Grant for Small Citrus Growers who suffered Hurricane Richard

As we have reported, the Belize Sugar Industry is getting a bailout loan of ten million dollars plus an additional million dollar grant from the government. In the south, the government is also providing a grant to small citrus farmers. That was revealed after Thursday’s special sitting of the House in Belmopan.

dean barrow

Dean Barrow

“We absolutely must assist the caneros. And it’s not just the caneros, the citrus farmers who suffered as a result of Hurricane Richard; we are going to make three hundred and fifty thousand dollars available as a grant to the small citrus farmers. This is apart from all the money that we are spending on reconstruction of homes as a consequence of Hurricane Richard. Just today you heard the announcement: three million dollars to the D.F.C. for unlending to small businesses at eight percent. Well two point five million dollars to the D.F.C. and a half million dollar million grant to the Youth Business Trust, which the government has nothing to do with. I believe they will have to lend at a slightly higher interest rate because they also offer services to assist the small entrepreneurs.”