Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai spoke today on the protracted standoff between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and their miller, ASR/BSI. When we caught him today, he had to go on the defensive for his Prime Minister who has found himself in the BSCFA's crosshairs. In a letter to the PM, they have scolded him for siding with ASR/BSI in the dispute.
Today, his Agriculture Minister tried to delicately walk back that perceived position. Here are the very measured remarks of Minister Mai:
And while Mai expressed guarded optimism, as a farmer himself, and a long time critic of ASR/BSI's commercial practices, he has to walk a fine line - because he's also a Cabinet Minister who has to be mindful of the importance of ASR as a foreign investor. And then, he's also a norteño whose constituents - like himself - are staunch members of the BSCFA, so the political calculus cannot be ignored. That's why today Mai dutifully paid homage to the Association, while also giving some grudging respect to the multinational:
