Sugar exports to Europe

This concerns the proposal for a feasibility study on the production of refined and white sugar in Jamaica. If the production is for the local market, sure go ahead, but if the production is for export to the European market, then I think there is a huge mismatch between what Jamaica thinks Europe wants and what Europe really wants. The fact is that white sugar, from fine to coarse, is much cheaper than brown sugar in Central Europe. Brown sugar is the premium product and is used sparingly because it is expensive.

So if the government wants to compete against European white sugar, go ahead; it just appears more sensible to produce quality brown sugar and sell it at the premium price or at the least assess what the market really wants.

- G. Schwartz,Geb.schwartz@gmail.com Vienna, Austria

Death of manufacturing

Gone are the days when members of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA) employed thousands of Jamaicans at liveable wages. Instead we now have low-end fast food joints, sweat shops, and hotel service sector jobs.

We have a sugar industry but no high-end jobs in sugar refining; there were no computer assembly jobs, no pharmaceutical manufacturing and clinical development jobs, no oil trading and price discovery centre jobs, no cellular phone assembly plant jobs, etc. No wonder the central bank governor Derick Latibeaudiere was able to chide Omar Azan publicly by referring to his suggestions on foreign exchange as nonsense.

Latibeaudiere is an erudite, sophisticated central bank governor and among the highest paid in the world. Bruce Golding's failure to 'change course' and kick out these overpaid underperformers because of fears of market jitters has led to the deepening of the financial crisis.

- Mark Clarke, mark clarke9@yahoo.com, Siloah PO, St Elizabeth

Well done Mills, Bolt

I must congratulate coach Glen Mills and his charge (Usain Bolt) on their effort to provide the fans with some excitement at the Gibson Relays on Saturday. Some of us travelled home to recapture our youthful days of being at the track for the official opening of the track season. To see Usain run in two races when he could have easily ran only one was delightful. I am pleased to see that an athlete can be that selfless and respectful of his country and supporters. This young man has grown in my admiration and no doubt at the end of his career he will go down as one of the best our country has seen.

- Chelsea Greenrosebushricegrain@yahoo.com