B.S.I. Doing its Part to Hinder Sugar Smuggling  

As we previously clarified, Belize is not currently experiencing a sugar shortage. However, the illicit sale of Belize’s sugar outside of the local market continues to be a detriment to the industry. Distributors have attempted to limit the frequency of sugar contrabanding by limiting the amount that one family is able to purchase at a time. According to the Communications Officer of Belize Sugar Industries, William Neal, producers have also taken steps to prevent the occurrence by eliminating third-party distributors. Neal spoke with News Five to explain that even with the precautions taken by the company, it is in the hands of law enforcement to further control the issue. Here’s more on that.

 

William Neal, Communications Officer, B.S.I.

“Based on what we were seeing the wholesalers were being accused of being the ones who were actually leading the charge when it comes to contraband across the borders. So we made some changes in terms of the way that it’s done. And we thought that would alleviate that situation in terms of making sure that the stores themselves are supplied. And so we did that directly. As the Minister of Agriculture said in his statement, interview. It’s a matter of enforcement now. And they are making some changes that we hope will ensure that the sugar destined for the domestic market is indeed utilized and available by members of the Belizean public. Because that’s what it is designed for, that the domestic sugar be consumed locally. Of course, we’d like to eliminate this smuggling. Belize has a controlled market for sugar. So the prices are lower and that’s the incentive that gives any person, any business person who wants to do an illegal act because it is illegal to contraband it to one of the neighboring countries. We have made some adjustments internally to better manage that, but still and also to reduce some of the areas of grey where there might not be visibility as to what is happening with the sugar. Going directly to the stores themselves, we are hoping that you’ll no longer have that confusion and that the relevant authorities will then do the necessary enforcement to make sure that the sugar that is being purchased for domestic use is made available to customers here in Belize for their consumption and therefore we don’t have any more shortages apparent or otherwise.”