But while Minister Mai may be able to salvage his rep, can the PUP recover from the chaos in the north two weeks ago?
The party holds 7 of the 8 seats in that region, but during the sugar crisis - many of their staunch supporters were publicly badmouthing them, and even blocking Mai from getting into his vehicle. Today we asked him if his party can recover from the losses sustained during that week.
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"I don't see it as losses, I see it as farmers frustration to want to end this long standing problem and many of those people who tried to keep me from getting into my vehicle are UDPs too, which I don't have a problem with because if I was in opposition I would do the same thing, I did the same thing when I was in opposition, so I dont see it as a problem. What is important I think is that we solve the problem from now and we solve it decisively. now, moving forward, to me, I believe one of the most important things that can impact this industry is that commission of inquiry because it sets the base for fair and transparent agreements, it will bring forward empirical data that will be required for the farmers and the mill to have a sound and fair agreement and it also sets the base for a modern, updated and fair legislation so to me, that is very key."
