Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
OVER 20,000 coffee farmers, seething at the delay by the collapsed Dyoll Insurance Company in paying them overdue insurance money, may finally know their fate this weekend following an impromptu meeting yesterday with Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies.
After initially refusing to see the farmers, the minister met with a delegation at his National Heroes Circle office where over 100 farmers, many from the coffee-rich region of St. Andrew, St. Thomas and Portland, had staged protest action from as early as 9:00 a.m.
The farmers say they are owed over US$3 million (J$195 million) in insurance funds, for losses suffered during Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. They have asked the Government to advance the money in the form of a loan and recover the amount later. However, the Government has said it is unable to do so.
Derrick Simon, who operates a six-hectare farm in Brandon Hill, St. Andrew, was one of the 14 farmers who met with Dr. Davies. He said the minister promised a response to their two-part proposal by this weekend.
"We delivered a letter requesting the dispersing of US$2.7 million to the farmers or an advance of 50 per cent of that request," Mr. Simon told The Gleaner. "When the court issue is resolved the Government will be compensated."
The matter will be heard in the Supreme Court next month where the latest round in the 18-month battle between the farmers and insurers will take place.
MONEY PUT ASIDE
President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Senator Norman Grant, said approximately US$3.5 million in insurance funds owed to the farmers is being held at a 'reputable bank'. It cannot be dispersed to the over 20,000 coffee farmers until the liquidation case involving the failed Dyoll Insurance Company is resolved.
Senator Grant said the coffee industry lost US$18 million (J$1.17 billion) when Hurricane Ivan hit Jamaica in September 2004. Most of the damage was done to properties in St. Andrew, St. Thomas and Portland, where the Blue Mountain region is located.
Because the farmers paid insurance through the Coffee Industry Board to Dyoll, they received no government assistance. Coffee farming is Jamaica's third largest agricultural earner of foreign exchange behind bananas and sugar. Senator Grant said it earns US$45 million annually.
