Jose Mai: “Load the trucks and get the cattle out.”
Prime Minister John Briceño promised that if the People’s United Party won the election, livestock producers will be able to export their cattle to Guatemala almost immediately. Jose Mai of Orange Walk South, who has been fighting in support of the livestock industry, says that it is important to return to the exportation of cattle to Guatemala which was halted months ago. He says this needs to be done in order to generate foreign exchange and create jobs. Mai explains that the agriculture section must receive the same focus as given to the tourism industry.
Jose Mai, Area Representative, Orange Walk South
“As we were driving up to Belmopan a while ago, I got some texts asking us if they can export cattle and my response to them was, yes. Load the trucks and get the cattle out. We need to export a hundred times more than what we had been exporting in the past. We need to create foreign exchange earnings. We need to create employment. We need to generate income for families, for famers. So my response to them yes the cattle can leave as early as this minute. That is our commitment to the farmer. That is our commitment to the private sector and we will honour it. The cattle must go. We have been selling to the Guatemalan market for many. There had been no major restrictions on the Guatemalan part and if there are restriction on the Guatemalan part that is a Guatemalan problem. It is not the Belizean problem.”
Jose Mai
Reporter
“Now sir, if you are as expected to be named Minster of Agriculture and that is the prerogative the Prime Minister, we understand that, but if that were to be the case how will the PUP handle it with spending and focusing on the productive sector as oppose to primary emphasis in the tourism sector or in infrastructure even.”
Jose Mai
“There is a lot of money out there right now for agriculture. Climate Change has brought a lot of opportunities for us to capitalize on financing and we will not shun or we will not care less for tourism but tourism and agriculture can go hand in hand. Tourists eat, tourists drink. Tourists eat processed foods. We can make it in Belize. The farmers can produce. The farmers can process and we can supply it the tourism market. Wherever there is a strong tourism market agriculture should be strong too because these people consume food.”
