Harvest finally begins

After weeks of delay, the 2018 sugar harvest has finally commenced.

Even though it’s the latest start in recent years, it is expected that the crop will yield more tonnes than last year.

This is according to Chairman of Barbados Sugar Industry Limited, Mark Sealy, who said that in spite of the setback, there was an anticipated harvest of 11 000 tonnes of sugar compared to last year’s 10 000 tonnes.

“There are going to be some implications in terms of a reduction of sugar and in tonnage. Luckily for this year’s crop, we had some very late rains in February, and that would have reduced the risk a bit, so it remains to be seen now how much will be lost in terms of sugar and tonnage,” he said.

The reaping, which should have started in early February, was delayed due to several issues, including the non-payment of government of almost $9 million owed to the private cane owners from last year’s crop.

However, Sealy in speaking on Down to Brass Tacks yesterday, revealed that at a meeting held last Friday, government had given the assurance that 60 per cent of these outstanding fees would be paid this week.

“We are still currently in price negotiations, but we were promised 60 per cent of our outstanding money, which comes to about $5.3 million to be paid this week and in good faith we agreed to go ahead with the crop and it is all systems go,” he said, outlining that all of the private sugar plantations had begun harvesting yesterday morning as well as those under the Government-owned Barbados Agricultural Management Company.

As for the remaining 40 per cent, Sealy disclosed that the Permanent Secretary had promised that this would be dispersed “in short time” and this would be followed up on as well as the incentive payments. (JMB)