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THE BIG CREEK GROUP the Port’s current advantages will help it to compete more effectively with the only other major port in the country, 150 miles away in Belize City. “Currently they have the majority of the containerized business primarily because they are the oldest port in the country and for many years was the only port; vessels had no other choice,” Flores says. “But, we are pushing hard for our marketing efforts to generate more of the containerized business for us. The Port of Big Creek offerings are different from the port in the city. We have three along- side berths; therefore, we can accommodate three vessels simultaneously unlike the city port that operates only with a single trestle. We specialize in refrigerated cargo, we have facilities to accommodate 120 refrigerated containers, our stevedoring services are not unionized, and we have ample space for ex- pansion and growth. Our Port is in a protected quay and has, in place, redundancies in key areas to ensure reliability and efficiency.” Flores outlines some of the Port’s future goals and objectives: “We see Belize becoming a primary exporter of agricultural products to the Caribbean and Central America, and the Port becoming a world-class facility,” he states. “The Port’s mission is to provide a world class import and export alternative, harness its strategic geographic position to maximize cost saving opportunities, and, by extension, stimulate increased economic activity in the south while remaining com- petitive and secure. Its vision is to become a prominent, multifaceted, comprehensive, sustainable, and innovative port in the region, with a commitment to continue strengthen- ing the national economy, and improving the living and environmental conditions of Belize.” Regarding the Big Creek Group, as a whole, Flores believes that it needs to take active steps to shore up the country’s ba- nana industry, which has not grown signifi- cantly over the last several years, and espe- cially since Fyffes, which imports much of the country’s output, was recently bought out by Sumitomo Corporation, a major Japanese con- glomerate.“Who knows what these new owners will decide to do with Belize’s banana industry?” he wonders.“So,major decisionsmust bemade. If we’ve learned anything from the past,it is that we do not linger at crossroads.Wemust grab the opportunitywhilewe have the chance.Wemust put the industrybackon the path to growth and convince the newbuyers that we are here to stay and our niche in quality and specialized packag- ing is worth keeping.” Clearly, there are both big plans and big challenges ahead for the Big Creek Group. PREFERRED VENDORS n Sagicor Life www.sagicor.com Founded in 1840, Sagicor means “wisdom with heart.” The name reflects the nature of the financial advice and services it offers. Sagicor now operates in 22 countries in the Caribbean, the USA, and Latin America. It offers a comprehensive range of financial solutions — life, health and general insurance; investments; retirement and estate planning; home ownership; education savings; saving plans; money management; and more. n KeyPlex International Inc. www.keyplex.com KeyPlex serves the agricultural and the mosquito abate- ment community with highly-effective plant nutritionals and bio-control products. The company was founded in 1980 by Dr. Irwin Morse, a Miami surgeon and cancer researcher, and George Butler, a prominent Homestead nurseryman. n Arysta LifeScience www.arystalifescience.com