Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Premature!
LAWRENCE... we are treating this withthe greatest of urgency
News
July 17, 2020

Premature!

J Wray & Nephew says it’s too early to predict closure of Appleton sugar factory, job losses

CHAIRMAN of J Wray & Nephew Limited Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence is seeking to allay fears that the company has decided to walk away from production at the Appleton Sugar Estate factory in Siloah, St Elizabeth.

Lawrence yesterday told the Jamaica Observer that reports claiming that the company is moving out of sugar are premature as no decision has yet been made.

“The Appleton factory closed as usual at the end of the [2020] crop as part of the normal routine as to how our work flow is,” Lawrence told the Observer in an exclusive interview.

“The sugar operation for us continues to be a challenge. The production numbers this year were dismal and we plan to do a review in light of this. We are undertaking such a review and we are in the process of consultation with our team members. What we really want to do is to find a way forward, and if we can agree on how we move forward.

“In the interim though, it is business as usual, and you know the impact we have on the community [of Siloah]. We are a part of that community and we are continuing that partnership that we have had, and have built over many, many years,” added Lawrence.

He underscored that the company has lost millions of dollars through its sugar operations each year and noted that it was made worse this year by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Lawrence admitted that the losses on sugar have become unsustainable, given the company’s tightening fiscal situation and the fact that the pandemic resulted in the closure of bars and other routes to market, and in so doing, crippled its domestic and export earnings.

“…We have sought to find solutions to all the challenges [at Appleton Estate] that we have had. The negative impact that the coronavirus has had on the commercial operations there increased the sustained losses on the sugar operation; this has forced us to get into deeper consultations on the future of the sugar factory,” said Lawrence.

The J Wray & Nephew head shied away from giving a timeline on when a decision would be made on changes as he argued that this would depend on the outcome of the talks.

“This is a process, so we have to follow the guidelines as it leads, depending on the inputs and the considerations. It is a push and pull so I would not be able to give you a timeline as we speak. What I can say is that we are treating this with the greatest of urgency, given the impact that it has had, and we are striving to get to a position on it that we can communicate in time,” said Lawrence.

With reports that hundreds of people could be hurt by a closure of the sugar operations Lawrence noted that any claim of the number of employees to be impacted would be premature because this would depend on the outcome of the consultations.

He also scoffed at claims that the closure of the factory would impact on the supply of the world renowned Appleton rums.

“As it regards our operations in terms of our distillery, this is not affected in anyway and all the brands, in terms of their availability, will continue without any disruptions. What we are speaking to here is our factory, farm operation that has had a tremendous hit currently and has been so ongoing. So the brands are not affected and are not considered as part of the adjustments and discussions that we are having at this point in time with our stakeholders,” declared Lawrence.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Nigeria’s former president Buhari dead at 82
International News, Latest News
Nigeria’s former president Buhari dead at 82
July 13, 2025
ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP) — Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari— who led his country first as a junta strongman and later as an elected democrat —  ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Over $9 billion in property lost to fires in 2024 – PIOJ
Latest News, News
Over $9 billion in property lost to fires in 2024 – PIOJ
July 13, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The estimated value of property lost as a result of fires in Jamaica in 2024 exceeded $9 billion, an amount similar to 2023. It re...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Isat Buchanan banks on education initiative to wrest Portland Eastern from Ann-Marie Vaz
Latest News, News
Isat Buchanan banks on education initiative to wrest Portland Eastern from Ann-Marie Vaz
July 13, 2025
PORTLAND, Jamaica (AFP) — Attorney-at-law, the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Isat Buchanan, who is seeking to wrest the Portland Eastern seat from t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Mechanic charged after drugs found concealed in seasoning
Latest News, News
Mechanic charged after drugs found concealed in seasoning
July 13, 2025
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A 51-year-old mechanic has been charged after allegedly attempting to send ganja overseas concealed in all-purpose seasoning, ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
WI vs Aus: Day one reactions
Cricket, Latest News, Sports
WI vs Aus: Day one reactions
July 13, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jayden Seales says it was a “good day” for the West Indies after they dismissed Australia for 225 and navigated nine overs while l...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
Golding apologises for expletive use on campaign trail
July 13, 2025
People's National Party President Mark Golding has apologised for uttering an expletive picked up by a hot mic last Friday. “Last night I was at anoth...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Gramps Morgan’s son hoping to make nat’l basketball team
Latest News, Sports
Gramps Morgan’s son hoping to make nat’l basketball team
July 13, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jelanie Morgan, son of reggae star Gramps Morgan, says he is on a mission to represent Jamaica on the global basketball stage, not...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
No unlicensed entity was permitted to import buses – Vaz
Latest News, News
No unlicensed entity was permitted to import buses – Vaz
July 13, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica– Transport Minister, Daryl Vaz says there is no truth to suggestions that a company, El Hydro, was permitted to import 110 used scho...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct