BELIZE-Government will not nationalize the sugar industry.

BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – The Belize government says it remains “resolute” and will not nationalize the sugar industry but instead seek to get the stakeholders “on a collaborative path for the better interest of the industry.”

The government’s position follows discussions with representatives from the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) and the Belize Sugar Industries/American Sugar Refinery/ (BSI/ASR), in which both parties made presentations to Cabinet.

“Cabinet is committed that it will not nationalize the sugar industry and will instead try to get the parties on a collaborative path for the industry’s better interest. Having heard from both sides of the issue, the cane farmers and the millers, Cabinet has set up a ministerial sub-committee to meet with BSI and BSCFA to chart a way forward for both sides to resolve their differences,” the statement said.

It said the sub-committee would be chaired by Home Affairs and New Growth Industries Minister Kareem Musa, “whose urgent remit” is to guide discussions between both parties to conclude an enduring commercial agreement.

“Cabinet recognizes the role of sugar as the lifeblood of the northern economy, its proceeds as a critical source of foreign exchange, and, most importantly, the blood, sweat, and tears of the individual cane farmers, whose sacrifice and persistence must be justly rewarded.

“Furthermore, Cabinet appreciates the vital role of the miller and the marketer of Belize’s sugar, as well as the conditions necessary for strategic foreign direct investments to be fostered and to grow.

“Within the Constitution and the law, Cabinet will continue to engage with the parties, facilitating fair compromises and offering the government’s support by whatever means are available,” the statement added.

The statement comes amidst the ongoing dispute between the BSCFA and the ASR/BSI, with cane farmers protesting the position by the ASR/BSI that it cannot afford to pay the BSCFA for sugar cane.

About 100 cane farmers Tuesday, bearing placards demanding higher payments, walked around the market square and in front of the National Assembly.

“We went through a mediator, and nothing came out, so the only thing that is left is the commission of inquiry, and we have heard that BSI is not supporting the commission of inquiry,” said the chairman of the Committee of Management for the BSCFA, Alfredo Ortega.

“So that is why we are here because we want the commission of inquiry to be approved so they can develop the information needed for a better agreement with BSI. We want a separate commercial agreement. We have been looking forward to that. Before this party came into government, we got promises that changes would be made. We’re expecting those changes to happen,” he told reporters.

“Since 2012, we have been asking for an increase in the price of sugar, and they didn’t go through that until 2015. After the election, we asked for both sugars for white sugar and the plantation white and brown sugar to be increased.

“Nevertheless, the government at the time only increased the white sugar on which we stayed like that for quite a while,” he said, adding that “we didn’t know that BSI has already sent a paper to the Prime Minister in which they have been asking for an increase on the price of the brown sugar, and lately we get to understand that the two other association have sent the request to the Prime Minister also to increase the (price of) sugar.

“We are not in agreement with that because there are many other ways where the price of a ton of cane can be increased in favor of the farmer without having to penalize the Belize consumers in raising the price of sugar because if they raise the price of sugar, believe me, you that the bread and other stuff will be increased.

“So we, as the BSCFA, we don’t support that. We want that 40-60 be instituted, and then the farmers will get a better payment for their cane,” Ortega told reporters.