PM Says Port Not Efficient: P.B.L. Fires Back

John Briceño

PM Briceño also commented on B.S.I.’s move to the Big Creek Port. 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Who I think we really need to hold responsible is the Port of Belize. Because the Port of Belize, there is no incentive for them to improve their efficiencies, because the more they charge, the more Port of Belize collects. The Port of Belize gets twenty cents of every dollar that the stevedores collect for the loading of sugar. So, the longer deh tek, the more deh mek. They have not invested in improving their facilities. So, obviously, you have to find another place where you can go and practice cheaper, more effective and more efficient, and more safely. And, that is why the decision was made to go down south.”

In response, C.E.O. at P.B.L., Andy Lane wrote to News Five saying, “We should not expect the PM to be an expert on logistics. The modern sugar loading operation in Big Creek will be semi-automated and not require stevedores.  So to imply that no modernization of P.B.L. is the cause of Stevedores losing work is an oxymoron. P.B.L.’s mid-stream operation should have been far more efficient, but the union ensured that it was not, and that is why the sugar moved south.”