Santander, “Belize should never run out of sugar for local market.”

On the Phone: Beverly Burke

According to Burke, Santander writes to the Government of Belize annually, requesting permission to enter the domestic market.  The PR Manager went on to say that Belize, as the largest sugar producer in the Caribbean, should never run out of sugar for local consumption.

On the Phone: Beverly Burke, PR Manager, Santander Sugar

“On an annual basis, I write the authorities asking consideration for us to be able to sell in the local market.  The Supplies Control Board’s position is that there is no need for sugar, so, therefore, we are not allowed.  That’s been the general response all the time.  As things have changed, and I think last year is the perfect example of the way things are shifting, but what we are now saying is that Belize should never be faced with a gap.  As the largest producers in the Caribbean, we can look at a situation where that earmarked sugar for Belize remains in Belize.  Now granted, we are not saying we want fifty percent of the market, but we are saying, give some consideration to the fact that this Belize country is producing this commodity right here, homegrown, and we are faced with a situation where we are importing sugar, where we are paying a much higher price for a commodity that we are not really use to using.  Refined sugar is a completely different sugar than that which is manufactured here in Belize.  So we are saying officially, let’s go to the table, let’s sit down and have this conversation where Santander can ensure that that gap is satisfied with our own locally grown and produced sugar.”