Stakeholders Meet on Thursday to Decide the Start of the Crop

Godwin Hulse

Senator Shoman made the point that the amendments to the Sugar Act will hurt the farmers and benefit the miller, American Sugar Refinery/Belize Sugar Industries. But Senator for Government Business, Godwin Hulse, says it is quite the contrary.

Godwin Hulse, Senator for Government Business

“In this whole process, the discussion, the agreement, document everything centered around a commercial agreement between two parties. Farmers should never be pitched in that position which would tend to demean them as the poor, struggling, ignorant little people that need a savior. The farmers are genuine, hardworking, intelligent, savvy Belizeans with what they do.  Before this crop, there was no payment for bagasse, none. That thing had been on the table from way back in the early 2000s; in fact in the 1900s it was on the table…the concept of paying for bagasse. Why? Because as I said already there is a payment formula that says what you get out of molasses and sugar combined…that will be shared sixty-five, thirty-five.  I am here to tell you that this side of this senate would never sit by and allow the rejection or overturn of any farmer if he only got five ton, five hundred ton or five thousand ton.”

All the newly former associations as well as the B.S.C.F.A., the SICB, ASR/B.S.I., will be meeting this Friday to decide on the start of the crop.