Who gave GMO go ahead? Who is planting?
Aside from the ninth, there is another issue that is becoming controversial and we have not heard the last word on Genetically Modified Organisms. A release from the Scientific Steering Committee of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority on the Importation of GMO Corn Seeds for Trials in Belize, indicates that there might be farmers who have illegally planted the seeds into the country. But although these are unconfirmed reports, BAHA feels strong enough to investigate that possibility. BAHA says it will collect samples from suspect cornfields for testing at a laboratory outside of Belize. The Bio-safety Council will also consider the necessary structures that must be in place before the country conducts GMO trials. Last week, the government ordered the destruction of some imported seeds which were intended for two trials. But who gave permission for the seeds to enter? The carefully worded release skirted the issue when it said, “On seventeenth August 201l the Belize Agricultural Health Authority received information from what it presumed to be a very credible source that Cabinet had decided that a permit should be issued for two GMO trials.” The credible source was not named by BAHA but Prime Minister Dean Barrow has chided the CEO in Agriculture, Gabino Canto as the person who falsely stated that the importation of a batch of seeds had Cabinet’s green light.
Gabino Canto should be FIRED. He put the Mayas and the country at HIGH risk and lied about it.
The GMO seeds were imported legally with the appropriate permission of BAHA, The Bio-safety Council, and with the full knowledge of GOB. (There are documents to show that). The nonsense that is going on now is costing farmers thousands of dollars, is causing more risk to the environment, and to other major crops caused by the destruction of our parasitic beneficial insects which keep so many pests under control. ESPECIALLY FOR THE ORGANIC FARMERS.
This is a scientific issue not a political issue. The use of GMO seeds has been investigated by learned scientists worldwide for over 15 years. There are no scientifically proven negative side effects to humans, animals or the environment. GMO foods are in use worldwide and and in Belize.
Cigarettes have been shown to be dangerous to health. A warning has been printed on every pack. Did Belize research this. NO. We do not have the resources. We took the information from more developed countries who had the resources to properly investigate this and made it mandatory in Belize. Are foods produced with GM seeds labelled.? NO. Why?. Because they are not dangerous to humans or animals. Lets stop this mis-information and stop trying to keep agriculture in the dark ages. If some want to use local seeds and grow produce organically…fine. We do not want to stop them. We can use GM seeds without affecting them in any way. Please, lets us learn from other countries and use the scientific information freely available. We do not have to re-invent the wheel.
What the hell is going on with these people? This bull will continue to happen as long as no one is paying a price for it.. imagine all these things happen in our country and not one head role.. I think the Belizeans just love being screwed over..
Hey Mr. Robert, please read and retract your misguided information….Monsanto Whistleblower Says Genetically Engineered Crops May Cause Disease.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?aid=3912&context=va
CANTO..and MONTERO has been doing a pile of fool over the period that they took office….CANTO cannot act if he is not directed by MONTERO….the question is how much did MONTERO and CANTO collected to bring this type of GMO into Belize????….NOT DEAN BARROW….but MONTERO…and thats not the only reckless thing that they have done….i dont know if you people have forgotten the XATE Leave exportation by MONTERO’s…this type of business has caught the attention of Guatemalans living across the border…Las Flores De cHIQUIBUL….as a matter of fact…MONTERO’s and his associates were employing these very same Guatemalans to work for them at a cheap labour…thus making them knowledgeable of the remoteness of what is Chiquibul Belize…now the are lotting and exploiting the pristine jungle of Belize…its all about MONTERO and CANTO….TO MAKE THINGS WORST BOTH THEM LOOK MISERABLE….
WHAT WERE THE SEEDS MODIFIED FOR??? Maybe we need to look at that too…….
THEY MIGHT BE DROUGHT RESISTANT, OR DISEASE RESISTANT…but we don’t know.
SOMEONE TELL US PLEASE.
to earl grey
well the fact is it look like disease resistant. what eve the case maybe the thing is we don’t want modified rubish. we are by nature natural. that is why Belize is to remain a natural surrounduings with its food source. we don’t want to loose or nice local tortilla and replace it with false one that will affect our health. This GMO is useless and not healthy. Belize is already poor with finance but we are rich with healthy food. we don’t have to buy any seeds. Let our farmers get educated about this GMO.