For weeks we've been reporting on the difficulties that Johnny Zabaneh has been having at the Maya King banana farm in Stann Creek. It's the biggest banana farm in Belize and the one that was most affected by the drought which left the farm with tonnes of undersized bananas that do not meet export requirements. That left Maya King in a cash flow crisis - with not enough revenue to pay the hundreds of farm workers on its payroll - and no bank account to pay them from overdraft. Johnny Zabaneh went public with a plea for help - and it seems the international purchaser of Belize's Bananas heard him. As we reported, Fyffes agreed to help him with some bridge financing. And while Zabaneh told us that on record - and we reported it - it seems that report put Fyffes in serious hot water - since Zabaneh still has that kingpin designation on him. Reports to 7News say that the Banana growers Association promptly sent out a letter to growers saying it is ending relations with Maya King - and will not be buying anymore of its bananas. This is a massive blow to Maya King - and to Belize's banana industry overall - since that farm produces almost a quarter of the bananas exported from Belize. We could not reach Zabaneh for comment - but needless to say, the severing of relations with the sole exporter of Belize's Bananas - which is the Banana Growers Association - could prove fatal to Maya King farms, unless something is urgently worked out. We could not reach John Zabaneh for comment today, despite numerous attempts.
Email
Print
For weeks we've been reporting on the difficulties that Johnny Zabaneh has been having at the Maya King banana farm in Stann Creek. It's the biggest banana farm in Belize and the one that was most affected by the drought which left the farm with tonnes of undersized bananas that do not meet export requirements. That left Maya King in a cash flow crisis - with not enough revenue to pay the hundreds of farm workers on its payroll - and no bank account to pay them from overdraft. Johnny Zabaneh went public with a plea for help - and it seems the international purchaser of Belize's Bananas heard him. As we reported, Fyffes agreed to help him with some bridge financing. And while Zabaneh told us that on record - and we reported it - it seems that report put Fyffes in serious hot water - since Zabaneh still has that kingpin designation on him. Reports to 7News say that the Banana growers Association promptly sent out a letter to growers saying it is ending relations with Maya King - and will not be buying anymore of its bananas. This is a massive blow to Maya King - and to Belize's banana industry overall - since that farm produces almost a quarter of the bananas exported from Belize. We could not reach Zabaneh for comment - but needless to say, the severing of relations with the sole exporter of Belize's Bananas - which is the Banana Growers Association - could prove fatal to Maya King farms, unless something is urgently worked out. We could not reach John Zabaneh for comment today, despite numerous attempts.