Fruta Bomba Hands Out Termination Letters

Excerpts from the Belize Centaur Cable Network broadcast
Friday, September 14, 2007

Belize Fruit Packers Ltd. and Fruta Bomba Limited are sister companies operating under the umbrella of Brooks Tropical located in Homestead, Florida. Today, approximately 800 employees total from both companies were handed their letters of termination. It’s a drastic step, but one that became necessary when Hurricane Dean practically flattened the papaya industry. Our news team was in Corozal and filed the following report.

Jorge Aldana - Reporting
The Papaya industry in Belize has been a fast growing industry, generating about 30 million dollars in revenue annually. But Hurricane Dean was a force to reckon with, and the losses to that industry were great. Consequently, approximately 800 papaya workers were given their letters of termination from both Fruta Bomba and Belize Fruit Packers.

Most of the workers that were let go are from Fruta Bomba. The others are from Belize Fruit Packers. Santiago Victorin is the Manager at Belize Fruit Packers and told us why the terminations are necessary.

Santiago Victorin – Manager, Belize Fruit Packers
“Basically we’re paying off the people that we laid off today. This is the two weeks notice and next week some of them will be getting another pay check in regards to severance pay and holiday.”

Jorge Aldana
“Why have they been laid off?”

Santiago Victorin
“There is no fruit as a result of Hurricane Dean.”

Jorge Aldana
“How many workers are we speaking about that have been laid off by the Belize Fruit Packers?”

Santiago Victorin
“Presently we have about 150 right now.”

Jorge Aldana
“And all will be laid off?”

Santiago Victorin
“Yes some of them are still working with us right now. I have about 80 of them working right now.”

Jorge Aldana
“Are they expected to come back?”

Santiago Victorin
“Yes. We should be able to crank up by November or December and they will be rehired again. I hope we will crank up soon so that these people won’t be affected so much.”

Essential workers have been retained by both companies and those that were let go are expected to be rehired when the company is fully up and running.

The company hopes that by November or December, the papaya industry will be back on its feet.