Leader of the Opposition Criticizes New Sugar Regulations, Demands Reversal

The Leader of the Opposition, Moses Shyne Barrow has sided with the Belize Sugar Industries, in the rejection of the new sugar regulations.  Barrow issued a statement this afternoon saying that the move is unhealthy for the sugar industry and that laws and regulations should only be implemented after robust consultations with sugar industry stakeholders where consensus is built. His statement also noted, quote, “This act by the Briceno Government and Agriculture Minister Mai goes against sugar industry norms and is not only arbitrary but dictatorial.”  End of quote.  With all that said, the Leader of the Opposition is demanding that the government reverse its course and only look to implement regulations that will push for a better working environment for the cane farmers and the sugar investors.  Barrow noted that this move is a, “blatant betrayal of its campaign promise to curtail Ministerial control and powers especially in an instance where the Minister of Agriculture has a possible conflict of interest, and that failure to cease this ill-advised course of action will only cause colossal damage to the sugar industry.