news 47
WEEK ENDING March 8, 2015 | guyanatimeSinternational.com
Return of RAW Corban
S
atiricus sighed with delight. After more than five years off the scene – political, social and otherwise – the announcement that RAW Corban was going to be back on the hustings warmed the cockles of his heart. The theatre scene in Guyana wasn’t very vibrant, if the truth be told. But every five years – excepting when the Pee-an-See riot in the streets and upset the schedules – elections provided enough theatre to last more than a decade…much less five years. But ever since Corban had handed off the baton to GrainJa things had really gotten deadly dull. Satiricus had always wondered about that handing over. Of course, there had been calls for Corban to go… that he had lost the fire in his belly. Some had even dared to suggest that Corban had sold out!! His explanation that he was trying to change his image (and the Pee-an-See’s) didn’t play well. There were mean mutterings about leopards not being able to change their spots and such like. One well-placed comrade said that Corban had become seduced by his position at the helm of the Pee-an-See and was beginning to think he was a BurntHam or Hite. He forgot he was only given the spot because all his middle-class comrades thought he was the man to manners that uppity PPCEE. Jagdesh had given them the spunks to actually challenge the Pee-an-See in the streets??!! That was Pee-an-See’s territory and street Corban would show them!! He would deal with them “condignly” – as the Comrade Leader used to say. Corban had earned his stripes when he was just a kid…taking care of business for Robert Jordan during the ethnic cleansing of Wismar. Once a sidekick of Green Ham, he had vaulted that old duffer with his vicious inside moves. But Satiricus had to confess that Corban hadn’t been the Corban of old after Jagdesh had whupped him in 2006. Seemed to have defanged him. “But hold it!” thought Satiricus. “Maybe that’s why Corban had handed off to GrainJa! He knew after three years, GrainJa was going to look like Rambo!” And now Corban was back on the campaign trail. Maybe he’d been laying low to grow back some fangs? Or had some inserted. Unfortunately, his old nemesis Jagdesh was also back!! Satiricus rubbed his hands thinking of JagdeshCorban II. Jagdesh was going to wipe the floor with him again!
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
Cocoa industry returning to path of growth in Jamaica K
INGSTON, JAMAICA: Battered by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the island’s cocoa industry is slowly returning to a path of growth. Secretary Manager at the Cocoa Industry Board (CIB), Leroy Grey says the industry returned to positive growth during the 2013-2014 crop year with a 10 per cent increase. He notes that production moved from 400 metric tonnes in 2013 to 440 metric tonnes in 2014. He attributes the growth mainly to the Government’s post-Sandy injection of Ja$13 million to assist farmers with fertilizer and rehabilitation. “To ensure that the sector maintains a growth path, the CIB also gives sustained technical, advisory and extension services to farmers,” Mr. Grey tells JIS News. He further states that under a project sponsored by the European Union (EU) two years ago, 250,000 seedlings were guaranteed to assist farmers. However, that has been exceeded and to date, over 350,000 seedlings have been disbursed for rehabilitation and new planting, he says. “We average 500 metric tonnes per year, earning some Ja$225 million, unfortunately we are coming from a situation when we used to produce some 2500 metric tonnes 20 years ago,” he says. Mr. Grey also informs that an estimated 6000 registered farmers engage in cocoa farming across the country with 90 percent being small farmers, while adding that he wants this number to expand. He explains that there are plans to get back into the school gardens through the 4-H Clubs, by providing technical and advisory support, so that the youth can get interested in planting cocoa. Jamaica produces cocoa beans and the CIB purchases the beans from farmers in the wet form, which is then put through a process called fermentation where it is dried under controlled conditions in preparations for export. The parishes that are heavily involved in cocoa farming are Portland, St. Mary, St. Catherine, with Clarendon being the largest producer. These parishes enjoy conditions
Cocoa pods: Jamaican cocoa is considered to be among the best in the world. Battered by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the island’s cocoa industry is slowly returning to a path of growth.
that are conducive to cocoa farming. The plant takes five to seven years to come into full bearing, but has a life span of 30 years. It is one of the easiest crops to grow, reap and market. The country is looking to create the foundation for a modern, viable cocoa industry that will flourish and attract new investors, enhance
rural livelihoods, encourage self-employment and maximize Jamaica’s opportunity to continue receiving a premium price for the product on the world market. A signatory to the 17-member International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), Jamaica is one of eight countries recognized as a producer of fine or flavoured cocoa. Jamaican
cocoa is of premium quality, which means that the locally grown crop is used as a spice to give flavour to cocoa that is produced in other parts of the world. “We produce exclusive fine or flavoured cocoa, which is not returned to Jamaica in cocoa powder form but in premium chocolate,” Mr. Grey informs. Currently, the island exports 98 percent of its cocoa to Europe, Japan and the United State of America. Reports show that during the 2011-2012 crop years, the sector experienced an increase of 190 per cent growth in production which moved from 215 to 650 metric tonnes. However, 20122013 was negatively impacted by Hurricane Sandy, as a result there was a 49 percent decline in 2013. The sector was also adversely affected by drought. The Cocoa Industry Board is the sole marketing agent for Jamaican cocoa. Processing normally takes place at the four fermentaries located in the parishes of Hanover, Clarendon, St. Mary and Kingston. (JIS)