Cabinet pledges increased efforts against AIDS

In news from cabinet that body has expressed concern over the high rate of HIV and AIDS in Belize. The Ministry of Health reported that in 1997 and 1998 AIDS was the 3rd leading cause of death for Belizeans between the ages of 15 and 44. Road traffic accidents topped the list with externally caused injuries–including homicide–ranking 2nd. The districts with the highest incidence of AIDS are Belize and Stann Creek with rates of 5.3 and 4.4 per thousand respectively. In an effort to reduce these figures government has committed itself to increase its programmes aimed at HIV prevention. In other news cabinet has agreed to add 150,000 gallons to the already 1.1 million earmarked for duty-free sale to cane farmers. This is to allow the farmers to more easily transport cane to the factory for the remainder of this year’s crop. The measure is described as a temporary one, designed to bring short-term relief from low cane prices projected for the rest of the year. In the long run the industry on a whole will be seeking ways to cut costs and operate more efficiently in the face of a depressed world market for sugar.