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The two countries plan to begin trading before the year ends, however, there is all the red tape that must be dealt with, and then of course, the supply and demand factor. Minister Mai explained that at present, Minister of Foreign Trade, Eamon Courtenay is about to draft the partial scope agreement that will govern […]
Written on September 27, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Minister Mai: El Salvador Serious About Importing Grain from Belize
Housewives and bakers experienced the most unusual of situations last week when they discovered that sugar had gone scarce and they were allowed to purchase only a couple pounds each. It’s unusual because Belize produces enough sugar to supply the local demand, as well as to export. And the millers at Tower Hill, the American […]
Written on September 26, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Sugar is Scarce, But Why?
For well over a year now, government officials have been trying to help the American Sugar Refineries and its partner, the Belize Sugar Industries Limited and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association to settle their differences and to move past their two-year-old profit-sharing dispute. At the core of the matter is a new agreement on […]
Written on September 26, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Minister Mai to A.S.R/B.S.I & B.S.C.F.A: Resolve Your Issues & Get On with the Business
Did you know that there was once a thriving chicle industry in Belize? Sapodilla trees that are native to Central America were used to extract sap which is an ingredient required to make chewing gum. In tonight’s episode of Belize on Reel, we revisit our archives for a feature story that was first aired back […]
Written on August 24, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Revisiting Belize’s Once Thriving Chicle Industry
While we were with the Minister of Home Affairs, we asked for an update on the sugar industry in the north. Minister Musa is part of the cabinet subcommittee that was created to work on resolving the issues between the miller and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. As we’ve reported, the High Court ruled […]
Written on August 23, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Will G.O.B. Appeal Sugar Act Ruling? For now, it will Fund S.I.C.B.
The new sugar crop season commences in December of this year and the goal is that a new collective agreement between the millers and all sugar cane farmers associations be finalised before then. Minister Kareem Musa says that a meeting will soon be held with B.S.I. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs “The agreement […]
Written on August 23, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Will a New Collective Agreement Be Reached for the Sugar Industry?
At the start of the week, the High Court made several rulings against the Sugar Industry Act. The court deemed certain features of the legislation as unconstitutional. The Attorney General and the Ministry of Agriculture have been reviewing the court’s ruling to determine exactly how it will impact the industry going forward. Today, Prime Minister […]
Written on August 11, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on PM Briceño Comments on Sugar Industry Act Ruling
He took up office as Attorney General of Belize at the end of June, replacing Magali Marin-Young after two and a half years as chief legal officer for the Briceño Administration. Tonight, in his first interview as AG, Anthony Sylvester speaks to News Five about taking on the role, including litigation brought against the government. […]
Written on August 10, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on New AG Anthony Sylvester Speaks About Taking Up Office
Attorney General Anthony Sylvester also responded to a decision on the Sugar Industry Act where the High Court has ruled that some sections of the act are unconstitutional. Among them is that a cane farmer has to be a member of an association to be able to deliver cane to the millers and that monies […]
Written on August 10, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on AG on Partially Unconstitutional Sugar Industry Act
Will G.O.B. appeal the decision of the High Court or will the law be amended? The decision will be up to cabinet to determine the way forward. Attorney General Anthony Sylvester says that it will be discussed at the next cabinet meeting. Anthony Sylvester, Attorney General “Cabinet will have to look at and would […]
Written on August 10, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Cabinet to Decide Actions Going Forward following Sugar Ruling
Last night, we told you about the major ruling coming out of the High Court in a legal challenge brought against the Government of Belize regarding the Sugar Industry Act. The decision represents a significant shift in the way the industry is operated. To put things into further perspective, of the seven features of the […]
Written on August 9, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Corozal North Area Rep Encourages Further Modernization of Sugar Act
The Belize Sugar Industries Limited is partly successful in challenging the existing Sugar Industry Act. That piece of law which governs the large-scale production of sugar in northern Belize is archaic and a formal objection before the High Court has proven that there are sections of the Sugar Industry Act that are unconstitutional. A claim […]
Written on August 8, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on High Court Determines that Sections of Sugar Industry Act are Unconstitutional
Justice Patricia Farnese’s decision is that annual payments made to the Sugar Industry Control Board are, in essence, illegal. But what does it mean for the regulator whose operations are funded, in large part through, these payments from B.S.I.? Senior Counsel Smith responded to that question, as well as the decision of the High Court […]
Written on August 8, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on What Does High Court Decision Mean for Sugar Regulator?
