On 7th July, Noranda is auctioning its “Downstream Business” (four rolling mills), and on 22nd September, 2016 it will be auctioning its “Upstream Business”, which includes its assets in St. will sell its St Ann bauxite mining assets. I hope the Government will recognize this, and do the right thing by the people of Cockpit Country – and Jamaica.Īs part of its Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings in the USA, Noranda Aluminum Inc. My broader question is: What, really, is the future of the bauxite industry in Jamaica? Could the Jamaican Government please explore more sustainable businesses, on the way to developing a green economy? That is the way of the future. We shall see how closely the Government watched the company’s declaration of its assets (it plans to actively object if there are outstanding liabilities and to ensure that any of these are transferred to the new buyer) and whether it has really taken the concerns of Jamaicans to heart. There has been a lot of “back and forth” she emphasized, with “several meetings” taking place.

State Minister for Finance Fayval Williams has responded in a radio interview by saying that the Government has laid a number of concerns back “on the table.” These include money owed to employees (totaling nearly US$3 million), land reclamation, claims by residents, and the millions of US Dollars that Noranda owes the Government. Minister of State in the Finance Ministry Fayval Williams. This is a complex issue that the previous administration left hanging in limbo for many months, prior to the February general election. Among them is the need for the Holness administration to make a decision on the “boundaries” of Cockpit Country. On Wednesday, July 6 the Windsor Research Centre, situated just on the edge of Cockpit Country, issued a press release regarding the current state of Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partnership Limited, whose past (and quite recent) activities have negatively impacted residents of the area.The release by Mike Schwartz – a fierce advocate for the people and the precious ecosystem of Cockpit Country – asks several critical questions that need to be answered.

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