Yesterday, Jose Mai - who has just today been given the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, & Enterprise - announced that the informal cattle trade through the west will be started up again. And cattle farmers wasted no time as this morning, trucks with PUP flags were seen transporting the precious cargo. Today, we asked Cayo North representative, Michel Chebat, his thoughts.
Hon. Michel Chebat, Area Rep. Cayo North
"That industry is certainly going to be restarted. As you know it's a 40 million dollar a year industry and it needs to be looked at and it needs to be jumpstarted, many farmers and people who work along with the farms are affected and it is time to get it going again."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
'So how will it move through Bullet Tree?"
Hon. Michel Chebat, Area Rep. Cayo North
"I am not sure about the details yet. I don't want to speak out of turn, but I am sure that the prime minister and the soon to be named minister of agriculture will be able to shed some more light on that."
The trade was halted due to COVID-19, which put a massive strain on the farmers as their cattle lost value the longer they remained in the pastures.
