PM Signals No Further Bailouts as BSCFA Moves Ahead with Lawsuit

Prime Minister John Briceño is reacting tonight to the decision by the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, BSCFA, to proceed with its lawsuit against Belize Sugar Industries and Tate and Lyle.  The Prime Minister says he had been hoping that all parties could have reached a resolution outside of the courts, particularly given the ongoing challenges facing the sugar industry.  In an interview today, Briceño made it clear that while the government has supported the sector in the past, it cannot continue to provide financial bailouts to the association, especially as other sectors have also been calling for assistance.  He noted that his administration has already faced criticism for what some see as preferential support to the sugar industry, while other struggling industries have not received similar levels of intervention.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “It’s a decision that they have to make. All I was hoping is how we can try to bring this to an end and if they feel that they want to continue with that, then that’s on them. The problem is that we, what we have as a cabinet, that we can’t continue bailing out to be a BSCFA. They have come several times to us to bail them out and we have done so because they play an important role in the sugar industry. But whenever we do that colleagues then start to tell us well how about tour operators, how about the fisher folk, how about these people who have to buy more boats or down south the people in Agriculture down south the Cacao people. They are reminding me during the fires a lot of small cacao farmers lost their produce and we did not want to give them the help that they needed. So it creates a sense of frustration and jealousy within Cabinet and I don’t know for howl long I’ll be able to do that because then the rest are going to say hold on before you do that we also have to give to the other areas. And also I’d like to make the point that whenever the government gives monies to one association the other associations are saying well we’re also tax payers so we also deserve a part of that money. So all we’re trying to see how we can find a way how to put an end to this but if they feel that they want to continue with the case that’s fully their right.”

Reporter: Will the fertilizers still be provided ? 
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Well the support now because of this case I think we will probably provide the support but then we will have to share it between the four associations.

The Prime Minister’s comments come as tensions within the sugar industry continue to escalate, with the BSCFA maintaining that legal action is necessary to address longstanding disputes with BSI and Tate and Lyle.  The tension stems from the BSCFA claims of being jilted out of millions of dollars in Fairtrade premiums.