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World Down Syndrome Day

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GOB puts citrus act amendments on hold for negotiations

GeneralGOB puts citrus act amendments on hold for negotiations
Prime Minister Dean Barrow told Amandala this evening that government would hold off on amendments to the Citrus (Processing and Production) Act, Chapter 277, pending negotiations to resolve disputes between two camps of citrus growers—those running the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) and a group of major industry players who had resigned in July in a move to form a breakaway association.
  
Mr. Barrow confirmed that he had met with one camp of growers, the breakaway faction, last Thursday, while the other side had previously met with the Minister of Agriculture, Rene Montero, and Minister of Public Utilities and Stann Creek West Area Representative, Melvin Hulse.
  
Alan Slusher, financial advisor to the Government, has agreed to lead the negotiations.
  
“If there is no hope in hell at achieving consensus,” said Barrow, Government would have to proceed with the proposed amendments to the law.
  
Those proposals call for citrus growers to pay a “cess” or tax to be deposited into the Consolidated Fund – but which would later be paid into the account of the Association.
  
Barrow said he believes the bill is the handiwork of the current CGA directors, and they have blessed it and have been promoting it actively.
  
There are already indications that the emerging association challenging the CGA intends to also challenge the constitutionality of the bill.

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