Appleton Estate remains closed as court ruling postponed
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A ruling on the injunction appeal filed by J Wray & Nephew Limited has again been again postponed.
The new date for the Court of Appeal’s ruling has been set for April 8, 2016, after originally being set for March 18 and then postponed to April 4.
The injunction was obtained by Algix Jamaica Limited in January 2016 and has prevented J Wray & Nephew Limited from commencing operations at its Appleton Estate factory.
J Wray & Nephew Limited, in a news release Tuesday, maintained that its sugar factory had been operating with due regard for the environmental legislation and any representation to the contrary which have been made in the public is inaccurate.
According to J Wray & Nephew Limited Chairman Clement ‘Jimmy’ Lawrence, the injunction prevents the company from starting up operations of the sugar factory and, as a result, the negative impact of this continued closure will be far reaching.
“The suspension of operations at the Appleton Estate sugar factory has far-reaching implications for numerous stakeholders, including, but not limited to, staff at the sugar factory, cane farmers and communities in St Elizabeth, Clarendon and Trelawny, that depend on the sugar crop for their livelihoods.
“In light of the delayed ruling, we are now holding discussions with industry associations and the Government with a view to alleviating the challenges being faced by the cane farmers. We also acknowledge the concerns of our employees and so, despite the continued injunction and the negative impact on the business, we will retain the services of our employees,” Lawrence said.
Algix originally sought US$23 million (J$2.8 billion) as compensation for damage allegedly suffered at its property some six miles downstream, J Wray & Nephew Limited said.
The claim was reportedly recently inflated to US $49.5 million (J$5.5 billion).
J Wray & Nephew Limited said it is disputing the facts and denies that there is any causal link between its activities and the losses alleged by Algix.
The company said it believes Algix’s claim is without merit and will defend it vigorously at the trial, which has now been set for September, 2016.
