On Friday Minister of Agriculture, Jose Mai spoke passionately from the House floor. He outlined what he described as an oversaturated dairy market, one that had seen local producers pushed to the brink by uneven application of tax laws, and the deep pockets of merchants flooding the market with imported dairy products.
Mai called it "a shame" and vowed to never allow it to happen again.
He told the house that thus far he hadn't issued any import permits for cheddar or mozzarella cheese, Here's what he said at the house on Friday:
Hon. Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"This government since elected has not issued import permits for cheese; mozzarella, neither cheddar cheese. And we will not issue any permits until our farmers are able to market their cheese entirely."
But cheese isn't the only thing on the chopping block, the future for that other mass importation dairy product, Lala milk is also precarious, with rumors spreading of an all-out ban.
Indeed, the issuance of permits to import Belize's most consumed milk has slowed, but today on his Orange Walk South Facebook Page, Mai made a post to quell those fears saying quote: "There is no intention or need to ban Lala or any other imported milk including other dairy products such as Cheddar or Mozzarella cheese."
The agriculture minister admits that local farmers are, as yet, unable to extend their product's shelf life or supply the country's demand. And while he says that his family loves La La Milk he believes that he also has a quote: "moral and patriotic duty to farmers and our ailing economy."
And rounding out his post, Mai also said that when it comes to purchasing local or imported, the key is to strike a balance and to keep scarce dollars at home.
And while Mai's pious protectionism does strike a chord, our sources tell us that while import permits for La La milk have been blocked for the local agent - a preferred importer from Orange Walk has been allowed to bring in a limited quantity of the dairy products.
