Belize Classifies Agricultural Pest Outbreaks as National Disaster

The Government of Belize has moved to classify the outbreak of pests and diseases in the agricultural sector as a national disaster. The Disaster Preparedness and Response Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to expand the definition of a natural disaster to include outbreaks in the Ministry of Agriculture’s ability to fight threats. Over the past years, pests and diseases have severely impacted the country’s citrus and banana industries, which are still reeling. In recent years, there have been new threats to the banana, sugar cane, and cattle sectors. The dangers pose a serious risk to the livelihoods of dozens of people and could cripple the important industries. Rising on behalf of Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Jose Mai was Minister of Health Kevin Bernard. He delved into the importance of the bill and how it will enhance the country’s ability to protect local farmers.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “This amendment to the Disaster Preparedness and Response Act is elevating major pests and disease outbreaks in the agriculture sector to the same level as that of a national disaster. Once an order is made by the Minister of Agriculture under Section 33 or 35 of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority Act, declaring a plant pest or animal pest as a notifiable pest, or quarantine pests, then that pest or disease is also automatically declared a national disaster and the area it’s affecting is automatically declared a disaster area. With this declaration, Madam Speaker, the Government of Belize will be authorized to strengthen its support from the control and eradication of the pests or disease, support emergency efforts to prevent the spread of these pests and diseases to coordinate efforts, to better coordinate national efforts across ministries and agencies using the auspices of the National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, and to more strongly support the recovery of the agricultural sector from the major pest and disease outbreaks. Also of great significance, Madam Speaker, the agricultural sector and stakeholders affected as well as the Government of Belize will have greater abilities to seek both donor and soft loan support to address the challenges when an industry of major economic importance is under threat from one of these quarantine pests or diseases of notifiable pests.”

The bill was supported and went through all of its readings today.