Michael Peyrefitte, the Chairman of the United Democratic Party also weighed in on the ruling. This afternoon he held a virtual press briefing where he gave his thoughts on what the ruling means for the sugar industry. Here is what he told us. Michael Peyrefitte, Chairman, United Democratic Party “Essentially what the judge was […]
Written on August 8, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on U.D.P. Chairman Weighs in on Sugar Regulation Court Ruling
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Agriculture announced the establishment of a Vegetable Interdiction Team, aimed at combating contraband activity involving agricultural products. The VIT comprises personnel from various government departments and agencies, including representatives from the ministry’s Extension Service and Supplies Control Unit, the Customs Department, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, Belize Marketing and […]
Written on August 4, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Vegetable Interdiction Team’s Purpose Is To Discourage Contraband Activity
You’ve probably heard the name before – Silk Grass Farms, synonymous with coconut oil produced from that part of southern Belize. Silk Grass Farms is also the manufacturer of a variety of juices. At the helm of the company are former Minister of Government, Doctor Henry Canton, and social entrepreneurs, Mandy Cabot and her husband, […]
Written on July 25, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on New Juices Hit the Shelves, Courtesy Silk Grass Farms
The Ministry of Agriculture has been exploring other markets where Belize can export its produce. Last Friday, one such market was successfully opened in El Salvador. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of El Salvador informed the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation, BMDC, that a request for a pest risk analysis for carrots, citrus, onion […]
Written on July 24, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on El Salvador Approves Importation of 4 Fruits/Vegetables from Belize
While with Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai, the media asked about the interim agreement between A.S.R./B.S.I. and Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. That’s coming to an end, will a new commercial agreement be struck. Minister Mai says no, explaining that a commission of inquiry is still pending. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, […]
Written on July 24, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Agriculture Minister: B.S.I. Commission of Inquiry Still Pending
Several weeks ago the Belize Sugar Industries Limited filed a claim challenging certain aspects of the Sugar Industry Regulations, 2023. An emergency injunction hearing was scheduled to take place on July twenty-first. But, the government’s legal team and B.S.I. have reached an agreement to maintain the status-quo until the substantive case is concluded. In other […]
Written on July 19, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.S.I. and G.O.B. Reach Agreement on Sugar Industry Regulation, 2023
In other sugar related news, the Belize Sugar Industries Limited reported the second highest sugar cane price estimates since the year 2000. According to the company, the 2022/2023 cane crop second payment was made today at an average of twenty dollars and ten cents. The season’s first payment came in at forty-three dollars and sixty-three […]
Written on July 19, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.S.I. Announces Near Record Cane Price
When the media caught up with Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai today, we asked for an update on the dispute within the sugar industry in the north. A.S.R./B.S.I. is taking the issue of now having to apply for export permits to the court and a task force, led by Minister of Home Affairs and New […]
Written on June 29, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Agriculture Minister Gives Update on Sugar Impasse
The 2022-2023 sugar crop officially came to a close today. The figures are almost finalized, but the preliminary reports do not look good. The Belize Sugar Industries Limited says there was a thirty-five percent decrease in sugarcane deliveries for the season, when compared to seasons past. This has directly impacted the quantity of sugar the […]
Written on June 15, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on 2022-2023 Sugar Crop Comes to a Close
Today at the Ministry of Agriculture Station in Orange Walk District, the Sembrando Vida Belize Project was officially launched. The steps to get to this point began back in May of 2022, when an agreement was struck between Belize and Mexico during a state visit of the president. The project was piloted in Mexico four […]
Written on June 15, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Sembrando Vida Belize is Officially Launched
Stann Creek West Area Representative Rodwell Ferguson and the Prime Minister have gone on record to say that citrus is a dying industry, but stakeholders in the industry, including the Citrus Growers Association, say otherwise. So today, when we caught up with the Minister of Agriculture, the media asked who’s right. Minister Jose Abelardo Mai […]
Written on June 15, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Agriculture Minister on Diversification of the Citrus Industry
Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai and a delegation of officials from his ministry returned to Belize on Wednesday from a visit to Mexico. They attended meetings focused on opening new agriculture export opportunities for Belize. The National Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality Service, better known as SENASICA, is the Mexican counterpart of the Belize […]
Written on June 15, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Mexico Removes Tariffs for Coconut Export from Belize
