Free Zone Task Force denounces legislation

Dean Barrow is not the only one who is opposed to changes being made in the free zone. This evening the Chairman of the Zone’s Task Force recorded a statement denouncing the passage of the new legislation. Hipolito Bautista says what was a successful private sector initiative, has now been placed under what he terms autocratic political control.

Hipolito Bautista, Chairman, Free Zone Task Force

“Today marks a sad day in the annals of our country. Today a government of this “tranquil haven of democracy” effectively hijacked a commercial free zone and immediately set about to plunder it. There can be no mincing of words to describe such a blatant attack of power against a blossoming private sector led institution which has replaced six hundred jobs lost at the Libertad Sugar Factory, pumped up the economy to the envy of many and closed the punishing trade deficit with Mexico. Against all national and international advice from the Board of Directors the Free Zone Users Association and the business community, government took the zone for itself, taxed it for a quote unquote small five million dollars, imposed a government chairman and foreign exchange restrictions.”

Free zone investors will be meeting on Sunday afternoon in the Corozal Free Zone to discuss their plan of action. Bautista’s entire statement will run again on Saturday, October sixteenth, on Channel Five.