Cane farmers start work on take-over of factories

THE All-Island Cane Farmers Association yesterday received the go-ahead from Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke to conduct a study on the Long Pond and Bernard Lodge sugar factories before it makes a proposal to the government to take over the two facilities, both of which the administration plans to close.

Clarke called a meeting with the cane farmers yesterday after Prime Minister Patterson on Monday offered the sugar factories, owned by the Sugar Company Jamaica (SCJ), for one dollar to any investor with a sound financial plan, which does not need government’s financial support.

“We discussed our intended proposal to take over the two factories slated for closure and looked at some of the parameters involved and got from him the undertaking to supply us with the necessary documentation to be able to go into those areas and complete our due diligence,” said Allan Rickards, chairman of the association.

The study, he said, will involve the total inspection of the units, to determine the condition of the equipment and the factory. Additionally, it will also take into account the condition of the cane lands as well as the distillery.

Port Antonio to get facelift

THE Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), as part of its programme to rebrand Port Antonio, plans to spend $15 million to give the town a facelift and reopen several of its attractions in time for the 2005 winter tourism season, beginning December 15.

TPDCo chairman Audrey Marks told a press conference at the Tourism Centre at Knutsford Boulevard in Kingston that the town was being rebranded to benefit from at least 13 smaller cruise ships which would be bringing an estimated 30,000 visitors to Port Antonio between December 2005 and April 2006.

Marks expects the 30,000 visitors to spend an estimated US $100 each.

During the 2004/05 winter season cruise ships made 12 calls to Port Antonio but most of the activities for the 2,531 visitors had to be confined to the marina because the town and attractions were not ready.

Ministry leads talks on bird flu

THE Ministry of Agriculture yesterday met with representatives of Caribbean Broilers and Jamaica Broilers, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Health, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and Port Authority, to discuss measures to deal with a possible outbreak of the Avian Influenza (bird flu).

Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, who stressed the importance of a multi-agency and multi-ministry approach to dealing with a possible bird flu outbreak, said the plans implemented would address identification, diagnosis, control and eradication.

“We have to put certain systems in place that have to strengthen the veterinary services surveillance programme,” Clarke told the meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture in Kingston.

“We have to develop a contingency plan to deal with any outbreak. We have to have sufficient and reliable equipment, public awareness and public education…. and increase in bio security in all our poultry farms,” the minister said