Will there still be sour oranges in the citrus industry this week?
bryon bowman
The Citrus Growers Association and Citrus Products of Belize Limited have been embroiled in a bitter legal battle that has left a lingering and sour taste in the citrus industry. It has spilled out of the court and onto the pavement earlier this year when hundreds of workers in the industry protested against CPBL on the Stann Creek Valley Road. The CGA along with Banks Holdings of Barbados own fifty one percent of CPBL but the directors that the CGA appointed to the board of CPBL broke away from the group. The CGA has been trying to get rid of Doctor Henry Canton from the leadership position in the company where he still sits tonight as CEO and Managing Director of CPBL. Both sides have claimed victory by last week’s ruling in the courtroom of Justice Minnet Hafiz. But there are a few loose ends left to tie. News Five spoke by phone this evening with the CGA’s chairman, Bryon Bowman.
Bryon Bowman, Chairman, CGA
“Directors that we had placed there from tenth July last year that has been honoured as of the twenty-second of April. So the directors, Antonio Zabaneh, Rosella Zabaneh, Pat Pollack, Denzil Jenkins and Chuck Woods are the current directors. So we do have our directors as of today sitting on that board and so far the transition has been very smooth and peaceful and cooperative as far as the CPBL management is concerned. So we do expect the meeting to be quite orderly, we do expect the investors to be here and we’re hoping that we would be able to start reconstructing this industry moving forward.”
Marion Ali
“As far as the contract of Dr Canton goes can you tell us what his future looks like now at CPBL?”
Bryon Bowman
“Marion I would not be able to comment on that at this point in time, our directors, we haven’t even had the first Board meeting so I don’t know what will be the outcome of that. It will be a little premature to say at this point to say what happens as far as his contract is concerned.”
Marion Ali
“Will you have new elections on Thursday?”
Bryon Bowman
“Yes, one of the items on the agenda is for the appointment of directors. Now that court ruling was very important because it now establishes and sets the stage for CGA, ICL to remove and appoint its directors at any point in time. I think that court ruling was very instrumental in allowing us to have a peaceful AGM with both sides honouring and respecting each other’s rights. Although it was a short time period it has set the pace for, in my opinion, moving forward in a peaceful, non-contentious environment.”
The AGM will take place at the compound of the CPBL on the Stann creek Valley Road.
