Earlier this week, you saw our story where local coffee shop owners and drinkers discussed the possibility of a Starbucks opening in Belize City. It was a suggestion that the Mayor made, and he added that these franchises need some kind of reduction in importation taxes in order to survive in Belize.
So, copycat culture, and a special tax break? Sounds about right for one of the largest restaurant companies in the world.
Today we asked the mayor his thoughts on the reactions following his comments. He said he felt his words were "twisted."
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"That is their view, and my view remains. I have enjoyed all the coffee shops in Belize, I am an avid, I go to Brew, I buy from Brew, I buy from BakeD, I buy from Biltmore, I love their coffees. But my point is that having a franchise doesn't mean that it'll be an international owner. Having a franchise doesn't mean the business establishment will be owned by international. It means that a local person goes and applies for a franchise and that franchise in the United States or wherever comes in and gives the sort of assistance in terms of how they go about getting their brand on their business but there's no way that you will say that, listen, a franchise is coming in, it's owned by foreigners. A franchise, most of the franchises I know are run by locals. But I enjoy all the local coffees, I am a coffee drinker, I just believe that there are other option available. We need to get out of this thing where we just want to hold on, we need to give our people options."
Courtney Menzies:
"What about giving the smaller coffee shops a "run" in the same fashion?"
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"We've always done that. We are the biggest supporters of our local businesses. You go and see the super sale that we do on a quarterly, that is promoting local economic development. There is no way we ever go against our local business owners, we have been Thebes champions of our local business community. So the way how that was twisted by the media to create disharmony, I am against that totally."
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