Still No Agreement; Final Attempt to Resolve Impasse in Sugar Industry

The impasse between the sugar cane farmers association and the millers continues. All efforts to come to an agreement ahead of the 2022 sugar crop season have been futile and as we found out today, the Briceño administration is setting down its foot. According to Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai one last attempt will be made to bring the parties to the discussion table for a resolution. If that fails, G.O.B. will take an active decision.

Jose Abelardo Mai

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture

“At the last meeting of the northern caucus where the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association briefed the caucus on the negotiations, the prime minister asked that they meet for a last time, to make an attempt to try to come up with an agreement. I was in a meeting again yesterday with the B.S.C.F.A. and the reports are that that last attempt has failed. So, I was prepared to brief the prime minister today on that meeting. And so, we are back to square one. Nevertheless, the prime minister and the press release from the caucus couple weeks ago stated that there must be an agreement before the end of this month. And so, as I leave this meeting today, I am going to push forward right now to come up with a date that they must sit in a room, and they must come up with something. That is the prime minister’s directive. If that fails, then the government will have to take a more proactive approach to end this situation. It cannot go on forever.”