Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
( LEFT - RIGHT ) LAMBERT AND HALL
BORN AND bred in the south Clarendon district of Vere, Derrick Lambert remembers the days when king sugar ruled the parish's economy. But with the local industry expected to be affected by European Union (EU) price cuts next year, he believes it is time to look at alternative ways to keep his parish buoyant.
Mr. Lambert is a director of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce which is based in May Pen. He is also chairman of the Clarendon Industrial Provident Society (CIPS), a group determined to help the parish shed its sugar estate image.
"What we are looking at are niche markets ... ginger, eco-tourism and the cottage industry," Mr. Lambert told The Gleaner in a recent interview. "We are in the process of setting up a JAMPRO-type organisation in South East Clarendon and the basis of it is eco-tourism and agro-industry."
YEAR-END LAUNCH
The CIPS, whose executive includes several well-known Clarendon businessmen, is scheduled to be launched before year-end. They believe with the EU's plan to pay 39 per cent less on a phased basis for sugar from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries beginning in 2006, the time is right for Clarendonians to tap into areas that have long been ignored.
Most of the sugar sector is located in south Clarendon, which has received a battering in recent times from heavy rains, including Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.
"In terms of the cottage industry we are looking at marine sites in Vision Hill which is two miles east of the Salt River Wharf and Pig Bay which is just below JAMALCO," Mr. Lambert explained. "These areas are prime for water sports and marine biology and are real alternatives," he added.
Another spot on the CIPS radar is the Milk River Bath, a mineral spa popular for years with persons suffering from physical ailments. Already, Mr. Lambert says he and his partners have targeted the site for upgrading, then they plan to market it internationally as a major wellness spot.
Mr. Lambert admits that the CISP is "behind in terms of organisation." But he believes if things go according to plan, the group's projects could be the most ambitious seen in Clarendon since the 1970s when then Prime Minister Michael Manley implemented a series of self-reliance programmes.
In the past, many people in Clarendon looked to the sugar industry to survive, working at the Monymusk and New Yarmouth estates, both located in Vere. The larger Monymusk remains one of Jamaica's main sugar producers and employs approximately 1,263 persons.
DRIVING FORCE
Calvin Brown, vice-president of operations at the Sugar Company of Jamaica Limited, which operates Monymusk, says sugar remains the driving force of Clarendon's economy. In addition to employment, he says the industry pumps "significant amounts" of money into community development and social programmes.
But Mr. Lambert says a career in sugar is no longer attractive to Clarendon's youth. "The average sugar worker in Clarendon is an old person. There are a few young people but they eventually find work outside," he said.
Frank Hall, 70, is a veteran of the cane fields. He worked at Monymusk as a cane-cutter for over 35 years and still does the fields there as a contract worker. He says the EU's new regime will be the final nail in the coffin for sugar in the parish.
"It going to be difficult 'cause staff a go cut an' mi know a lotta people start fret. Mi nuh know how it a go work out," said the bespectacled senior citizen, surrounded by waist-high bush and sprouting cane. Mr. Hall says he earns $5,000 a fortnight, sometimes less.
Joseph Simmons, a 30-odd year-old from Vere says he has worked in the sugar industry for most of his life, starting out in the fields as a child with his mother. With the EU cuts looming, he sees dark days ahead for sugar workers.
"It a go hurt the workers dem 'cause man start fret already 'cause dem know sey staff haffi cut. Dem a go sey dem short a money an' find all sorta fault an' cut staff."
Mr. Brown says workers at Monymusk have no reason to fear the chop. For now, that is."At this point in time we have not contemplated any staff cuts," he said.
