Team heading for Cuba to cement deal

Team heading for Cuba to cement deal
published: Tuesday | May 9, 2006

Edmond Campbell and Tyrone Reid, Gleaner Reporters

A DELEGATION led by chief technical director in the Ministry of
Development, Dennis Morrison, is to leave the island on Thursday for
Cuba to make final arrangements for the importation of cement to ease
the current shortage.

The latest development in the cement saga comes as the Opposition
Jamaica Labour Party calls on Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to
intervene immediately to address the ongoing crisis.

Senator Shirley Williams, Opposition Spokesman on Industry, Commerce and
Investment, charged that every aspect of the construction sector was
currently paralysed by the chronic shortage of cement, resulting in
thousands of persons being laid off and contractors and developers
facing "financial disaster".

Ms. Williams' remarks, at least in part, have been corroborated by
Raymond Cooper, vice-president of the Incorporated Masterbuilders
Association of Jamaica (IMAJ). He told The Gleaner yesterday that the
industry was still in severe turmoil because no bagged cement is
available. "We have not got any bagged cement for the last few days," he
lamented.

Mr. Cooper said imports promised by the Government should have reached
the island already. "It should have been here by now."

NEW SHIPMENT TO COME

He revealed that several projects islandwide have stalled because the
cement-starved industry is only getting bulk cement. "The situation is
still unsatisfactory and something must be done," he said.

However, Information Minister Colin Campbell told journalists at
yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House that 24,000
tonnes of cement will be imported in three batches over the next three
months. The shipments will arrive in May, June and July.

Government had announced that 64,000 tonnes of cement would be shipped
from Cuba to supply the local market.

The balance of 40,000 tonnes, in the form of bulk cement, will be
imported at a later date, according to the Information Minister.

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