Functions of the Board

(1) The functions of the Board shall include the following– (a) requesting, receiving and dealing with returns from manufacturers and the cane farmers; (b) acting as arbitrators, when requested, in any dispute, issue or disagreement arising between manufacturers and the Association, and issuing decisions which shall be binding upon the parties which requested such arbitration; (c) advising manufacturers and the cane farmers on any matters in connection with this Act which they may refer to the Board; (d) advising the Minister on the granting of licences to manufacturers, exporters and importers of sugar, ethanol or any derivative of sugar cane and on the control of sales in Belize of sugar, ethanol or any derivative of sugar cane, including the fixing of the prices thereof; (e) fixing, in respect of each year, after consultations with the manufacturers and the association, the period or periods to be known as the grinding season during which manufacturers shall accept deliveries of sugar cane from growers and cane farmers; and specifying by order published in the Gazette Sugar Industry Act 13 the commencement and termination of each grinding season; (f) borrowing and taking up, at interest or otherwise, any sum or sums of money for any purpose connected with this Act, and dealing in any way with the property of the Board, both real and personal, as will give full effect to the Board’s functions and objects; (g) arranging, if requested to do so, to conduct and/or supervise elections to the branches of (h) hearing and determining, where there is more than one manufacturer, complaints and disputes arising out of the provisions of Part IV; (i) receiving and approving the yearly cane farmer register submitted by the SCPC and hearing and determining any appeals by any cane farmer dissatisfied with the terms and conditions under which a cane farmer has been registered; and (j) generally doing all things incidental or conducive to, or consequential upon, the attainments of the Board’s functions and objects. (2) The Board shall be assisted in carrying out the functions conferred upon it under sub-section (1) by the Sugar Cane Production Committee, the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute, the Sugar Cane Quality Control Authority and any other entities established under this Act.