Opposition Opposes Sugar Amendment; Withholds Support in the House of Reps

The Opposition says the Sugar Bill Amendment goes against the commitment by the Briceno Administration to minimize ministerial discretion. Opposition members in the House of Representative argued on Friday that the Bill gives the Minister absolute power. They therefore withheld their support for the amendment.

Hugo Patt

Hugo Patt, Area Representative, Corozal North

“I think we are going a bit extreme in granting the Minster powers. And, just as I have explained to the member from Orange Walk Central, while I don’t have the doubt this is a genuine piece of legislation to be passed. I am concerned, going forward, what if we were to have a Minister of Agriculture that is extreme, that is inconsistent in his decision? And yet, we would have a piece of legislation that grants the Minister of Agriculture unlimited powers. Member for Orange Walk Central, and Prime Minister, Section 38 as is being proposed to be amended, actually grants the Minister of Agriculture, if I can call it that way, absolute power.”

Tracy Panton

Tracy Panton, Area Representative, Albert Division

“This to me, flies into the face of the commitment by this Administration to limit the powers of a Minister or Ministry, and not to further empower them to take decisions that seems to be unilateral in nature. Based on that consideration, Mr. Speaker, I am certainly not prepared to support his Bill in its present format, thank you.”