Corozal Cane Farmers Back PM’s Leadership in Sugar Industry

As the BSCFA takes issue with the Prime Minister’s decision to manage the sugar sector, the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association (CSCPA) has taken a different stance, expressing strong support in this regard.  In a letter to the Prime Minister, the CSCPA welcomed the move, stating that it would help create a more vibrant and sustainable sugar industry. The association highlighted that the Prime Minister’s leadership of the sector would foster investor confidence and drive strategic development, leading to economic gains for all involved. The CSCPA also emphasized the importance of collaboration between all stakeholders, including investors, millers, farmers, and government entities, in shaping a more efficient and balanced industry. Vladimir Puck, Chairman of the CSCPA, says the association believes the PM’s involvement will ensure a well-rounded and collaborative approach to the sector. 

Vladimir Puck, Chairman, CSPA: “I think that’s something that he decided together with his team to take that portfolio maybe because of the stress the industry is in. We have right now various concerns in the industry. We have the fusarium, we have the climate change and other things that are affecting us presently so I think that the government decided to take that to the portfolio to the Prime Minister for him to look at it more in detail to have more input and more power in regards to trying to make this industry more viable and for it not to continue deteriorating the way it has been going due to the various other things that have been happening in the industry. 

Reporter: Okay so why does the association believe this will further encourage the development of the industry ? 

Vladimir Puck, Chairman, CSPA: “Well I think Belize looking at our colleagues around the other countries, cane farmers, they have made changes in their industry for them to more proactively grow all together and those are the things that we as Belizeans, cane farmers, we need to look after to try to modernize the sugar industry. While at the same time looking, trying to have everyone as a whole looking at it to all sectors, the financial sector, the farmers, businesses. So I think that we need to modernize the industry slowly but I think that as Belizeans we need to speed up the pace a little.”

Puck also responded to whether he believes the stance of the Corozal Association would ruffle feathers among the other cane farmers’ associations, particularly the BSCFA. 

Vladimir Puck, Chairman, CSPA: “I just feel as a matter of leadership right, cane farmers as you well know we are now four associations each one has their own voice, their own opinions. At the end of the day what the government is trying to achieve is for the benefit of all cane farmers. So it’s more of a management situation I would say rather than the cane farmers himself. Because the cane farmer follows his leader and if the cane farmer sees that his leader is proactive and is trying to work with whatever government there is I think it will be for the best interest for the country and for the cane farmers themselves.”

Puck added that the association also congratulated Briceno on his reappointment. /