CSCPA & PSCPA Says Government of Belize is Bias to B.S.C.F.A.

As we said, the Corozal Sugarcane Producers Association and the Progressive Sugarcane Producers Association held a virtual press conference this afternoon to voice their concerns with the new regulations. Their primary apprehension has to do with section sixteen of the legislations, the very same section that Minister Mai quoted which speaks to the preconditions that must be met by the licensee. Vladimir Puck, the Chairman of Corozal Sugarcane Producers Association, described the new law as political interface that threatens the industry’s access to millions of dollars in Fairtrade premiums annually.

Vladimir Puck

Vladimir Puck, Chairman, Corozal Sugarcane Producers Association

“Our primary concern is in regards to section fifteen, it speaks about the premiums and we are very concerns about those premiums. Fairtrade gives us because of our merits and works with the farmers and they are not well satisfied whenever there is government interference. In many other countries Fairtrade has been lost when that happens.”

Cosme Hernandez

Cosme Hernandez, General Manager, Progressive Sugarcane Producers Association

“Our concern with the SI is the Fairtrade premium. I think political interference can really affect us all were at the end of the day Tate and Lyle can say, I can source my sugar from a different country because of too much political interference. That is the concern that our members have.”