The C.P.B.L. had its say earlier in the newscast when Sir Allen Field and Richard Cozier of Banks Holdings said that the dispute in the citrus belt is personal. As we said, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel in the immediate future in the ongoing feud that is leaving […]
Anderson also spoke to questions that Sir Allen and Cozier brought up about dividends and the composition of the crowd that protested on Tuesday. Henry Anderson “The concerns we had was when a business plan was presented at the board that showed no dividends were going to be paid through 2013. Our directors reacted against […]
In the south, the citrus belt has been fraught with controversy for months. The fight is between the Citrus Growers Association versus its subsidiary Citrus Products of Belize Limited. The CGA has majority interest and wants the heads of three of the five directors on its Board: Dr. Henry Canton, Michael Dunker and Frank Redmond. […]
Early in the newscast, we reported that the numbers at the CGA’s protest were over a thousand strong and you heard the chairman of that Association, Brian Bowman, say that while there is a clear divide between CGA and CPBL supporters, the CGA has a lot of support. But Chief Executive Officer of the CPBL, […]
The dispute in the citrus belt is not letting up, we said earlier, a demonstration is planned for this Tuesday by the Citrus Growers Association against its subsidiary Citrus Products of Belize Limited. Both can’t agree on a number of issues; the CGA is primarily aggrieved that it owns fifty one percent interests of the […]
There’s more trouble brewing in the Pomona Valley where a protracted battle is getting nastier and dangerous between the Citrus Products of Belize Limited and Citrus Growers Association over issues ranging from control to finances. CGA is not happy that even though they have fifty-one percent controlling interests in C.P.B.L., they need consent from Barbadian […]
According to Canton, the dispute is regrettable since the problems stem from petty issues that can easily be resolved. And as detrimental as it can be to the growth of the industry, he says it’s all a matter of egos, greed and a thirst for power. Dr. Henry Canton, C.E.O., CPBL “Although a lot of […]
The Citrus Products of Belize Limited and Citrus Growers Association have been on a collision course over a number of issues. Both sides are not letting up and the future of the industry is at stake. The C.G.A. is insisting it wants three of CPBL’s directors to resign, including Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Henry Canton. […]
Also in the south, on our side of the border, there was a heavy downpour overnight and several farmers in at least two villages lost all their corn fields when the water levels rose. Some farms in the already depressed areas are still under five feet of water. The flooding is so dire that Chairman […]
The National Agriculture and Trade Show is a fair that draws massive crowds to the capital each year for animal and crop displays as well as an abundance of entertainment. And this year, the Agric Show will be held on the weekend of April thirtieth to May second and the planning committee says the master […]
An audit of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) in July of 2009 pointed to gross mismanagement and irregularities. That resulted in a suspension of the B.S.C.F.A.’s certification for funding from Europe, known as FLO-CERT and Certification for Development. Millions of dollars were put on hold that would have otherwise benefited farmers and the […]
Two industries, the source of major foreign exchange earnings, are experiencing setbacks; that’s the citrus industry in the south and the sugar industry in the north. Caneros are irate over the slow processing of sugarcane at the mill of the Belize Sugar Industries Limited at Tower Hill. The farmers say that for the past four […]
Earlier in the newscast, we reported on the setbacks in the sugar industry due to slow cane deliveries. But in the south, the major bone of contention in the Citrus industry is that the Citrus Growers Association owns fifty-one percent of shares in the Citrus Products of Belize Limited, but they have no control of […]
According to the CPBL representatives, a new association is in the making, which they think is the way forward out of the current impasse. Ernest Raymond says that a number of meetings by a group called the concerned growers, who represent sixteen percent of the industry, led to the move. Ernest Raymond, Former Chairman, C.P.B.L. […]
Still on the economy, the freeze has been bad news for the citrus industry in the US where temperatures dropped to as low as twenty-five degrees causing orange groves in Florida to freeze over the weekend. But if the adage rings true that when America sneezes we catch a cold, then the cold brought on […]
According to the Citrus Growers Association, there was deception in the distribution of shares when C.P.B.L. was purchased. According to Director for the Committee of Managers at C.G.A., Denzil Jenkins, he uncovered what he termed as secret deals when he became a member of the CGA board. Denzil Jenkins, Director for Committee of Managers “When […]
Another irritant in the citrus industry is the appointment of Henry Canton, Frank Redmond and Mike Duncker to the CPBL board. According to the CGA, Banks Holdings has prevented their removal since the decision would require the support of at least two of its members. That stipulation in the company’s articles of association, according to […]
The Sugar Industry faced tremendous hard times in 2009, and the end of that year provided more frustration for the caneros in the northern districts. The season started in December with low production and long lines backed up at the gates of Belize Sugar Industries Factory at Tower Hill in Orange Walk. The Belize Sugar […]
Since the meeting in Belmopan has been called off, Madrid said that B.S.C.F.A. is now requesting Minister Montero to go to the sugar belt to meet with the caneros. One of the matters that they have on their agenda is the formation of the United Cane Farmers Association. Madrid says that the B.S.C.F.A. is now […]
And in the north, the breakaway cane farmers from have made an impact and historical change on the sugar industry. Since 2007, a group of caneros attempted to disassociate themselves from alleged mismanagement inside the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (B.S.C.F.A.). Well, that was finally accomplished on December sixteenth when the Sugar Industry Control Board, […]
We’re reported that there is turmoil in the citrus industry and a special general meeting was convened to deal several topics vital to its survival. Aside from the difficulties with Bank Holdings of Barbados which the Citrus Growers Association says is colluding with C.P.B.L., the meeting also discussed the composition of the C.G.A. board. The […]
A feud appears to be heading for a showdown between two warring factions in the citrus industry. It’s a complex story and its ramifications could be disastrous for the industry. It all stems from a 2006 agreement between Investment Company Limited (ICL), which is owned by the Belize Citrus Growers Association, and Banks Holdings of […]
Earlier in the newscast we told you that the citrus growers of Belize are in a bind and they feel almost crippled by a 2006 agreement with Barbados based, Banks Holdings. But how did it come to bear that Banks Holdings would have dominance over the organization? The growers blame their own representatives appointed to […]
In other news in the south, Citrus Greening is fast affecting citrus groves and surveillance exercises have detected the bacteria in Hopkins and the Pomona Valley. The situation is so threatening that the movement of plants has been restricted. But there is another potential threat that is looming ahead; that is Citrus Leprosis. Leprosis causes […]
It is one of Belize’s top exports and while production has declined, today’s reopening of the sugar cane season has brought relief to cane farmers in the sugar belt. That’s the good news, the bad is the delay has created a real possibility that payments may be late and not in time for Christmas. The […]
