Has The P.U.P. Lost Ground in OW?

Jose Abelardo Mai

The Minister of Agriculture, who played a major role in the recent negotiations between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and A.S.R/B.S.I., also came under a lot of heat during the days when the cane farmers protested. The leadership of the B.S.C.F.A. criticized the prime minister for an issue they felt was poorly handled. At one point the farmers even blocked his exit and access to his vehicle after one of the meetings. But today, the Minister of Agriculture did not feel that there were any losses in terms of his party’s popularity in the north.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Area Representative, Orange Walk South

“I don’t see it as losses. I see it – I see it as farmers’ frustration to want to end this long-standing problem. And many of those people that tried to keep me from my vehicle are UDPs too, which I don’t have a problem with because if I was in opposition, I would do the same thing, right? I did the same thing when I was in opposition, so I don’t see it as a problem. What is important, I think, is that we solve the problem from now, and we solve it decisively. Now, moving forward, to me, I believe one of the most important things that can impact this industry is that commission of inquiry because it sets the base for fair and transparent agreements. It will bring forward empirical data that is required for the farmers and the miller to have a sound and fair agreement. And it also sets the base for a modern, updated, and fair legislation.”