Local White Sugar Returns to Shelves: Government Addresses Scarcity and Contemplates Price Increase

Local white sugar is expected to return to the stores’ shelves today.  The announcement came from the government through the Cabinet Brief sent out this morning.  According to Cabinet, with the restored availability, the price for plantation white sugar should return to the regular controlled price nationwide. The news is welcome as the consumers across the country have grappling with the scarcity of brown and white sugar.  It is even more welcomed considering that the current stock of white sugar in the stores are imported and far more costly that the locally produced commodity.  With white sugar now becoming available again, it is unclear how the government will move forward to mitigate the contraband of Belize’s sugar across the borders.  Authorities had confirmed in recent weeks that the recent scarcity was due to the contraband issue.  As for the price regulation, government is still contemplating a price increase for sugar.  Shortly after the government’s announcement, BSI/ASR issued a statement, saying, that consumers can expect the produce on the shelves at a cost of seventy five cents per pound.