PM Briceno To Spearhead Control of Sugar Industry

Prime Minister John Briceno has weighed in on his decision to retain responsibility for the sugar industry and assign Dr. Martinez to oversee its functions daily. Last week, Briceno revealed that under this term of government, the industry will no longer be the responsibility of Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai. He explained that after the American Sugar Refineries (ASR/BSI) raised concerns in an emergency meeting, he felt the shift was necessary. Briceno will now be taking the lead, with the assistance of the Minister of State for Economic Transformation, Dr. Osmond Martinez. Today, Briceno spoke about the move and whether he believes it will anger the various sugar cane farmers’ associations. 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “It’s simply that what has happened is that I met with the farmers, the associations, the four of them, along with ASR/BSI, Ministry of Agriculture and SIRDI to set up this task force to see how we could look at the commission of inquiry and the recommendations see what can be applicable now because we’re in crisis mode. But why is it we took it on well simply because I felt that we need to show that we’re giving it the most important priority by having it under the office of the Prime Minister. And then I brought in Minister Dr.Honorable Martinez who is a trained economist and that can be able to give it the day to day attention and then working along with us that we could be able to fully steer it through this existential threat that is going through at this time.”   

PM Briceno also underscored the importance of ensuring the ASR and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association can sign a long-term agreement. The two-year deal struck by the parties will end this year, prompting concerns over whether the association will be resigning without incident. Briceno noted that he believes this time around, the association will be going into negotiations with a different mindset. 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I think that BSCFA the leaders are realizing that we could be continuing this fighting back and forth and we might be fighting over nothing. So it’s important that we be able to look at the at the industry as a whole and what is in the best interest of everyone and not the individual. As it is right now BSCFA, Belize Sugarcane Farmers Association, is going through an existential threat themselves because right now they have been refusing to sign the fair trade and there’s a lot of monies that goes to the farmers and because of that their members, of which I am a member of that association, we’re not getting the actual help by signing on to fair-trade which farmers desperately need.”

This year, the sugar crop is expected to be less favorable than in previous seasons.