KINGSTON, Jamaica — J Wray & Nephew Limited says operations at Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth will remain suspended in wake of the Court of Appeal’s ruling today upholding the injunction obtained by Algix Limited.

Wray &Nephew in a statement this morning said that it “regrets this decision by the Court as the negative impact of the suspension of the operations at the factory will be far-reaching for numerous stakeholders inclusive of but not limited to staff at the sugar factory, cane farmers and communities in St Elizabeth, Clarendon and Trelawny that depend on the annual sugar crop for their livelihoods”.

There is also concern that Jamaica’s sugar export targets for 2016 are also being threatened, the company statement said.

According to J Wray & Nephew chairman, Clement ‘Jimmy’ Lawrence, “We are troubled by the outcome of the appeal process. It means we are not able to resume sugar factory operations and our entire sugar crop for 2016 is at risk. We hold firm in our defence that the company has not caused the damages being claimed by Algix and in fact, during the course of the injunction hearing, NEPA reported that it had seen no evidence that corroborated Algix’s claims.”

Algix, a freshwater fish production company, claims that effluent from operations at Appleton contaminated rivers in the area resulting in massive losses.

Algix originally sought US $23 million (J$2.8 Billion) as compensation for damage allegedly suffered at its property some six miles downstream on two occasions, in February and March 2015.

According to Wray & Nephew Algix recently inflated its claim to US$50 Million (J$ 5.6 billion) adding that it views the claim as “completely unfounded and will defend it vigorously at the trial”, which has now been set for September 2016.