BSCFA’s Alfredo Ortega is arrested

Alfredo Ortega

Alfredo Ortega has been the face of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association for years. First as Chairman and now as Vice Chairman, he has been at the fore of negotiations between the BSFCA and the Belize Sugar Industries on payment for bagasse. But tonight, the well-known outspoken cane farmer is in trouble with the law. This afternoon, Ortega was detained and arrested by the Orange Walk police for not paying child support for a son with a woman, who lives in San Pedro. He was detained by the police when he was picking up his sister to hit the campaign trail. The complaint against Ortega is that he is behind in child support payment by eleven thousand dollars. While Ortega refuted that allegation, he paid up over five thousand dollars to avoid overnight detention. It doesn’t escape anyone that Ortega’s troubles with the law coincide with his entry in the political fray. He has launched his candidacy to run for the People’s United Party in the Orange Walk North constituency convention. The incumbent in that division is the powerful Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega.