Local News

A planned second day of demonstration by the Citrus Growers Association has been called off.  Hundreds of growers marched on the Citrus Products of Belize in Pomona Valley on Tuesday to highlight their discontent with the way the company is being managed and allegations of a move to dismantle the CGA and redistribute its assets to certain individuals and groups.  A statement from CGA says that after discussion with all of its partners, a decision was taken to postpone today’s demonstration.  The CGA says that their agreed terms of their permit to demonstrate were violated by the police yesterday, when officers prevented the demonstrators from using their tractors, vehicles and busses in the procession which went from the Pomona football field to in front of the CPBL compound.  CGA says that it now awaits a response from government clarifying once and for all its position regarding the Association in light of an email being circulated, purportedly from advisor to the Prime Minister Allan Slusher.  The CGA is also hoping for government’s support to transform the industry from a juice industry to a tropical fruit industry by assisting with the buying out of the Banks Holding Limited shares in CPBL.  The Citrus Growers Association release ends by saying that government’s response will determine further action by the citrus growers.