BSCFA Wanted Sugar Industry Under Mai; B.S.I Welcomes the Change 

Among the standout changes Prime Minister John Briceño made when he started his second term was taking charge of the sugar industry himself. Under the previous P.U.P. administration, this sector was managed by the Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai. Now, the PM has taken the reins and appointed Doctor Osmond Martinez as the Minister of State to handle the day-to-day operations. This move seems logical to some, given the recent challenges faced by the sugar industry. While A.S.R./B.S.I. views the PM’s decision positively, the BSCFA is not on board. They were so concerned that they sent a letter to the PM, expressing their dissatisfaction. The association claimed the decision was influenced by an emergency meeting with the ASR Group, a multinational corporation that owns the only sugar mill in northern Belize. They called the move ‘alarming,’ questioning how addressing ASR’s concerns could impact Cabinet portfolio assignments. Ironically, ASR Group officials have previously labeled any government support to farmers as political interference in the sugar industry. Today, we heard perspectives from both sides.

 

Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A

“It entails a lot of economics within the sugar industry, but it’s not only the economics of it. It also entails the daily living of the farmers and their families. So there are many things that it entails within not only the economic side, but also the social side of it, the livelihood of everyone involved in the sugar industry. So we are not against Martinez having that position. What we are looking for is that anyone that is placed in charge within the sugar industry looks forward to transforming the sugar industry into something much better than it is or it was. The recent interview that the prime minister had on Open Your Eyes, I believe where he said that he had to travel to Miami to speak with the A.S.R. group of people. That is where some of the situation arises because we don’t know what compromise he went to give there.”

 

Marion Ali

“Have you as an association reached out to the Prime Minister to ask him for a meeting to discuss what came out of that meeting that he spoke about then?

 

Alfredo Ortega

“ We haven’t sent him a letter before because we didn’t know there would be changes in regards to the portfolio of sugar industry until recently when he announced that, so it took us by surprise. But yes, we are working towards that because even though we send that letter to him, we are saying that we would have preferred Mr. Mai to continue as the Minister of sugar. Nevertheless, we have to respect that decision that he put and yes, we are looking forward to inviting him and Dr. Osmond Martinez to have a meeting with them and to see what is their plan.”

 

Shawn Chavarria, Director of Finance, B.S.I.

“We see it very positive. It’s in a way a welcomed approach because for us, it highlights that at the highest level of government, they see the sugar industry as critical and for us, we take that positively that, you know, the Prime Minister is saying, look, we see as the government, the importance of the sugar industry and the need to try to improve. I think everybody in Belize knows that the industry is struggling. We are struggling because of climate change. We do have commercial issues that continue to bog down the industry, and so the Prime Minister is saying, well, look, we want to bring a lot more focus to this and try to see how we could try to move the industry forward. He has appointed a working group, which we are participating in that is being led by Dr. Marcelino Avila. And already that working group is coming up with some good ideas and suggestions, which we hope can be taken forward. So from that standpoint, we welcome it, and we look forward to working with the Prime Minister and Minister Martinez to see how we could try to move this industry forward.”