Today, we asked the BSI/ASR representatives about this draft legislation, and they told us that they think Belize's sugar industry needs less - not more - government regulation and influence.
They explained why:
Malcolm "Mac" McLachlan - VP, International Relations, ASR/BSI
"I'm a firm believer that the private sector is the sector that kind of drive growth and jobs in Belize. I believe that whatever regulative approach is taken by the government it should be an enabling approach. It should be an approach that permits businesses and association to get on and do their business. In most commercial sense I think there is recourse for dispute resolution through the courts, that would be the normal channel, I think. This is a broader issue about where we are in a regulatory nature in Belize. We are operating under a sugar act that we believe and I think most people will accept contravenes constitution in a number of ways and I think from our perspective as a business and remember this is a business, it's not a government institution, it's a business. I think we would rather see far less government intervention and control and regulation; I think that's the way most industries develop, that's the way most industries are permitted to improve and to move forward."
"We've submitted some very clear thoughts on the way the sugar act might be amended in the future and that's the gist of how we would see that taking place. Of course, it's entirely up to the government what they decide to do, but I think adding layers of regulation and government control is in our view not the way to go."
"The other point I would say is what should happen is there should be consultational things that affect arrange from different actors and I think if you have that a genuine consultation processes, you end up with better outcomes in the end."
