Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai is weighing in after the High Court granted leave to the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association to move forward with their claim against Belize Sugar Industries Limited and Tate & Lyle Sugars. At the heart of the dispute? Unpaid Fairtrade premiums from the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 crop years. Minister Mai spoke openly, he says this is about farmers getting what’s rightfully theirs.
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“It is about money, money owed to the cane farmers an the farmers want their money. I think the ruling states that Tate and Lyle will be a part of it, they were not dismissed. You were a part of it so you have to stay and be a part of it. The matter is in court and I don’t want to discuss it. But the farmers want their money and at a point in time where the fields are in bad shape, the monies could be well implemented in mitigating and battling the effects of fusarium. We have a very low crop, a very low sugar content so the industry is in very bad shape. The farmers are asking for their money. They want their money.”
