Minister of Agriculture weighs in on Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry

The Commissioner of Inquiry (COI) into the Sugar Industry began two weeks ago and since then, several stakeholders have appeared for publics hearings of the COI. The group of technical experts is tasked with examining the industry’s whole value chain and presenting recommendations to the government based on findings and data collected. The COI was established as a part of agreements between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) and the Belize Sugar Industries (BSI/ASR) with hopes of improving several aspects of sugar production. This week, our newsroom spoke to Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai about the proceedings and whether he expects a fruitful outcome.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture: “I think it’s unethical first and foremost because there’s a schedule. BSCFA appeared, they made a good presentation of course the others were listening the allies were listening. They decided not to go, they want time to think and rethink and perhaps sit down with BSI and come up with a strategy to respond I don’t know. But I find it unethical, unprofessional. If you are sure about what you’re doing you go and sit down and present. But that’s the commission and the chairman to do. I find it very very unethical to do something like that. You know you decide oh you can’t come in for some unknown reason both of them strangely, mysteriously, the same time. I mean it just speaks volumes of what their plan is. But I am confident that we have good commissioners, they’re very objective, very professional and at the end of the day they will make important recommendations for the reform of the industry.”

The commissioners have since departed the country.