The Fanjuls Sugar

[AlterEgo]

Fortune.com yesterday

U.S. finally takes action on Dominican sugar over claims of forced labor: 'We’ve been asking for improvements for decades'

The U.S. said Wednesday it will detain all imports of sugar and related products that Central Romana Corp. makes in the Dominican Republic.

fortune.com

From the article: “Sugarcane workers also have organized several protests this year to demand permanent residencies after working for decades in the Dominican Republic, which is now cracking down on Haitian migrants under Abinader in a move that has drawn heavy international criticism.”

I’m seeing a pattern here. They’re trying to whip the DR into shape. I say they’re interfering in another government’s immigration policy.

 

[playacaribe2]

Fortune.com yesterday

U.S. finally takes action on Dominican sugar over claims of forced labor: 'We’ve been asking for improvements for decades'

The U.S. said Wednesday it will detain all imports of sugar and related products that Central Romana Corp. makes in the Dominican Republic.

fortune.com

The US only imports 15% of its sugar needs and approximately 17% of that 15% comes from the DR.

Sugar is a commodity and can be easily bought/sold/acquired elsewhere.

While an inconvenience, it hardly qualifies as a policy with any real bite.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[Yourmaninvegas]

Central Romana simply sells into another market.

End of story...

I do not think it is retaliation.
It is a state sovereignty issue.

 

[Kipling333]

The US only imports 15% of its sugar needs and approximately 17% of that 15% comes from the DR.

Sugar is a commodity and can be easily bought/sold/acquired elsewhere.

While an inconvenience, it hardly qualifies as a policy with any real bite.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

Slightly more than an inconvenience who may soon have no money to buy food .

 

[Kipling333]

There is some very good news ...Yesterday , many employees of La Romana Central received, suddenly, the biggest bonus they have ever had. Although some Government people were interviewing employees about grievances , so things are moving forward. Please do not ask me more because I know no more .

 

[cavok]

There are hundreds of machines in all the cane fields around la Romana. When you say all the workers do you mean the mechanics, the truck and tractor drivers, the people processing the cane , the maintenance crews or do you mean just the cane cutters. I do not believe that La Romana Central or the Vicini family employee men to cut the cane through some form of charitable feeling . It is an economic decision where cheap labour is better for company profits than a machine cutting the cane .

That's only true for now. The fact that there are machines now should speak for itself. The current machines only work on fairly level ground. As better, more efficient, machines are made, and as demands for better pay and working conditions increase, the incentive to employ manual labor will go down and the incentive to buy machines - up.

I'd be willing to bet that, in another 20 years, there will be very few Haitians cutting cane. This is a problem for unskilled workers everywhere. They have a very bleak future.

 

[cavok]

Simple solution, the processed food industry stops putting sugar in absolutely EVERYTHING........ but nope, very powerful lobby.

Fine with me. I only use Splenda!

 

[bob saunders]

I believe it.
Keep your bridge (especially if you don't hold title to it).
A denial is not proof.
This a free market system.
La Romana Central is free to sell to the entire world.
They are not being forced to do business in the 🇺🇲 .

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2021/central-romana-tax-haven-south-dakota/

N

 

[mountainannie]

Years back there was a documentary on sugar cane workers in the DR ....... not viewable when in the DR, as in blocked. ....... suspicious ? lol


Also years back, touring the island in our pick-up, we ended up someplace or other that had old railroads ( not many trains in the DR ), and i dont recall the exact circumstances, but a bunch of random guys--- as not military or PN--; pulled up and told us not to film/take pictures, can you believe.
Well they should have asked and not told and would have missed out on an earful from the wife🤣🤣🤣🤣

Is it still blocked

 

[JD Jones]

No.

 

[bob saunders]

Is it still blocked

Is it still blocked

If you (Malko) were trespassing on private property (and by your description you were) the security people had a right to tell you not to film/take pictures.

 

[mountainannie]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hartley

 

[mountainannie]

Note that the movie is about the Vincinis - who are Dominicans - not the Fanjuls - who are American/Spanish citizens..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanjul_brothers

 

[mountainannie]

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/11/24/Biden-CBP-Central-Romana-Domino/7551669305312/

 

[bob saunders]

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/11/24/Biden-CBP-Central-Romana-Domino/7551669305312/

The Fanjuls only own 35%

 

[mountainannie]

From the article: “Sugarcane workers also have organized several protests this year to demand permanent residencies after working for decades in the Dominican Republic, which is now cracking down on Haitian migrants under Abinader in a move that has drawn heavy international criticism.”

I’m seeing a pattern here. They’re trying to whip the DR into shape. I say they’re interfering in another government’s immigration policy.

Yes - I think that the US is indeed sending a message to the DR - asking to stop or at least slow down what is being reported as a recent sorta deportation "sweep" of Haitians in the DR.

Central Romana is a US corporation even though it has operations in the DR. The US Embassy states that it has had reports of its citizens being detained ... https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...s-warns-black-visitors-of-extra-scrutiny-risk

The DR is asking for the international community to "help" with Haiti. Then it uproots the Haitians living and working in the DR and deports them at the rate reported to be about 600 a day. Now reports are circulating about children https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/...blic-has-expelled-1800-children-back-to-haiti. (there is a push here in the US to allow all Haitian to qualify for TPS -temporary protected status)

The stance by the Dominican President may make him very popular with his people. Not so much on the world stage.

Reports coming from Haiti are that the Haitians have closed their border at Ouanaminthe and Dominicans have not been able to sell -- I have not tracked that story from the Dominican side.

 

[mountainannie]

The Fanjuls only own 35%

source?

 

[keepcoming]

source?

Citing 'forced labor', Dominican sugar company banned from importing to US. sugar barons in Florida

Central Romana, one of the biggest sugar producers in the world, will now be banned from exporting sugar to the U.S., after the Biden Administration said it has information “that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in its operations."

wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu

"The politically connected Fanjul family — a family of sugar barons based in West Palm Beach — own a 35% stake in the company."

 

[keepcoming]

The high human cost of America's sugar habit

Low pay, chemical exposure, and a life of debt.

www.motherjones.com

This is an interesting article. I have seen/read this before.

 

[bob saunders]

The high human cost of America's sugar habit

Low pay, chemical exposure, and a life of debt.

www.motherjones.com

This is an interesting article. I have seen/read this before.

Apparently there is exactly the same complaints in south Africa about the sugar cane companies.