Gov’t Provides $200 Million To Assist Cane Farmers In St. Thomas

• The Government will be providing $200 million to assist sugar-cane farmers in St. Thomas, who have been negatively affected by the closure of the Golden Grove Sugar Factory. The Golden Grove Sugar Factory was closed in 2019 by manufacturing company Seprod, which took over the business in 2009 with the hope of reviving the ailing sugar operation.
• Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, made the announcement during a meeting with the farmers, at the factory located in Duckenfield on Friday (January 24).
• Minister Shaw noted that the funds are to be used for the planting of new crops, given that the demand for sugar cane has decreased.
• He advised them to present their plans to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), which will share those plans with the Ministry.

(Source: JIS)