And the PUP also issued a press release yesterday attacking the Government for even considering ending fuel subsidies for cane farmers.
Now, to be fair, the Barrow Administration never actually said that it would revoke those subsidies, but in an interview with CTV3 News last week, Agriculture CEO Jose Alpuche said that government is, quote, "coming under tremendous pressure by the International Financial Institutions to end the subsidies…" end quote.
The main subsidy is for fuel to the farmers.
The PUP rather dramatically says, quote, "This is another nail in the coffin for cane-farmers…The PUP condemns Government's position of always targeting the small man while protecting big business…" End quote.
But, is the Government indeed considering cutting the subsidies given to the sugar cane farmers? Today, the Prime Minister categorically dismissed the suggestion:
Reporter
"IFI's are pressuring to remove subsidies for the sugar industry, specifically."
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"There's no pressure on me; maybe there's pressure on poor Mr. Alpuche, there's no pressure on me. It's the first time I'm hearing about that. It wouldn't surprise me, because of course, the IFI's are always concerned about "subsidies" but that is a long-standing thing that no F.I. will force me to remove. So that's an end to that."
Email
Print