Production of popular beer brands like Guinness and Heineken has come to a temporary halt after Commonwealth Brewery Limited (CBL) sustained severe damage from Hurricane Matthew at its Clifton Pier manufacturing plant.

Until the company receives an assessment report of the damage, production is stalled and employees at the plant do not know when they can return to work.

Corporate Relations Director Dennis Hanna told Guardian Business yesterday that the temporary closure would have some impact on CBL's sales.

"We are looking to see how obviously we can supply the demand for the market.

"We are concerned not just for the sales but we also have consumers and shareholders as well. If you look at the whole picture, yes we are concerned that all those persons are our livelihood and we want to take care of them," he said.

Hanna explained that a damage assessment of the property has been completed but not received by CBL as yet. Therefore, when the plant would re-open is uncertain.

"There has been some substantial damage to the property. However, we already had contractors both locally and some internationally come do an assessment of all the damage at the brewery. The assessment report is complete on the brewery. However, we haven't gotten that report back from the contractors and the persons who did the assessment," said Hanna.

The production plant employs approximately 60 persons.

"They will be coming back but when, I cant say. Once we get the assessment back, it will tell us how long it would take to bring the brewery fully operational and we haven't gotten that yet," said Hanna.

Currently, there are some workers at the property now but not all.

As far as the site is concerned, Hanna said the utilities are in operation.

"There are also contractors with equipment at the brewery that made sure that the property is safe although it is not operational. We have workers there now mainly doing our cleanup."

The brewery's production plant had mainly roof damage and water affected some of the equipment.

"We were more concerned if our staff were safe. Once we went to the building, obviously we have a crisis plan in place where we go by and assess. We did everything possible to make sure the building was safe. We had the building secured two days before the hurricane and staff was let go two days before the hurricane," said Hanna.

CBL also produces Kalik and Vitamalt.

Xian Smith, Guardian Business Reporter

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