There is growing dissatisfaction Sunday in a section of the sugar industry.
Farmers in Trelawny and St. James who supply sugar cane to Everglades Farms Limited say they are in a desperate situation, as for the past two years, they have sold little or none of their canes.
A source informed RJR News that the situation arose after the divestment of the Long Pond Sugar Factory to Everglades Farms in 2009, and has worsened since.
According to the source, the farmers, at present, have about 38,000 tonnes of cane that they are unable to sell.
Delroy Anderson, President of the Long Pond Vale Royal Cane Farmers Association, which represents the farmers, confirmed that the farmers' situation is dire.
He explained that the factory, which is currently dormant, had one hundred production days for the 2010 crop; was not in production in 2011, and for quite a while, its operations were affected by the need to effect repairs.
Mr. Anderson said he the issues have been presented to the authorities in the sugar industry.
“We are in contact with the Chairman of the SIA, we are hoping to hear positive news from him ….” said Mr. Anderson.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, said he had heard of the cane farmers' plight.
He, too, pointed to the SIA for a resolution to at least one of their concerns.
Efforts to contact Chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority, Ambassador Derrick Heaven, were unsuccessful.Di
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