P.U.P. Issues Statement on State of Sugar Industry Deliberations

The People’s United Party has issued a statement in respect of the developments in the sugar industry. The party says the B.S.I./A.S.R. decision to bypass the B.S.C.F.A. is unprecedented and does not augur well for the viability of the industry.  The opposition also notes that there is an absence of participation by the government.  In respect of the proposed agreement, the P.U.P. says if accepted it would decide ownership of the sugar cane and effectively strip the cane farmer of negotiating rights. That aside; it would also set a precedent for the future of the industry in which the cane farmers would be relegated to the status of mere cane cutters.  And according to the opposition, a future P.U.P. government would ensure that the sugar cane is unequivocally owned by the cane farmer;  maximum participation of Belizeans in the marketing of the sugar and all by-products of the sugar cane and that  the three parties concerned—Government, cane farmer and BSI/ASR, should have maximum participation in the industry.