PRIME Minister PJ Patterson is to speak to Parliament on Tuesday on the government’s plans for the future of the local sugar industry. This could be one of the most important statement’s Patterson makes to the House of Representatives this year, if the presentation signals, as expected, the beginning of a new economic era for sugar cane.

Recent developments in sugar exports, most notably the European Union’s proposal to cut the guaranteed price to Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries over the next four years, has challenged the government to find more creative uses for cane.

But a release from Jamaica House last Tuesday, in which Patterson said that he has instructed the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) to work with the sugar industry to formulate a country strategy and plan of action for developing a sugar cane based industry that will include the production of ethanol, suggests that those who are expecting much from the PM’s statement could be disappointed.

The decision to involve the PIOJ reminds us of an old saying – too little too late. But, more importantly, it suggests that no serious policy change or action plan will be included in Patterson’s statement

Tuesday and that the strategy and the plan is really being readied, instead, for submission to the European Union by December.

To reinforce this view, the statement also points out that Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke will engage in stakeholder meetings, after Tuesday, to get the views which are to be included in the country’s strategy and plan of action.

It may also be a disappointment for our European friends, notably Britain, whose Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, said at the University of the West Indies ) Mona campus Wednesday night that Jamaica should develop policies and action plans to cope with the transition and that he was looking forward to the Prime Minister’s pronouncements on the future of the industry on Tuesday.

Incidentally, one of Straw’s most important points Wednesday was that, even if the World Trade Organisation (WTO) had not upheld the complaints against the EU’s current level of sugar subsidies to the ACP nations, “the fact is that the current system is unsustainable.”

What the Prime Minister’s statement is certain to trigger, however, is a very important exchange between government and opposition members about the failures, as well as the future, of sugar.

Whitehouse

debate, perhaps

Tuesday could be an exceptionally busy day for Patterson, if the House is finally able to go ahead with debating opposition MP Karl Samuda’s motion for a forensic audit of the controversial Sandals Whitehouse project in Westmoreland, and for the report to be tabled in Parliament.

Gay rights, legalising prostitution

to be put

on the table

Another controversial issue which is on the agenda for Tuesday is the report from the Human Resources and Social Development Committee of the House of Representatives on HIV/AIDS.

The committee, chaired by junior minister Donald Rhodd, had proposed to Parliament, among several others, that the House debate the possibility of repealing the laws against buggery and the legalization of prostitution.

The issue was raised based on submissions made to the committee during its deliberations on HIV/AIDS, as Jamaica moves to strengthen its response to the pandemic and end discrimination and stigma against people living with the disease. The debate is expected to be opened by Dr. Rhodd.

Civilian

Oversight bill

Also on the agenda for Tuesday is the start of the debate on the Civilian Oversight bill.

The fulll title of that bill is: An Act to Provide for the establishment of a civilian oversight authority to monitor the operations of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the auxiliaries and for connected matters.

According to the bill’s Memorandum of Objects and Reasons, the JCF Act makes provision for an inspectorate to monitor the performance of the Force to determine whether it is operating efficiently and effectively. However, this has not had the desired effect.

“The government has, therefore, decided to establish an independent civilian body to monitor the operations of the JCF, the ISCF and District Constables.”

The bill seeks to give effect to that decision by providing for the establishment of a body to be called the Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority, which will be external to the force so as to ensure accountability, adherence to policy guidelines and observance of proper police standards by the force.

balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com