7 News Belize

Cattle Trade Stopped in Bullet Tree
posted (April 16, 2020)

For the past 2 days, we’ve been reporting on the plight of the local livestock producers. 

Poultry farmers are experiencing a 50% reduction in revenues because Belizeans aren’t buying chicken in the usual quantities, due to COVID-19. If they aren’t able to move substantial quantities of their chicken, they run the risk of running out of cold storage for all that meat. Dairy producers have had to dump their products which have spoilt due to the decrease in sales, and the short shelf life.

Also, one of the major livestock producers from Spanish Lookout was suggesting that the cattle export industry was also hurting due to the closure of borders from neighboring countries. We have since received multiple reports that the reason that the cattle industry is at a standstill is because of a bottleneck being created in Bullet Tree Falls Village. Informed persons tell us that Belizean cattle farmers export their livestock to Guatemalan customers using Bullet Tree as a backdoor border route. Reports are that for several weeks now, the Chairman and his Village Council have been preventing livestock farmers from moving their produce through Bullet Tree, without first paying some sort of fee.

The halting of cattle exports is of great concern to the authorities, and PUP’s Jose Mai has been trying to get to the bottom of this problem. He’s a member of the COVID 19 Agriculture Response Team, and via video call today, he told us about a curious meeting he had with the Bullet Tree Village Chairman on the topic. According to Mai, the Chairman is adamant that this council deserves some sort of remuneration for the use of Bullet Tree as the transit point. Here’s how he explained that to us today:

Hon. Jose Mai - Area Rep., Orange Walk South
"There was a meeting convened. It was facilitated by the IICA representative. They invited me to this meeting. I think they said that Minister Hulse and Minister Figueroa would be present. They were unable to be present, but nevertheless, I was the only elected person in that meeting along with the chief agricultural officer, the head of the extension. The Chairman of BLPA was there, and the village council chairman and his councillors. I think he had an advisor too. The meeting was very short because we really wanted to get to the bottom of this. What was the reason why they stopped? And I think they call the meeting with the chairman of Bullet Tree because I believe he was the reason why the exportation had stopped. That’s why the meeting was called to him. He was very clear that he is convinced that every truck that passed through Bullet Tree needs to pay a fee and that he would not allow any truck to pass through unless that fee is paid. He believes that he has the right, that he has the authority to stop vehicles and charge. We know better. But, that’s the reason. He said no vehicle will pass through here if they don’t pay their fee. I don’t know how it is possible in 2020 to have one individual, obviously misguided or misled, and who is totally and absolutely wrong. How could one man stop the exportation of livestock, an industry that in 2018, exported 48 million dollars’ worth of livestock to Guatemala?â€￾

We have also obtained a recording in which the village chairman re-iterates that strong stance, and isn’t prepared to back down. Here are those comments:

Sabino Pinelo - Chairman, Bullet Tree Falls
"If you tell me that the village council does not have any authority to stop cattle trucks or the pig trucks, go ahead in what you think you believe is good. I will do what I have to, with enough respect, sir."

We understand that the relevant authorities consider this prevention of cattle exports an urgent matter which they will attempt to address.  We need to note here that the crossing is not a formal one, which gives the Chairman a sort of upper hand.  

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