Two Sugar Cane Farming Associations Denounce Sugar Industry Act

This evening the Progressive Cane Farmers and Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association issued a joint release denouncing the introduction of amendments to the Sugar Industry Act today in the House of Representative. They say this occurred without any consultation or true dialogue with either association. They say they sent written communications to the Sugar Industry Control Board and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security as well as other key actors in outline four reasons why elections were being postponed which included: one: the permission for mass gatherings to facilitate elections being granted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness beyond the time limited for elections, and two: in the case of CSCPA, the majority of membership indicated in a petition that due to health concerns during the pandemic they wished for matters to be delayed and for the status quo to remain. The associations say they view the passage of this legislation through the first stage without dialogue as quote “a heavy handed and a very troubling step” and are concerned about the concentration of power in any Minister of Agriculture to have the final say to resolve disputes.