Minister Mai says ASR/BSI Needs to be Fair

Minister Mai says it would not surprise him if A.S.R./B.S.I. decides to challenge the regulations in court. He also says that if the company does not like the laws of the country, it can leave.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture

Jose Abelardo Mai

“If you are not happy with the country, the country’s regulations, either you adapt or you choose to go somewhere else, but they knew that this law was here before they came to Belize. As a matter of fact, this law also protects them. You cannot come to a country, operate and not want to operate under the laws. If our laws are hampering you, then go back to your country and see if you can be a producer and a miller.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Doesn’t that send the wrong message though to foreign investors?”

Jose Abelardo Mai

“Absolutely not.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Is the government going to war with ASRBS, which is, uh, mentioned a multinational, multibillionaire international company?”

Jose Abelardo Mai

“We hope not. We don’t want to fight them. We simply want to be fair. Fair to BSI, fair to the cane farmers.”

Hipolito Novelo

“But you throw the first punch with the regulations.”

Jose Abelardo Mai

“Well, it’s simply operationalizing what’s in the Act. There’s nothing new. This has been in the Act from 2001. I didn’t knew it. All we’re doing is operationalizing. If you work fair, you have nothing to fear.”