BUSINESS WON'T BE looking so sweet this year for beekeeper Rudy Gibson.

Although Gibson didn't lose any of his expensive Italian bees in a recent fire, he has estimated a loss of nearly 50 to 60 gallons of honey from his farms in St Lawrence, Christ Church, which could be nearly $7 000. One gallon of honey usually costs around $120.

Last Tuesday, smoke and toxic fumes from a nearby fire at Graeme Hall, Christ Church, not only caused the evacuation of hundreds of schoolchildren and residents and the closure of three banks, but adversely affected 60 hives on the two farms Gibson has in the area. He said the smoke had caused the bees to continuously feed on honey in the chambers.

"Just before the fire, I visited the hives and they were loaded with honey. I had to keep changing the chambers because they were filling so quickly, but when I checked them later in the week, they were completely dry" Gibson lamented.

The beekeeper said he knew it would be hard to fulfil his quota this year for those who would be depending on the sweetener.

"Last year that farm gave me about 150 gallons, but I know by the end of the month when I am ready to reap it, it can never be that much," he stated.

Gibson said he would now have to wait until Mangrove Swamp was in bloom again to see if he could satisfy his customers later in the year.

The beekeeper said he had another 75 hives at that location, which would hopefully help him recover some loss. (CT)