Agriculture Minister Defends Sugar Regulations

Responding to A.S.R./B.S.I.’s concerns today was Agriculture Minister Jose Mai. During our sit down with Minister Mai in Belmopan, we asked him if there is a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, since he is also a farmer and a member of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. Here is how he responded.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture

 “ If you are paying the farmer the premiums he deserve, it should be no problem. None at all. None at all. But you will have a problem if you are not paying the farmer what they deserve.”

Hipolito Novelo

“You are a farmer?”

Jose Abelardo Mai

“I am.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Registered BSCFA?”

Jose Abelardo Mai

Jose Abelardo Mai

“Yes, sir.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Would then there be any conflict of interest or appearance of conflict of interest in this case because you as a minister would be the one to grant that license.”

Jose Abelardo Mai

“No, that has changed. The minister empowers the SICB. It’s not the minister.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Yeah, but then that’s, that’s, that’s.”

Jose Abelardo Mai

“That’s the way they wanted it, you know.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Yeah, but then under your directive.”

Jose Abelardo Mai

“That, that, that’s, that’s the way they wanted it. The law…”

Hipolito Novelo

“Because if you say let’s not give them the license, then whoever you empower will not give them the license.”

Jose Abelardo Mai

“And there’s a process for that. If you, if you are aggrieved by the law, there is a board that you can go and take your complaints to, right? An appeal board, I think it is. You go and, and you will get your license once you provide that information.”