KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than 800 workers will been affected by the Court of Appeal’s ruling in favour of an injunction preventing Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth, from producing sugar for the rest of the 2015/16 crop, according to Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) Deputy Island Supervisor Hanif Brown.

The court’s judgement, handed down yesterday, supported the injunction originally granted by the Supreme Court in January, which led to a demonstration by more than 700 people related to the sugar factory and distillery against the owners of the fish farm, Algix Jamaica Limited, which has accused J Wray & Nephew Limited and its Appleton factory of producing effluent that has destroyed their fish stock.

Brown told OBSERVER ONLINE yesterday that the closure has affected more than 800 workers employed at the factory and could seriously erode economic activities in the Siloah area of North Eastern St Elizabeth, if it continues.

“It has very serious implications for the workers and the economy there, as well as this year’s sugar crop, because Appleton has to contribute significantly to the Jamaica Cane Products Limited’ production targets,” Brown commented.

Since 2005, attempts have been made to get Appleton to put up a proper waste disposal mechanism but, as then Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke, explained, a “significant investment was needed to improve its waste water system”.

Algix Jamaica has alleged that since then, effluent from the Appleton operations has damaged its property and has been seeking US$23 million in compensation.

The injunction has resulted in the suspension of full operations at Appleton, which is part of the J Wray and Nephew Limited conglomerate since January.

J Wray & Nephew Limited is a subsidiary of Gruppo Campari, the sixth largest player in the global branded beverage industry, with a portfolio of more than 50 premium and super premium brands marketed and distributed in over 190 countries worldwide

Balford Henry