In more news from the Leader of the Opposition, he spoke today on the recent sugar crisis.
As we have reported, ASR/BSI and the BSCFA took weeks to agree to an adjusted two year commercial agreement.
But, for most regular folks - there was another crisis during Christmas - that was a serious sugar shortage. As we have reported, Belizean sugar was and is being smuggled across our borders to Guatemala and Mexico where sugar is more expensive.
And while that's market forces, Shyne Barrow says it's the effect of a government that gave a green light to contraband:
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"For Abelardo Mai to try to see that the reason we had a sugar shortage is because of the great demand is complete dishonesty. Never before in the history of Belize did we have a sugar shortage during the month of December because it was Christmas."
"Belize is the number one sugar producing nation in the entire region. The only reason that we had a shortage in December is because of the illegal exportation of sugar, which has been aided and abetted by this PUP government. In November 2020, when the PUP swept into office, what was the first thing that this same Abelardo Mai did? They gave the contrabandists their canoes back. And said, left they, let them continue to traffic the contraband and that is what happened in December."
"They are misleading the Belizean people and they are looking to punish the Belizean people further with this increase in sugar price, which is completely unnecessary. What they need to do is get the illegal exportation of sugar under wraps."
