Independent Expert Hugh O’Brien confirms port charges as justified in BSI-BSCFA commercial agreement, expresses disappointment in BSI’s press release

By Aaron Humes: Following an analysis of port fees conducted, independent expert Hugh O’Brien confirms that throughput fees for the export of molasses and bulk raw sugar at the Big Creek Port and terminal handling charges for the export of direct consumption sugar at the Port of Belize are justified port charges. This is according to a press release issued by the Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) on Friday.

The analysis was commissioned as part of a two-year commercial agreement between Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) to resolve a dispute over the charges. At the suggestion of Prime Minister John Briceno, who brokered the impasse in January 2024, both parties agreed to use the services of Hugh O’Brien as the independent expert to resolve the matter.

The BSI release says that O’Brien’s report, submitted on May 2nd, also found that the sugar industry is saving significant costs due to the transition to the Port of Big Creek, thanks to more efficient loading processes.

According to BSI, the charges will remain in the commercial agreement, and cane price estimates for the 2023/24 crop will stay unchanged as a result of the findings. BSI expressed gratitude for O’Brien’s work and hopes all stakeholders can move forward from this matter.

Breaking Belize News (BBN) contacted Hugh O’Brien who refused to comment on the details in the report as he cited a confidentiality agreement he had to sign with BSI. In an exclusive interview with BBN, O’Brien explained that his report is 32 pages long and includes a detailed analysis of the charges.

“During the analysis, I kept both parties abreast of the scope of work, the information I had access to, as well as the progress and initial outcomes of the work I was undertaking,” O’Brien told BBN.

“I am very disappointed that BSI issued a unilateral press release. It would have been better for a joint BSI-BSCFA press release to have been issued. In my humble view that would have been a very important confidence-building initiative which is so critical for the growth of the sugar industry.”

According to O’Brien, the BSCFA has not yet met with their full directors, branch and group leaders, and general membership and the issuing of a unilateral press release by BSI in his view is premature and works against building trust and confidence in the industry.

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