FORUM: SUGAR-MECHANIZING OUR LIFE OR DEATH.

Questions for Research

So the idea of research which Sir Sidney Caine is thinking about is good-if it becomes possible at last to see the woods for the trees. It is good too to hear that the SMA is thinking of investing in some research. Their effort 10 far-judged by the value of the industry, the normal comparison – have been woefully neglectful. Diversification has been mentioned as one area of work (and we hope this include alternative uses of sugar). Two of the crucial questions which any serious researchers will want to ask are (a) what is the unavoidable foreign exchange content of planned development and what are the least costly ways to earn this exchange, and (b) what are the consumption plans for the badly under nourished inhabitants of the island. The first is necessary to assess how much weight really has to be given to the sugar industry in its foreign exchange earning capacity. (This is a matter which some commentators in Jamaica seem to not realize is of considerably greater importance to Cuba than Jamaica (with, its bauxite-alumina and tourism dollar earnings) given the former’s narrow alternatives for getting hold of convertible currency). The second is necessary to assess how much land it is socially economic to keep in sugar cane. Both questions take us well past the threshold of the Sugar Industry.

Unfortunately, the researchers will have to begin by asking the Minister of Finance and Planning to initiate the work to provide answers to questions such as these. Currently such questions form no part of development planning in Jamaica. We are likely to find that with a “rational” approach to the use of foreign exchange the premium attached to it and therefore to the sugar industry is not as high as we are led to believe. It may be found too that Jamaica may need to increase by some three to four times the land in domestic agriculture, particularly in animal protein foodstuffs.

Sir Sidney Caine in London could begin by asking Tate & Lyle how the West Indian end of the industry could be “integrated” with the refining, shipping and planned molasses based industries in Europe. A small “loss” here with a big profit there would be quite agreeable to most West Indians. Sir Peter Runge with a yearly net profit of US $14 million behind him should be able to provide some very interesting and profitable answers. Sir Robert Kirkwood in Kingston might want to tell us how the average non-labour costs of the industry could be reduced.

Geneva,

April, 1969