Belize and St. Kitts-Nevis Settle Trade Dispute over Brown Sugar

Belize and St. Kitts-Nevis Settle Trade Dispute over Brown Sugar
Belmopan. January 22, 2021. 5:00 p.m.
Belize and the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis this week settled a trade dispute that had been ongoing in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) over trade in brown sugar.
Belize had sued Saint Kitts-Nevis, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and CARICOM, alleging that the two CARICOM member states were importing brown sugar from countries outside the Single Market without imposing the 40% Common External Tariff (CET). Belize alleged that because of this treaty violation, Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) and Santander Sugar were losing sales to these countries. It was also alleged that the CARICOM Secretariat had failed to ensure that the CET was imposed by St. Kitts and Trinidad & Tobago, which by extension facilitated trade by the two respondents in which they did not apply the CET.
Belize is seeking a ruling from the CCJ that requires the full application of the 40% CET on Brown Sugar imported from non-CARICOM sources; the establishment of the Monitoring Mechanism for Sugar that was approved by the COTED in 2019; implementation of the Monitoring Mechanism once finalized; and compensation for lost sales suffered by the sugar industry of Belize as an economic injury.
Shortly after being notified of the legal action taken by Belize in the CCJ, the Government of Saint Kitts-Nevis commenced discussions with Belize on a possible out-of-court settlement. After targeted negotiations led by the Office of the Solicitor General, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration and BSI, Saint Kitts-Nevis and Belize reached an out-of-court settlement on conditions satisfactory to Belize.
This out-of-court settlement is a major victory for the sugar industry of Belize, which has been disadvantaged by imports of sugar from non-CARICOM sources, including Guatemala, as this sugar is displacing regionally produced sugar from the CARICOM Single Market. The sugar industry is now assured that it will get the trade policy support that it is entitled under the Revised Treaty, including the application of the CET, and a renewed opportunity to fully enter the market of Saint Kitts-Nevis.
The case continues in the CCJ against the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and CARICOM.
The Government of Belize extends its thanks and appreciation for the support provided by the BSI, Santander Sugar, and the Sugar Association of the Caribbean in the ongoing effort to secure access to the CARICOM market for sugar and to ensure the survival and sustainable development of the sugar industry of Belize.
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Belize Export First Shipment of Chicken to CARICOM

Belize Export First Shipment of Chicken to CARICOM

On December 23, 2020, Belize exported 16,000 lbs of assorted chicken meat to Grenada, the first-ever shipment of poultry products to the CARICOM region. This success was through the partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise

Western Dairies Belize under the Right of Establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) incorporated Western Dairies Grenada Ltd. in 2018 to serve as a hub for exports into the CARICOM market. The Directorate-General for Foreign Trade (DGFT) supported the company throughout the establishment process. This newly formed operation has been the conduit for several shipments of Western Dairies ice cream into the Grenada market and has now begun diversifying with the export of chicken cuts.

Belize’s Poultry Industry has been promising for export opportunities since the Caribbean Animal Health and Food Safety Agency’s (CAHFSA) 2017 risk assessment cleared Belize’s two processing facilities as ready-for-export within the CSME.

Over the last several days, the Government of Belize, through the leadership of Ministers Hon. Eamon Courtenay and Hon. Jose Mai, held focused discussions with their Grenadian counterparts to secure market entry for the Industry. Both Ministers remain committed to fostering strong public-private partnerships with the Belize Poultry Association and other private entities like Western Dairies Belize to facilitate market penetration for local producers.

The Ministries, through this medium, congratulate the Western Dairies Belize and the Belize Poultry Association on this historic milestone.

