GOB Announces the Launch of a Commission of Inquiry to Examine the Country’s Sugar Industry

 The Government of Belize announced its decision to launch a Commission of Inquiry to modernize the country’s sugar industry. This decision was made following presentations from the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) and the Belize Sugar Industries Limited/American Sugar Refinery Group (BSI/ASR). Cabinet has decided to convene a Commission of Inquiry to examine the modernization of the sugar cane industry and improve its viability. This announcement has been welcomed by the BSCFA and Management Committee Chairman, Alfredo Ortega, who says this is what the farmers have been demanding from the beginning. He says he is hopeful that this will ultimately lead to the end of this long-standing issue between the farmers and the miller.

Alfredo Ortega, Management Committee Chair, BSCFA:  “We were awaiting this. Nevertheless this came a little bit late today but this is what we have been asking and it cannot be a surprise because this is what we were looking for to happen that Cabinet approve the commission of inquiry. We were awaiting for this week for this to happen and we know that having the commission of inquiry will give a better assurance of better industrial practices and relation conducive to the development of the sugar industry under a genuine fairness, transparency and respect and dignity. So that is why we were asking for this to happen and we didn’t expect less than this.”

Love News reached out to the BSI/ASR, but they have decided not to give comments at this time.