WASHINGTON: Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Karl Samuda said he has given permission for cement to be imported to the country to address the current shortfall. Samuda said he made the decision to move in this direction following recent discussions with Caribbean Cement Company, the local manufacturer of cement.
Caribbean Cement is also to import the product from its affiliated company, Trinidad Cement Limited. “They indicated that they wish to take measures to alleviate a shortfall due to repair work in their bagging department, and I have given them permission to import from Trinidad and Tobago enough cement that will carry them over this period of repair,” the minister outlined. Caribbean Cement has also suspended cement exports and diverted those supplies to offset the shortage in the local market, especially in western Jamaica. Indications are that the shortage has only affected the retail trade, with commercial customers of the company being unaffected.