 

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Tours Western Dairies Facilities

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Tours Western Dairies Facilities
On the 21st of January, 2021. the Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise toured the Western Dairies processing facilities and a dairy farm in Spanish Lookout.
The purpose of the tour was for the Minister to learn more about the Western Dairies brand of dairy products and the processes involved in producing milk products such as fresh milk, yogurt, cheeses, and ice cream. The tour included an overview of the products, an extended tour of the processing plant, and a question and answer session with the press. After lunch, the Minister and his team were taken on a tour of a dairy farm to see the first stages in milk production.
Minister Mai has been vigorous in supporting Belizean dairy products, despite some public criticism as it relates to imported milk and milk products. These products will still be available although the Minister has alluded to limiting importation permits for milk and milk products because of an irresponsible saturation of the market under the previous administration. The Minister continues to champion the cause of local producers of dairy products, pointing out the high costs of production faced by farmers and producers in comparison to imported products.
Minister Mai stated that he hopes the tour will aid in increasing awareness of the availability and quality of Belizean milk and milk products. He encourages Belizeans to buy locally made products to contribute to rebuilding the economy.
The Minister was accompanied on the tour by his Chief Executive Officer, Servulo Baeza; Senior Technical Adviser, Digno Polanco; and other officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise.
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Minister of Agriculture Receives Donation from OIRSA

Minister of Agriculture Receives Donation from OIRSA

18 December 2020:

The Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, the Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai today received a donation from the OIRSA Regional Emergency Funds to assist farmers and livestock producers affected by the recent floods.

This has come about after the Central American Ministers of Agriculture (CIRSA) met virtually on the 13th of November to declare a Regional Emergency for Central American countries due to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Eta and Iota. Under this declaration CIRSA approved the use of OIRSA Regional Emergency funds to assist farmers and livestock producers affected with re-establishing their production systems, rescuing animals due to flooding, and safeguarding against pest and disease outbreaks due to the effects of the storms. The Ministers unanimously approved a budget of US$100,000 per country that was affected.

The Ministry of Agriculture, along with BAHA and the assistance of OIRSA Belize, developed an emergency plan for Belize and submitted it for approval. Today OIRSA is delivering to the Ministry of Agriculture part of these materials according to the plan to assist farmers to get back on their feet as well as to assist livestock producers.

The plan consists mainly of providing assistance for the rescuing of and feeds for animals from flooded areas, providing seeds for vegetable farmers, and monitoring for pests and diseases that might arise because of the flooding.

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Exportation of Live Cattle to Mexico

Exportation of Live Cattle to Mexico 

 

 

 

Belmopan. December 9, 2020. 5:00 p.m.  

 A ceremony to commemorate the exportation of another consignment of live cattle to Mexico was held today at Blue Creek Village in the Orange Walk District. A total of 629 heads of cattle are expected to be exported to Mexico.  

 The main speakers at the ceremony were the Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, and Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration. Minister Courtenay pledged his Ministry’s support for export-oriented activities such as cattle export and stated that the collaboration between the two ministries and relevant stakeholders will continue to strengthen the formalization of the cattle trade. Minister Mai underscored the importance of the cattle trade as an important economic activity for Belize. The Minister said that the value of export earnings of the cattle trade is right behind that of sugar, a long-established export commodity.  

 Also present at the ceremony were the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration, Hon. Ramon Cervantes; representatives from Sukarne, a Mexican meat processing company, which is the buyer of the cattle being exported; as well as officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and cattle farmers from the area. 

 Prior to the ceremony, the ministers and other guests as well as the media were given a tour of the quarantine facility where the cattle are being kept until they are loaded for export. 

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Minister of Agriculture Attends Meeting to Discuss Re-opening of the Corozal Free Zone

Minister of Agriculture Attends Meeting to Discuss Re-opening of the Corozal Free Zone

Belmopan. December 4, 2020. 11:28 a.m. 

On Thursday, December 3, 2020, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and other officials of the Ministry of Agriculture met with representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Chamber of Commerce of the Corozal Free Zone to discuss the re-opening of the Northern Free Zone.  

The meeting was held in an atmosphere of cordiality as the discussion focused on the details of the operation and health measures that must be put in place if the Free Zone is re-opened. Minister Mai committed to ensuring that Government looks after the interest of investors and the public to safeguard the health of all while keeping in mind the need of the country to deal with the economic difficulties brought on by COVID-19.  

Investors agreed to cooperate to fast track the opening of the Corozal Free Zone as promised by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño. The plan will be expedited and taken to Cabinet for discussion and final approval. 

