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Sugar Road: Adventures in the World of Sugar
Sugar Road is the true story of a boy born on a sugar plantation in Jamaica in the 1930’s, witnessing first-hand the Rum-fueled lifestyle of white plantation owners and the back breaking labour of local Caribbean workers. How, under the noses of Nazi U-Boats, he crossed the Caribbean Sea with his young brother to brave the deprivations of an English Public School in the post-war years.
Then in the heady optimism of the 1960’s, he joined Bookers and progressed up the ranks to become one of the youngest GM’s in the industry, innovating and transforming how the sugar business operated in Africa.
By harnessing the skills and experience of local small farmers at Mumias in Kenya – and later in Somalia – he, alongside a team of committed pioneers and local leaders, created ground-breaking examples of what international cooperation and agricultural development could offer, helping to build strong, equitable communities for generations of Africans.
Along the way he raised a family, was struck by flood, parasites, pestilence and the unwanted attentions of corrupt politicians and dictators. He reveals his mistakes and regrets, the personalities and conflicts of his journey - and ultimately it’s rewards.
In the end, inspite of heartbreak and war, their contribution came to be recognized around the world as an example of the transformative power of agricultural development at its best, created with the well-being of local people at its heart, helping to fulfill the promise of a generation of young men and women who left everything to toil throughout Africa and the Caribbean building the future on Sugar Road.
E. Brian Johnson
Vancouver 2016
Then in the heady optimism of the 1960’s, he joined Bookers and progressed up the ranks to become one of the youngest GM’s in the industry, innovating and transforming how the sugar business operated in Africa.
By harnessing the skills and experience of local small farmers at Mumias in Kenya – and later in Somalia – he, alongside a team of committed pioneers and local leaders, created ground-breaking examples of what international cooperation and agricultural development could offer, helping to build strong, equitable communities for generations of Africans.
Along the way he raised a family, was struck by flood, parasites, pestilence and the unwanted attentions of corrupt politicians and dictators. He reveals his mistakes and regrets, the personalities and conflicts of his journey - and ultimately it’s rewards.
In the end, inspite of heartbreak and war, their contribution came to be recognized around the world as an example of the transformative power of agricultural development at its best, created with the well-being of local people at its heart, helping to fulfill the promise of a generation of young men and women who left everything to toil throughout Africa and the Caribbean building the future on Sugar Road.
E. Brian Johnson
Vancouver 2016
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2016
About the author
Mike Johnson
96 books1 followerLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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