The economy of Westmoreland, which depends so much on the sugar industry, is in extreme distress at the moment. The lack of news regarding the Government's divestment deal with Infinity and the non-payment of the redundancy have left many cane workers, their dependants and the businesses in Westmoreland in extreme disarray.

Illicit cane fires can be seen lighting up the night sky in recent nights as angry and desperate cane cutters seek work. For those unfortunate cane farmers whose farms get burned out, they lose everything as the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) has not yet begun to accept cane. The factory has yet to start the crop, despite all the promises.

The SCJ and the Government now have to deal with factories that have been inadequately prepared or maintained for the crop and a work-force that is disillusioned.

Cheap fertiliser

There has been no further word on the ill-fated deal for cheap fertiliser nor the clarification on who is accountable and responsible for the funds (US$1.4 million) sent to New York. Who will eventually pay for all this mess?

I surmise that, as always, it will fall on the ever-burdened taxpayer; that 20 per cent (or whatever the true figure is) of the population which actually pay taxes.

So as Rome burns, Nero fiddles. How much did we spend on fireworks?

I am, etc.,

ANDREW WILLIAMS

apwillia@cwjamaica.com

Savanna-la-mar