Skip to main content

FM
Former Member

Barbados to move to value-added sugar

 

Posted By Stabroek editor On April 18, 2014 @ 8:52 am In Regional News | 

(Barbados Nation) GOVERNMENT intends to put a stop to the high volume of sugar that the country imports, says Minister of Agriculture Dr David Estwick.

Speaking at a symposium organised by the Barbados Agricultural Society on Wednesday, Estwick, while not going into details, told farmers and others involved in agriculture that a revamp of the sugar industry was coming.

“We are going to have the capacity not only to produce speciality sugars in Barbados, but we will stop importing $32 million in sugar. We will stop importing all of those packets of sugars used in hotels . . . and for the first time in Barbados we will be producing molasses to support the rum industry so that it can now expand,” he said, adding that details would be revealed during the upcoming Budget.

Pointing out that he had read every study on the sugar industry since 1992, Estwick said they had all come to one conclusion about the sugar industry. “I am going to do what the studies say – carry the industry to value added.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

As far as I am aware, the CARICOM operates a free trade agreement. Barbados would be impeding free trade by stopping the import of sugar, even though there is a market for sugar in Barbados.

Guyanese businessmen are free to import and sell rum from anywhere in CARICOM. It is just that our own rum is almost as cheap as bottled water.

Mr.T

If sugar is dead as some of you want us to believe then why are the Bajans talking about resuscitating their sugar industry? Barbados' economy generates most of its income from tourism. Isn't tourism and their local financial industry enough to sustain the island and provide sufficient jobs?

Billy Ram Balgobin
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

If sugar is dead as some of you want us to believe then why are the Bajans talking about resuscitating their sugar industry? Barbados' economy generates most of its income from tourism. Isn't tourism and their local financial industry enough to sustain the island and provide sufficient jobs?

did you read anything about exporting sugar

FM
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

Warrie,

 

If producing sugar is more expensive than importing sugar why would the Bajans want to produce it?  

planting sugar cane in barbados is way different than guayana,and the most important factor will be the management,you get my drift 

FM
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

Are they revamping the industry as a matter of national pride?

pride, how can planting sugar be pride,you ever cut cane is the worse job in guyana.the people is planting for their own consumption  

FM
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

They are doing because of the economic benefits to Barbados. What's the difference if you export sugar for economic benefits?

in the case of guyana we are losing instead of gaining.the simple law of spending 2 cents to make and selling for 1 cents

FM
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

The industry is going through a transition period.  It will be hard but the long-term benefits will be many folds. 

jesus is coming but when,maybe the airline have the same problem like guysuco

FM
Originally Posted by Kari:

JB, anything on Guyana and value-added? Are the Princess and Pegasus hotels thinking along the lines of packaging their sugars in their own image?

I don't know sir. My mamoo/pappy is thinking of putting all his business to Barbados, Jamaica and St kitts. 

FM
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

If sugar is dead as some of you want us to believe then why are the Bajans talking about resuscitating their sugar industry? Barbados' economy generates most of its income from tourism. Isn't tourism and their local financial industry enough to sustain the island and provide sufficient jobs?

 

 

We aren't saying shut sugar.  We are saying SELL Guysuco.  If there is potential for sugar in Guyana then let people put their money where their mouth is.

 

Barbados is looking to transform their sugar from export to one oriented towards the domestic market, based on their tourist industry and industrial base.

FM
Originally Posted by Billy Ram Balgobin:

The industry is going through a transition period.  It will be hard but the long-term benefits will be many folds. 

So of sugar has potential SELL Guysuco.  Clearly the govt will be rid of a burden and the new owners will noyt shut it down.

 

They will merely fire 80% of the workers just as the Chinese did in Linden.

 

What's wrong with that.  If unemployment is not a problem in Linden then why should it be in Skeldon and Rosehall?  Isnt Guyana booming?  So those ex cane cutters will find work easily. 

 

Or maybe you fear that Guyana isn't really booming and so ex cane cutters will starve just as how ex bauxite workers did.

FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×