…And vegetable importers blame minister
We also found importers disgruntled at having to pay up to two hundred and ten dollars for the hundred pound sack of potatoes. The twenty-two members of the Belize Vegetable Importers Association, who did not get their permits renewed, say the price hikes result from a recent decision made by the Ministry of Agriculture. Representative, Ana Uk, told News Five that the permits were granted to a person not engaged in the business.
Ana Uk, Representative, Belize Vegetables Importers
“License have been taken away from we and given to somebody weh does not import vegetables in Belize and this is the first time he is getting this license for potatoes and lettuce and we want to know why the other importers can’t get it. The potatoes and the lettuce brings more profits to we importers right now. We understand that when they got our local product we support fi we farmers and start in the month of June they open license for everything; potato, carrots, beets, broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce. We accept that weh things Belize di produce we can’t get it but right now, no potato and lettuce in Belize. And right now only two persons di get it—two or one person di get it and then that person is coming with a high price with a two hundred and four dollars for the sack of potato. We have to retail for two-fifty, two-seventy-five a pound. He brings lettuce Monday for seventy-five dollars a box, when usually lettuce is fifty dollars for a box.”
Duane Moody
“But why would they give it to someone that doesn’t know anything about the business, about the trade.”
Ana Uk
“Well, I think that Mr. Montero di run this lone political things and he di discriminate all ah we because Cayo people need fi eat, Belize need fi eat, Orange Walk and Corozal need fi eat too.”
According to Uk, the association has been importing vegetables from Mexico for over fifteen years. And in respect of the new holder of the licenses to import potato and lettuce, Uk claims it has been given to a resident of Seven Miles Community in Cayo.
