The Port of Big Creek, a subsidiary of the Big Creek Group, has a close relationship with Belize’s banana industry. Throughout its history, the Port has played a vital role in the development of both the Port and the Big Creek Group. In the early 1980s, the banana industry, which was previously owned by the government and managed by foreign companies, was facing the threat of collapse. The government of Belize recognized the significance of the industry, both in terms of employment opportunities and foreign currency generation, and sought to prevent its decline. With the UK providing preferential market access to Belize’s bananas due to the country’s former colonial ties, efforts were made to improve the efficiency and quality of the shipping process. However, the small production size and the manual loading of barges for transshipment to the UK via Guatemala were cost-ineffective and resulted in significant quality issues.
