Agriculture Department seeks U.S. support

A delegation of Belizeans has returned from Washington where they sought U.S. support for a proposed European banana agreement. The four-member team, led by Minister of Agriculture Dan Silva, formed part of a CARICOM delegation led by Prime Minister Edison James of Dominica. While the U.S. still objects to the proposal by the European Union under which African, Caribbean and Pacific bananas would receive preferential access, according to a Belize government release, the U.S. repeated its position that it would not harm the Caribbean’s interests. The CARICOM delegates met with U.S. trade representative Sharlene Barshefsky, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and senior state department officials. Accompanying Silva were Belize’s ambassador to the United States, James Murphy, diplomat Jose Alpuche and Said Flores of the Banana Growers Association. Under the proposed arrangement with Europe, Belizean banana growers would be able to significantly expand production and increase the efficiency of the industry.