Jamaica News, January 20, 2018
Kingston, Jamaica (Mckoy’s News) – Brass Export Restricted: Jamaican authorities uncovered the theft of brass sugar mill bearings estimated at more than JMD$16 million, from the Worthy Park Sugar Factory in St. Catherine – leading to the Minister of Industry, Karl Samuda invoking an order of re-inspection of all scrap metal containers that were packed for export after December 21, 2017.
In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture noted that this is the second major theft of brass bearings from a sugar factory since 2013. The first incident took place at the Monymusk factory in Clarendon.
The Industry Minister said that he has taken action to reviewed the scrap metal regime in face of the ongoing threat of theft posed to sugar the Jamaica factories. He emphasized the need to recover the stolen brass bearings and tighten regulations governing the export of brass as a scrap metal.
Brass Export Restricted: Karl Samuda has now ordered that brass is included as a restricted item under regulations governing the export of scrap metal.
The Seventy-Four (74) brass bearings, valued at JMD$16.5 million, were stolen from the Worthy Park Sugar Factory, in the parish of St Catherine between December 22, 2017, and January 11, 2018.
A joint force of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaican Customs Agency and Factories Corporation of Jamaica, investigating the theft. While sites that export scrap metals are on high alert for the sightings of brass.
