And ASR/BSI is also doing some hoping on the trade front. They hope that they can get their sugars into the CARICOM market under the terms of CARICOM Single Market and Economy. Actually, it's more than a hope - no less than the future viability of the sugar industry is riding on it.
Minister of State Panton is the one advancing this case at the COTED level, that's the Council for Trade and Economic Development. We asked her how hard Belize is really pushing for Direct Consumption Sugars:...
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"We are not serious about effecting trade into CARICOM if we can't get our own good Caribbean sugar into the CSME."
Hon. Tracy Taegar Panton - Minister of State, Trade
"That's a big discussion that is ongoing. Belize is actually leading that discussion at CARICOM, but we also have Guyana on board, we have Barbados on board, Trinidad on board to create a market for sugar in the Caribbean, where we can protect the sugar producing countries and the by-products that they produced and so in fact at our next meeting which is to be held sometime in April, the matter will be on the agenda in terms of looking at the CET and how it affects sugar coming in from other countries."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"But I understand the bureaucracy and the linear, how things have to work progressively, but at a certain point shouldn't we just walk away from the table and say listen, if we can't sell our good Belizean direct consumption plantation white sugar into CARICOM, we are walking away from the table, you call me next century when you are serious."
Hon. Tracy Taegar Panton - Minister of State, Trade
"I believe we are closing that gap and I think that the discussions have been very productive and fruitful and there will be a point if we can't move the agenda forward that we will have to examine that, but we are certainly no place close to getting there."
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