Minister Martinez: ‘Everyone Thought the Sugar Industry Would Collapse’

With the opening of the sugar factory now set for January 19th, Minister of Economic Development Osmond Martinez says Belize’s sugar industry has moved from the brink of collapse to cautious recovery.

“When you really think about the sugar industry maybe five, six months ago, everyone would have thought that the industry was going to collapse and disappear,” Martinez said. 

A one-year extension of the Commercial Agreement is expected to stabilize the sector and restore confidence for thousands who depend on sugar for their livelihoods.

Martinez praised negotiations with the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) as “smooth” and unprecedented, saying the parties found a “mid-ground.”

“This recovery has been possible thanks to collaboration among farmers, the mill, and government support,” he added.

And the projected numbers back up the optimism. “The production now will be much higher than last year, maybe at 10 to 15%, and the quality of the cane will be much better,” Martinez added.

Looking ahead, the government is making a major investment to secure the industry’s future. “Through five Cs [Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre], we are investing $50 million into the sugar industry. This grant from the Green Climate Fund will allow us to retire old cane and replant about 10,000 acres,” he said.