Citrus shipped to Europe from Commerce Bight
Despite depressed world prices and some technical glitches in the early months of this year’s fruit processing, there is cautious optimism in southern Belize over the future of the citrus industry. Officials are predicting a record crop of six point two million boxes of orange and grapefruit, markets are being opened in Europe and the new owner of the two citrus processing companies, Britain’s CDC, is said to have pockets deep enough to ride out the lean periods in what is traditionally a boom or bust industry. On Monday, there was more good news: the inauguration of dedicated shipping service between Europe and the under-used Stann Creek port of Commerce Bight. The “Idorene Reefer” and its sister ship will provide regular twice monthly service to the citrus industry and the use of the strategically located pier will result in significant savings which will be passed on to both growers and processors. News Five was on hand for the inaugural shipment and spoke to Ports Commissioner Captain John Watson.
Capt. John Watson, Ports Commissioner
“As the country develops, yes, the country’s going to need ports and strategically the way the ports are placed at the moment seems to be in the right areas to support the local industries. For instance where we stand today is an absolute perfect spot for the citrus industry and that’s why we have been looking at doing something with this port, improving it, for the past few months.”
Stewart Krohn
The ship that’s here now, the “Idorene Reefer”, it is my understanding that it can’t take a full load of citrus concentrate because she’ll scrape the bottom, that the port needs some dredging. It is your recommendation that the money be invested to dredge the out the port?
John Watson
“I think the question that you ask is much, much wider than you probably realize. I think what the port need to do is to stand back and have a real good look at the potential of Dangriga. I just happen to believe that Dangriga has huge potential, so the exercise you speak of is a little more than dredging. And of course we would like to see ships coming in here with maximum draft possible and there is a lot of deep water between this place and English Caye Channel, up to forty feet.”
Although the bulk of citrus exports will ship via Commerce Bight, the banana boats at Big Creek will still be used for some deliveries to Europe. Additional shipments to the U.S. will go from the port at Belize City. Captain Watson said that in December the Port Authority saw record revenues and he believes that continued economic development will justify improvements in all four of Belize’s ports: Belize City, Commerce Bight, Big Creek and Punta Gorda.
