A cane country controversey is making the news tonight.  

The genesis of it goes back to the last House meeting in mid December, when the Prime Minister said that $300 thousand in government funds was being allocated for the refurbishment of sugar roads in the Orange Walk District. 

But, with the zafra well under way, the works seem to be a little behind schedule. And even before works can officially begin there is a political squabble over the appropriation of these sugar road funds. 

That’s because according to Jose Mai, the PUP Area Rep for Orange Walk South, his division is being undermined by the UDP power bloc of Orange Walk East and Orange Walk North, whose area reps, he says, are cutting the cake in half for their constituencies.  

Jose Mai - PUP Area Rep, Orange Walk South
"The Prime Minister said that he would share the money with the areas that were producing sugar cane. I then found out that both the area rep for Orange Walk North and East Elodio Aragon have decided that they will spend this 300 thousand dollars in their constituencies. 150 thousand for Elodio Aragon and 150 thousand for Orange Walk North, of course San Estevan the minister is from there and his family are cane farmers from there. Now I am happy for the farmers in Orange Walk East you know but I don't like how he has treated the whole situation, it is unfair to just not give Orange Walk South anything for sugar road repair. Man we were in the sugar road whole of last week and this week and the conditions are deplorable, it is unfair to put the farmer under extra stress man. The price of sugar cane is even lower than last year, now is not the time for the government to be treating the farmers like this. What is even more unfair is to allow Elodio Aragon and Gaspar to greedy up the little money that was left and put it in their constituencies."

To corroborate his claims Mai sent us footage of what he says is a sugar road in San Estevan - in Orange Walk North. He says the road is in optimal condition.

In comparison he showed us, what he says, are the deplorable conditions of the sugar roads in the Orange Walk South division.

Conditions that, he says, caused a cane truck to topple earlier this week, resulting in huge losses for that farmer.