Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association announces a protest in Belmopan; repeats call for Commission of Inquiry

Published by BBNTEAM at March 6, 2023

Tags

Posted: Monday, March 6, 2023. 9:34 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association (BSCFA) has announced a “peaceful procession” in the nation’s capital, Belmopan, starting from the Ministry of Finance Building at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The Association in a statement to reporters declared that the protest is “regarding the issues that are affecting the Sugar Industry”.

Last week, the Association wrote Prime Minister John Briceño to argue against an increase in the price of brown sugar on the domestic market, reiterating that miller Belize Sugar Industries Limited/American Sugar Refining (BSI/ASR) has not been truthful about its operating costs and how much of these it is passing on to farmers, and that a greater share in profits will help the industry overall and not lead it to rely on the “distraction” of a rise in sugar prices domestically.

The Association has supported the call for a Commission of Inquiry to assess the efficiency levels in the industry and review the various cost factors, both of which critical barriers and central to the resolution of the commercial dispute between itself and BSI/ASR, of which the miller is skeptical.

Crucially, the proposal for a Commission of Inquiry has the backing of the ruling People’s United Party’s Northern Caucus which includes Prime Minister Briceño and Agriculture Minister Jose Mai.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtі[email protected]еаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-601-0315.