What is the GOB doing about the Sugar Crisis?

June 23^rd, 2010

The Editor

The Belize Times

Belize City

Dear Editor

As a resident of the Corozal District, one whose livelihood depends on the sugar industry, I am compelled to write and sensitize Belizeans about the plight of the cane farmers.

During this entire “safra” we have been having endless problems with BSI who is unable to grind the allotted amount of tons of cane that would enable farmers, drivers, cane cutters and all those that depend on this industry, to make a decent living.   Because of the inability of BSI to get their co-generation plant up and running, the poor people of the North are now suffering. It takes more than three days, and sometimes up to a week, for a truck load of cane to be delivered. Never before were things that bad here in the North.

The people here in the Corozal District now fear that this will cause our District, once a very prosperous one, to become the poorest district in our country. Noteworthy is the fact that we don’t see any meaningful intervention by the Government. The GOB has been silent on this matter and the Ministers of both the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts have been especially quiet on this matter.

And as to the cane farmers, well when you hear them talking about the situation it is done in a hush hush manner as they are afraid to talk.  One older cane farmer told me the other day that the people are afraid to demonstrate or say anything because they already know that this government is a very vindictive one.  They are scared that if any movement is planned, the GOB will send the Police and the Army to deal with them as they did with Atanasio Gutierrez.

I must end by stating though that it is obvious that while the poor cane farmers sweat out their days trying to deliver their cane and while the poor drivers end up making a meagre $60.00 per week and while the norteños keep getting poorer, the top management of BSI can relax on the deck of their swimming pool while enjoying the scene of a well manicured lawn at the spacious complex at the Tower Hill compound.

Something needs to be done to end the suffering of the cane farmer.

Sincerely,

Esmeralda Romero

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