KINGSTON, March 19 (Reuters) - Jamaica's largest bauxite and alumina producing company, Alumina Partners of Jamaica, will suspend operations in May due to the global economic crisis and flagging demand.

The move, announced in a statement from Alpart Managing Director Alberto Fabrini late Wednesday, will mean layoffs for 900 full-time workers.

"We were faced with no choice but to suspend operations effective May 15, due to the worsening alumina market," said Fabrini.

The company said the closure will last a year.

Jamaica-based West Indies Alumina Co, known as Windalco, also announced plans to shutter its bauxite and alumina operations in the Caribbean nation. But unlike Alpart, Windalco agreed with trade unions to keep furloughed workers on its payroll.

"There has been a 60 percent decline in the company's production since July of last year. Despite our efforts to reduce cost and keep workers in their jobs, we have not been successful," Fabrini said.

Alpart, which has been operating in Jamaica for 40 years, is located in the southwest parish of St. Elizabeth. The company, which has a capacity to produce 1.65 million tonnes of alumina, is owned by Russian aluminum giant UC Rusal and Norsk Hydro Aluminum of Norway. (Reporting by Horace Helps; Editing by Tom Brown)