P.U.P. Northern Caucus Calls for Commission of Inquiry

The 2023 sugar crop commenced earlier this month after much back and forth between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and A.S.R./B.S.I.  Notwithstanding the start of the new season, a commission of inquiry is being requested by the People’s United Party’s northern caucus to determine what transpired that stalled the negotiations between both parties, and to make recommendations to avoid a recurrence.  Prime Minister John Briceño, who is part of the northern caucus, explains.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“They are expressing, or we are expressing because I am a part of the Northern Caucus and we voted in favor of the resolution to saying that these negotiations have gone on for too long and that we are of concern, not only for the cane farmers but also for BSI whom they made a substantial investment in Belize or ASR and also for Belize because the sugar industry continues to be amongst the most important industries in the country.  So we believe now, and a commission of inquiry does not legislate.  The commission of inquiry, what it would do if we go down that road is basically to bring in experts to look at the entire situation and then based on what they find after discussions with all the stakeholders, both the cane farmers, BSI, government and everybody, then they would come with a set of recommendations and then it is for the parties, all three parties: farmers, BSI and government, to look at those recommendations and see where they can be implemented.”