KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Transport and Mining Robert Montague says United States authorities have responded positively to the Government’s efforts to secure waivers for UC Rusal, the parent company of West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO).

Montague told the House of Representatives today that a letter from the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) advised that sanctions will not be applied to companies engaged in transactions with WINDALCO up to October 23.

He said the letter confirmed that company’s commercial activities are covered under General Licence 14 (GL-14), where, “US persons may continue to engage in those transactions with WINDALCO until the expiration of GL-14. Similarly, […] transactions with WINDALCO by non-US persons will not be considered ‘significant’ for purposes of a sanctions determination.”

Montague, said the Government had sought waivers for UC Rusal to allow the company to purchase fuel, equipment, spares, chemicals and other supplies needed to sustain the economic operation of the Ewarton, St Catherine plant.

He said the Government had also asked that the company be permitted to conduct business transactions with banks in Jamaica including their intermediaries to facilitate the continuation of UC Rusal’s business here.

Montague told Parliament that, as a last resort, permission was also requested for the Jamaican Government to purchase the bauxite company, which has some 1200 workers.