When the sugar industry was on the verge of a collapse recently, GOB sprung into action and approximately 3 million in funds was rendered to the Belize Sugarcane Farmers Association at the start of the season. We asked Minister Osmond Martinez about it today:
Dr Osmond Martinez, Minister of State for Foreign Trade
"It was actually $500,000 at the beginning to do a pilot test with the fusarium which was very successful thereafter an additional 2.5 million nd the only reason why the sugar industry is experiencing a harvest and being optimistic is it was because the prime minister and his cabinet's response on a timely and effective moment. Other than that this industry would have collapsed. The uncertainty 6 months ago was whether we will have a harvest or not this year and everyone from the north can confirm that. So they used 2.5 million through SIRDI and there is an additional I believe 4 million US dollars that will be coming from CRESAP to SIRDI to continue to support the industry and in addition to that the prime minister has identified additional funds to work on some of the roads the main arteries such as the one from San Estevan to Progresso. I know there is another one from San Felipe to San Carlos, well Indian Church and San Carlos and there are other arteries that have been identified within that strategy that was developed by the prime minister's senior policy advisor, Dr Avila and of course it was done in consultation with all the stakeholders."
