BSI/ASR Raises Concerns Over COI’s Focus, Minister of Agriculture Responds

While the BSCFA plans to cooperate fully with the COI, the Belize Sugar Industries (BSI/ASR) doesn’t plan on doing the same. As we reported, yesterday, the company raised concerns it describes as the Commission of Inquiry shifting focus.  BSI stated that it doesn’t plan to share proprietary and confidential information and believes that it should cooperate if the COI is focused on using the process to negotiate a new commercial agreement with the BSCFA. Today, Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai weighed in on the company’s position and denied any changes in the purpose of the commission’s work. 

Mai also stated that he disagrees with BSI/ASR’s position that the reports should not be used to facilitate the negotiation process for a commercial agreement between BSCFA and BSI/ASR. 

The commission held its first meeting last month.