THE EDITOR, Sir:

We write in response to the letter titled 'More than a pound of flesh' which appeared on your editorial page in The Gleaner of Friday, September 12.

We wish to clarify the following points:

1. The Coffee Industry Board (CIB) is a statutory body which regulates the coffee industry through its core processes of licensing, certification and advisory services. It establishes and monitors the standards by which the industry's affairs are conducted and arranges all shipments of green coffee on behalf of the industry.

2. Prior to 2004 the CIB, in addition its regulatory functions, carried out commercial functions, engaged in farming and purchased, processed and exported coffee.

3. In 2004, in response to a policy directive by the Government, and in the interest of increasing production, the CIB divested all its farms and all other commercial activities and interests to the newly established and government-owned Wallen-ford Coffee Company.

4. The Wallenford Coffee Company is an entirely separate organisation from the CIB and is one of approximately 24 entities licensed by the CIB.

5. Despite the CIB's efforts to educate farmers on the changed role and responsibilities of the CIB, they continue to equate or interchange Wallenford Coffee Company with the CIB, as in the instant case of your writer.

6. The farms and lease agreements referred to by the writer involve the Wallenford Coffee Company and not the CIB. It is misleading and erroneous to state that "The CIB wants to collect the equivalent of five boxes of coffee for lease".

The Coffee Industry Board is sensitive to the farmers' feelings of frustration and despair which have been heightened by the ravages of frequent storms and hurricanes, and has been proactive in working with the Ministry of Agriculture in identifying and providing whatever support is available.

We understand the difficulty farmers are experiencing in adjusting to the new role of the CIB, the CIB having been, for more than 50 years, both regulator and marketer. However, we suggest that the matter of inputs and credit for the leased farms in question be directed to the Wallenford Coffee Company.

I am, etc.,

CHRISTOPHER C.

GENTLES

Director General Coffee

Industry Board