Government will crack down on those selling Belize sugar to Mexico, Guatemala

The Government of Belize announced this week that it will take punitive measures against those persons who are smuggling Belizean sugar across the border.

The Government has also issued a stop order to BSI- not to sell sugar to those merchants who cannot or will not provide a record of their domestic sale of sugar.

The measures are being taken because of the persistent shortage of sugar in retail stores for the last four weeks.

Belize Sugar Industries, the producers, say they are supplying enough sugar for everybody to have enough.

The Government of Belize announced this week it intends to crack down on sugar exporters.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has appointed a Marketing Committee to take measures to make sure that there is enough sugar on the local market because consumers continue to complain that they cannot get any to buy.

Reliable sources indicate that the scarcity is due to cross-border trade with Mexico and Guatemala, where prices are better.

To correct this situation the government aims to control the supply of sugar at the Tower Hill Sugar Factory, supplying sugar only to legitimate business operators and industrial users.

Government will require wholesalers and retailers to give an account of their sugar sales.

B.S.I. will not sell sugar to wholesalers and retailers who refuse to submit their sales records, or who cannot account for how they sell the sugar.

The Customs Department will investigate and deal with those persons and businesses who sell the local sugar abroad.

Members of the public who have reliable information about Belizean sugar being sold abroad are encouraged to call the Bureau of Consumer Protection hotline to report these incidents.

The number to call is 0-800-283-5587 to make a report. Any information given to the Bureau will be kept confidential and the name of the person(s) making the report will not be divulged.

The newly appointed Marketing Committee is comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Belize Sugarcane Farmers' Association and the Belize Sugar Industries Limited.

The Reporter