B&B Disappointed with G.O.B. Over Corona Importation

Belize’s biggest brewery, Bowen and Bowen, has expressed disappointment with the Government of Belize for granting a permit to another private company to import ten thousand cases of Corona beer from Mexico. And while the PM says it’s to meet growing demands, B&B says they do not have a shortage of beers. Today the company’s Corporate Relations Manager, Rosanna Villanueva, spoke with us on the matter.

 

On the phone: Rosanna Villanueva, Corporate Relations Manager, Bowen & Bowen Ltd.

“It came to our attention recently as well, and I mean, I can’t express how deeply disappointed we are at what seems to be some sort of shift in policy, Marion. For us at Bowen and Bowen. it seems to us that there’s no effort being made to protect Belizean industry with a move like this. We – you know, if you try to cross the border to Mexico with even one case of beers, you’ll have to pour it out. And the reason for that is that the Mexican government is protecting its industries. So, for us, it just seems as though there’s the lack of, of that passion to protect Belizean industry as well.  As well, we’ve heard one of the rationales for this is something about supplying the tourist industry, which that makes no – there’s no logic in that, because if someone comes to Belize to visit Belize, they want to drink a Belizean beer, they’re not going to want to drink a Mexican beer. So, that doesn’t make any sense to us. It’s just very disappointing that something like this has even been considered, or, you know, seems to be happening at this point. There’s no shortage. A couple months ago, we did have production issues, which, you know, we were very open with the media. We shared that with the media what we were dealing with, but our supply has stabilized. We have all our beers being produced in the market.  So there’s no shortage as such right now. If it’s a matter of variety, Bowen and Bowen produces a wide range of beer brands. We also import some beers from CARICOM. So it’s not a matter of lacking variety or anything in the country. But yes, we are supplying the country. Our beers are being produced, so there is no shortage.”