Government Says It Won’t Nationalize the Sugar Industry; Sets Up Sub-Committee

The Government Press Office issued a press release in which it outlined, quite like Florencio Marin Senior indicated earlier, that Cabinet met with representatives of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association in January. Today, it was A.S.R./B.S.I’s representatives who made a presentation to Cabinet on a commercial agreement that is yet to be signed between the two disputing parties. Cabinet indicated that it is resolute that it will not nationalize the sugar industry and will instead try to get the two sides to work together for the best interest of the industry. G.O.B’s press release states, “Having heard from both sides of the issue, the cane farmers and the millers, Cabinet has set up a ministerial sub-committee to meet with B.S.I. and B.S.C.F.A. to chart a way forward for both sides to resolve their differences,”.The sub-committee will be chaired by Minister of New Growth Industries, Kareem Musa, who will seek to guide the discussions between both parties that would lead to them signing off on a commercial agreement. The release ends by stating the Cabinet’s recognition of the economic importance of sugar in the north, as well as the sacrifices of cane farmers who must be justly rewarded. Lastly, release assures that the Cabinet will continue to engage with the parties to facilitate fair compromises and offer the government’s support.