U.D.P. Chairman Weighs in on Sugar Regulation Court Ruling

Michael Peyrefitte, the Chairman of the United Democratic Party also weighed in on the ruling. This afternoon he held a virtual press briefing where he gave his thoughts on what the ruling means for the sugar industry. Here is what he told us.

Michael Peyrefitte

Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, United Democratic Party

“Essentially what the judge was saying is that you do not have to be a part of an association to sell sugar. That was one of them. I don’t think that in this country you can be mandated to be a part of any association. Even the Legal Profession Act, there was a bar association which all lawyers were required to be a part of it but later on the government in its wisdom realized we couldn’t mandate someone to be a part of an association so lawyers are subjected to legal professional rules, but we don’t have to be a part of the bar association if you don’t want to. I think that is what the judge meant in saying on that aspect that you don’t have to be a member of any association if you want to sell cane and that is the ruling of the court and the ruling of the court must be accepted, the aggrieved party don’t like that ruling they can appeal, but as it is that is the law now. Also as I understand part of the judgment and the ruling, the company doesn’t have to pay a part of the body that oversees the sugar industry. You can come down on any side of it that you feel interested in. there are reasons for and against that ruling  but that is the ruling as it stands and it must be respected until it is reversed if it is indeed reversed.”