D.P.M. Cordel Hyde Weighs In On Port Stand-Off

Minister Hyde also chimed in on the state of affairs at the Port of Belize Limited, as well as the negative effects that it is having on the nation’s economy. He is hopeful that a resolution is drawing near.

Cordel Hyde

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister

“No, I think it is a really difficult situation. These are issues that are long standing, and so they are very tense. It is pretty much a face-off. I don’t think you ever reach to this point lightly; nobody reached to this point lightly because everybody loses. The stevedores are losing wages. The company is losing business. Consumers are waiting on their stuff. Business people are looking at the extra cost that they may incur. So, nobody wins in this. The job of the government is to try to ensure that everybody wins. I think we have taken a really solid approach to the process. We started from Orange Walk with the cane farmers and the B.S.I./ A.S.R. face off where we were involved and hands on and we tried to function in a peaceful atmosphere where tensions did not reach where they could have reached. So, I think that in this particular situation the Minister of the Ports is actively engaged. As I said, I am eternal optimist. I am hopeful something will get sorted out pretty soon.”