The Long Pond sugar factory, a once-thriving hub of Jamaica’s sugar industry, has been put up for sale. The property, located in Trelawny, spans 16.37 hectares (40 acres) and is being marketed as a prime redevelopment opportunity.

The announcement, made via a public notice on December 15, comes after years of operational challenges and mounting losses for its owners, Everglades Farms Limited. The property offers 72,422 square feet of building space, its own well, and connections to utilities from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and National Water Commission (NWC).

The Husseys, owners of Everglades Farms, are pitching the location as ideal for manufacturing, business process outsourcing (BPO), housing, or a commercial water operation, but they did not disclose a price for the property.

“The property is fully equipped with a high-capacity well producing 600 gallons per minute, along with connections to Jamaica Public Service, including a 1 MVA transformer, and the National Water Commission. It also boasts high-speed Internet access, making it suitable for a range of modern operations,” the notice outlined.

Despite its potential, the decision to sell signals a major shift for Everglades Farms, which has grappled with the property’s tumultuous history since acquiring it during the Government’s 2009 divestment of State-owned sugar assets. The Long Pond factory, like much of Jamaica’s sugar sector, has struggled to remain viable amid rising costs, outdated infrastructure, and declining global competitiveness.

The Husseys have reportedly invested some $3 billion into modernising operations at Long Pond. However, inefficiencies and high production costs continued to undermine the factory’s viability, ultimately forcing its closure in 2017.

Adding to the complications, the Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings Limited (SCJH) reclaimed 98 per cent of the surrounding leased lands in 2020, leaving Everglades Farms with just 200 hectares. The reclamation was part of a broader government strategy to redistribute lands to small farmers and other stakeholders, but it significantly limited Long Pond’s operational scope and curtailed efforts to revitalise the property.

Over the years, Everglades explored various alternatives to turn Long Pond into a profitable venture. Proposals to integrate the factory into their Hampden Estate rum distillery operations garnered interest but failed to gain traction. Rumoured plans to pivot towards ethanol production or co-generation were also left unrealised.

Meanwhile, the wider sugar industry has faced steep declines, with other facilities such as Golden Grove in St Thomas and Monymusk in Clarendon closing their doors in recent years. The closures reflect systemic issues within the sector, including high production costs, limited export competitiveness, and changing market dynamics.

The sale of Long Pond marks a critical juncture for Trelawny’s industrial landscape. Once a major player in Jamaica’s sugar economy, the parish has seen its fortunes wane alongside the industry’s decline. Real estate analysts note that the property’s location — 15 minutes from Duncan’s and a minute from Clark’s Town — makes it attractive for redevelopment.

Attempts by the Jamaica Observer to contact Everglades Farms for further details on the decision to sell were unsuccessful. Calls to the listed contact went unanswered up to press time.

Still, the decision to sell Long Pond appears to signal the end of a turbulent chapter for the company. After nearly 15 years of ownership characterised by operational halts, financial losses, and land disputes, the Husseys seem ready to move on.