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Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Visit Villages affected by the Flooding

Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Visited Villages affected by Flooding

On Thursday, November 19th, 2020, the Prime Minister Hon. John Briceno, and Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise visited Maypen Village in the Belize District to get a firsthand look at the situation involving cattle rescue due to flooding.

Maypen is a settlement that lies off the Philip Goldson Highway, approximately 27 miles outside Belize City. Residents of the area are involved in cattle ranching which has been impacted by the recent rains and the rising Belize River. Cattle in the area have become stranded and are in danger of drowning.

Minister Mai was apprised of the situation at a meeting during his familiarization tour. Quick action on the Minister’s part led to collaboration with the Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA), Banana Bank Lodge, Caribbean Tires, and Mennonite ranchers from the villages of Blue Creek and Shipyard, who provided boats and trailers to help rescue the stranded animals. Of the approximately 300 heads of stranded cattle, 60 have already been rescued.

The Prime Minister and Minister Mai visited the area where they spoke with ranchers and got a first-hand look at the rescue efforts. Prime Minister Briceño and Hon. Mai praised the efforts of all involved, especially the BLPA and ranchers from Blue Creek and Shipyard, who came from afar to support the rescue efforts.

  Accompanied by area representative for Belize Rural North, Hon. Marconi Leal, the Prime Minister and Minister Mai also visited Crooked Tree to get a look at the flooding and spoke to affected residents. The causeway is underwater and several families in the village have been evacuated to shelters.

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Minister of Agriculture Visited the Toledo District School Gardens

Minister of Agriculture Visited the Toledo District School Gardens

The Minister of Agriculture visited various school Gardens in the Toledo District. The tour allowed the Minister to get a first-hand impression of the operations and standards of the school gardens. Over the past years, the Ministry of Agriculture has been supporting school garden programs by providing training for teachers and students on the operation of gardens, technical assistance, and inputs as well as additional support.

Minister of Agriculture Embarks in a National School Garden Tour

The Minister of Agriculture Senator the Hon. Godwin Hulse has embarked on a National School Garden Tour from February through March 2020.

 The purpose of the tour is to allow the Minister to get a first-hand impression of the operations and standards of the school gardens.

 Over the past years, the Ministry of Agriculture has been supporting school garden programs by providing training for teachers and students on the operation of gardens, technical assistance and inputs as well as additional support.

 The Minister is being accompanied by personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

Completion Ceremony of the Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project

Completion Ceremony of the Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project

The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of Belize jointly announce the successful completion of “The Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project” (The Sheep Project). A ceremony to mark the completion of the project was held on November 28, 2019, at the National Agricultural Show Grounds in Belmopan.

At the ceremony, the numerous accomplishments of the Sheep Project were highlighted. The greatest impact has been seen at the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center (known as the sheep barn) which is jointly operated under improved management conditions by the Sheep Project and is producing a diverse genetic stock of quality sheep. The barn infrastructure of a 400-sheep capacity was successfully developed with all of its related components of five manure conveyor sets and an elevator, as well as other infrastructure to enhance the operation and management of the sheep. Of critical importance is the introduction of quality sheep genetics of three popular breeds, namely Dorper, Barbados Blackbelly and Katahdin, successfully imported from the United States which are being managed at the breeding center for genetic improvement of sheep in the country. Several workshops were also held under the Sheep Project to help raise the professional knowledge of sheep producers countrywide.

The ceremony not only marked a historical milestone in the small ruminant industry but also the strong ties between the two countries. Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, H.E. Remus Li-Kuo Chen shared with the participants that the draft agreement for the second phase of the Sheep Project, which will focus on the cooperation in breeding sheep and goat production and guidance system enhancement, has been presented to the Ministry of Agriculture. It will continue to strengthen the value-added production and market linkage in the sheep industry through the cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture.

There were approximately 100 persons in attendance at the ceremony, including representatives from the Embassy of Taiwan, Ministry of Agriculture, technical officers from Belize Livestock Producers Association, OIRSA, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, and sheep farmers. The Sheep Project started four years ago after the signing of an agreement between the Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in December 2015.

Pictures of the event: