Sugar Farmers Reject PM’s Peacekeeping Claim, Demand Real Reforms

We’ve been telling you about the Prime Minister stepping in to manage sugar industry relations; he says his leadership is helping keep the peace and avoid another showdown between cane farmers and the factory. But tonight, the Belize Sugarcane Farmers Association isn’t buying it. They’re challenging that notion, saying talk is cheap and what the industry really needs are real reforms, changes that level the playing field for farmers, millers, and the government. And when we asked if they’d miss former Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai in the mix, their response was… interesting.

 

Alfredo Ortega, Vice-Chairman, Belize Sugarcane Farmers Association

“Yes, it hurt because he was always pushing, even though at the time of his resignation, as he was no longer in charge of sugar. So we really appreciate him as a human being, as a minister. He was always there assisting us. Even though he is – he is only a representative right now, he’s still assisting us whenever he can and we appreciate that. And as the chairman said, we pray that his health be restored as early as possible so that he can come back and get his position that he had before.”

 

 Shane Williams

“How has it impacted the association with the sugar industry? All directly under the Prime Minister’s ministry and Minister of State, Martinez. They claim that they are day-to-day discussing with the farmers and the millers. Has that changed? Helped?”

 

 Alfredo Ortega

“I would want to put it this way. We have not seen changes as yet. Even though we have been asking for changes to happen, not only to be one sided, but changes that the industry will really assist all the players and the players are the farmers, the millers, and the government. So that is what we, as the B-S-E-F-B has been asking, that we would want to see changes That will really put a leveling field that will give us that opportunity. Those changes has not happened.”