A significant ruling from the High Court on Monday will have major implications on the Sugar Industry. It found that portions of the Sugar Act are unconstitutional.
Justice Patricia Farnese found that the Sugar Industry Control Board - which is the Industry's Regulator - can no longer impose a levy on BSI. That levy amounts to about a million dollars a year and it funds the SICB's operations.
The judgement also affects private farmers - who - the judge found - do not have to be members of any of the four farming associations to be recorded on the register of cane farmers. She said their right to work should not be restricted by enforced membership in an association.
Today when asked about it, the Prime Minister seemed to not have a full grasp on the details of the judgement but re-enforced that farmers need protection:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"That's a tough one. I've not gotten a full briefing, but the attorney general met with the Minister of Agriculture to try to get a briefing, a full understanding. It's kind of not very clear so I don't want to comment too much about it, more than anything else that the sugar industry has been one of the most successful industries that Belize has where it has created a fairly large middle income class in this country and so we need to do everything possible to protect the industry, and by that I have always said protect the farmers but also protect the company because they are joined at the hip, we need both to have a successful industry. How were going to move forward, well we need to find a way to ensure that the farmers rights are protected at all times and at the same time find the funds to operate the different department o divisions, I don't want to give any names at this time because they might change, to ensure that the sugar industry can continue to thrive and to be able to grow and to expand."
The judge found that the SICB should not interfere in the private commercial relations between the farmers and the miller. Both sides may appeal the judgement.
