s multi-billion dollar sugar industry is now under major threat due to the effects of  the worsening dry spell.

The Sugar Industry Authority, SIA, says the next Crop could be in jeopardy with the forecast of  below average rainfall for the rest of  the year. According to Chairman of  the SIA, Ambassador Derrick Heaven, the scorching dry spell has coincided with replanting for the Crop and there will be serious implications.
Ambassador Heaven says the situation is cause for alarm.

And the Government will be implementing a $30m drought mitigation project for farmers across the island next week.  That’s the word from Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of  Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry.

The project will involve the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Jamaica Agricultural Society, farmers and political representatives.  Mr. Stanberry says the Government is also investing in rainwater harvesting systems, and looking to build micro dams through its climate change programme.     

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Sugar Industry under threat as Government implements $30m drought plan

Pan Caribbean, Unions draw closer to sugar deal

Latest News

By Balford Henry, Observer Senior ReporterTuesday, September 03, 2013 | 6:58 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — COMPLANT/Pan Caribbean Sugar Company and the unions representing workers at its Bernard Lodge, Frome and Monymusk estates, are headed for an understanding today, at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, for resolving labour issues which have threatened the start of the sugar crop in November.Trade union sources told the Jamaica  Observer Monday that, following a meeting with the workers on Friday in Mandeville, they believe that there is a basis to establish a framework for resolving the issues.The most immediate issue is that of 132 security guards who have been laid off since last month, and whose positions are likely to be made redundant by the company, and replaced by a contract with a private firm, Quest Security. However, there are several other industrial relations matters plaguing operations at the plants, which the government wants to see resolved before they interfere with preparations for the 2013/14 sugar crop. This led to a private meeting between Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Roger Clarke, and the parties last week, which has set the stage for an early resolution.China National Complete Plant Import Export Corporation (COMPLANT), a subsidiary of Hua Lien International, owns Pan Caribbean, which was formed to operate the factories divested by the Government in 2011.Under the transfer agreement, Pan Caribbean needs to increase raw sugar production at the plants to 150,000 tonnes by 2014. But, production has been going in the wrong direction since.Clarke admitted in Parliament in May that production at the factories, which constitute 70 per cent of local sugar production, was falling. He explained that last year the COMPLANT plants produced only 65,000 tonnes of sugar. Clarke had promised the Government’s support in assisting Pan Caribbean to reach its target.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Pan Caribbean, Unions draw closer to sugar deal

Jamaica sugar operation drags Chinese company further in the red

HUA Lien International, an associate of Pan-Caribbean Sugar Company, has said that operations in Jamaica’s sugar industry may lead to a significant increase in losses for the period ending June 30, 2013.

The Chinese company made the disclosure in a profit warning document to shareholders and potential investors. It blamed foreign exchange losses from US dollar-denominated debts, and the decrease in fair value of biological assets due to extreme weather-related conditions, for losses at the group’s new operations in Jamaica.“The board believes that the main reasons attributable to the expected substantial operating loss of Jamaica sugar industry projects are the foreign exchange loss from the US dollar-denominated debts as a result of the depreciation in the value of the Jamaican dollar,” the document said, adding that “The decrease in fair value of biological assets as a result of the drought conditions and hurricane being experienced has negatively affected the growth, and so the expected sugar cane yields of the Jamaica Sugar Industry Projects.”However, the notification to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange highlighted that the company is in the process of finalising interim results for the period and that the announcement is based only on a preliminary assessment made by the board.Hua Lien International is a subsidiary of Pan-Caribbean’s parent, Complant International. Pan-Caribbean bought three Government of Jamaica owned sugar assets — Frome, Monymusk and Bernard Lodge — and committed to reviving the industrial and agricultural production plant and facilities by mid-August 2014.Complant and Hua Lien last year agreed to inject US$38 million and US$89 million, respectively, into a joint venture to purchase Pan -Caribbean Sugar. Some of the funds went towards the repayment of short-term loans and working capital.Meanwhile, the local sugar company on Wednesday said it made financial investments to the tune of US$160 million, which was expended in rolling stock, including tractors, trucks, graders, harvesters and factory equipment.But the company said it has incurred losses of equipment valued at $28.3 million due to security breaches.“There have been a plethora of security breaches within Pan-Caribbean Sugar Company which have resulted in the company incurring significant losses, and to date it has not been able to hold anyone accountable for such breaches,” the sugar company said in a press release.Consequently, 132 guards were sent on leave and the sugar company contracted a private security firm.In response to the move, workers of the sugar estate have been on strike.The company said it remains committed to facilitating timely discussions with the trade unions to ensure an effective resolution for the security employees placed on paid leave.Despite the industrial disputes, Pan-Caribbean said it is working towards improving operations and has taken steps to increase cane production by installing new irrigation systems and expanding areas under production.Pan–Caribbean Sugar Company associate Hua Lien International expects substantial operating loss in Jamaica sugar industry projects. Pan–Caribbean took control of three Government of Jamaica owned sugar assets.

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Jamaica sugar operation drags Chinese company further in the red

Sugar workers demonstrate

Latest News

Tuesday, July 23, 2013 | 4:36 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has scheduled an emergency conciliation meeting for Thursday at 10:00 am, in an effort to resolve the impasse between Pan Caribbean Sugar Company and the unions representing workers at the Monymusk, Bernard Lodge and Frome sugar factories.The workers have been on strike since Tuesday morning  over the sending on leave of 132 security guards, and the contracting of a private security by Pan Caribbean/Complant, the Chinese firm which bought the three factories in 2011.The Unions are the National Workers’ Union (NWU); the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU).According to BITU deputy island supervisor, Harold Brown, the demonstrations will not affect production, as the 2013/14 sugar production has not yet started, but that the workers are determined to show their to the sending of the workers, following the redundancy of some 200 workers since last year.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Sugar workers demonstrate

Labour Ministry intervenes in sugar workers impasse

News

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

THE Ministry of Labour and Social Security has set an emergency conciliation meeting for tomorrow at 10:00 am, in an effort to resolve an impasse between Pan Caribbean Sugar Company and the unions representing workers at the Monymusk, Bernard Lodge and Frome sugar factories.The workers have been demonstrating since Monday against the sending on leave of 132 security guards, and the contracting of a private security firm, Quest, by Pan- Caribbean/Complant, the Chinese firm which bought the three factories in 2011.The unions involved are the National Workers’ Union, the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the University and Allied Workers Union.Yesterday, the BITU’s deputy island supervisor in charge of the sugar sector, Harold Brown, told the Jamaica Observer that the workers are determined to show their objection to the sending off of the workers, following the redundancy of some 200 workers since last year.He said that 90 workers were made redundant recently, including 30 security guards, and on Monday another 132 security guards were sent on “discretionary leave”, which the management says is part of the restructuring of the operations.He said that the trade unions met with the management of Pan Caribbean on Monday and insisted that the company reinstate the workers. However, the talks broke down after the management turned down their request. He explained that after the talks broke down, the protest spread from Bernard Lodge, St Catherine, to Monymusk, Clarendon, and Frome, Westmoreland, yesterday.COMPLANT International took control of the three former government-owned sugar factories in August 2011, after investing more than US$8 million ($680 million) in the production of sugar cane since the start of the year.The three sugar factories and the lands immediately surrounding them were sold to COMPLANT for US$9 million or more than $700 million in July last year. Under the deal, the company also secured some 30,000 hectares of cane lands through a 49-year lease agreement, which is renewable for another 25 years.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

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Labour Ministry intervenes in sugar workers impasse

EU provides US$30M boost to Guyana"s sugar industry

Business

Friday, June 28, 2013

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The European Union has awarded Guyana US$30 million to help boost the Caribbean country’s struggling sugar industry.The money will be used to buy harvesting machines and lessen dependence on cane cutters, many of whom have abandoned fields to work in the country’s booming gold-mining business.The announcement comes just days after the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation reported its lowest-ever first crop production of 48,000 tons (43,500 metric tons), 20,000 tons (18,100 metric tons) less than projected.The company has blamed serious labour shortages, bad weather, mounting debt and management problems for the decrease in production.The deal was signed last week.Sugar generates about 20 per cent of Guyana’s gross domestic product, and the industry is the country’s largest employer. Against the background that the sugar industry continues to play a vital role in the socio-economic development of the country, Government earlier this year said it was pumping billions of dollars in reforming the industry.“The industry is still of sufficient systemic importance to the national economy and to the livelihoods of so many rural communities and has such deep forward and backward linkages with suppliers and distributors nationwide that no effort must be spared to ensure its long-term viability, competitiveness, and profitability,” said Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh as he announced a billion-dollar (One Guyana dollar = US$0.01 cents) allocation to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) in March.

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EU provides US$30M boost to Guyana"s sugar industry