Clarke questions Complant deal

Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke is questioning the extent to which the country will benefit from the sale of the government’s sugar assets to Complant International.

This comes after a Gleaner report which indicated that the former finance minister in the previous administration, Audley Shaw, granted a 20-year tax break to the company.

The government sold the Frome, Bernard Lodge and Monymusk sugar estates to Complant in 2010, at a cost of US$9 million or J$774 million.

A July 29, 2010 letter to Complant indicates that the company is receiving tax breaks on general consumption tax, corporate income, withholding tax, customs duty and stamp duty or transfer tax.

In making his contribution to the budget debate this afternoon, the agriculture minister questioned the deal with Complant.

Clarke indicated the country might not benefit in any significant way from the sale of the sugar assets to Complant.

In the meantime, former industry minister and Member of Parliament for St. Andrew North Central, Karl Samuda, this afternoon defended the tax incentive package granted to Complant.

Declaring that there is nothing unusual about the arrangement, Samuda said the incentives were offered so that the country could benefit from the substantial investment.

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