Ecuador’s banana industry continues with harvesting, production and transport as well as exports despite a state of emergency declared earlier this week following the prison break of a gang leader leading to violence flaring up in different areas during the week.
(Left) Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa Azin with military leaders. Photo: General Secretariat of Communication of the Presidency.
According to Ing. Richard Salazar, executive director of Ecuador’s Banana Marketing and Export Association (Acorbanec), “the situation in the country is returning to normal, the military is taking control of the country. Banana production and exports are normal, roads open as well as ports and shipping companies are working normally. Starting today I believe that the country is going to change for the better, changes are going to be made in the constitution and laws to toughen punishment for drug traffickers and terrorists."
Following the prison break a sudden internal armed conflict developed in the South American country that briefly impacted some banana producers on Wednesday. On Monday night, a 60-day state of emergency was called in Ecuador following a well-known gang leader escaping from his prison cell. Since then, alarming events such as masked gunmen breaking into Ecuador’s public television channel and other violent incidents have been reported across the country.
José Antonio Hidalgo, the executive director of the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE), says disruptions were minimal on their industry. “The president declared the state of emergency because it was necessary to confront the different irregular groups in our country. The banana production business continued as usual. There were some people who did not go to work but operations are continuing normally. There’s movement of trucks, the ports are operating etc. The authorities planned security protocol on primary highways and within ports. We are coordinated with the authorities.”
A large player in Ecuador’s banana sector said the banana industry is crucial for the country, but not majorly affected: “The banana supply chain never stops, only on Wednesday, I assume that 20% of the pack stations schedule for Wednesday reschedule for today (Thursday). Remember that inside Ecuador there’s no market for bananas to trade so any gang that steals a big truck it will have no commercial value, unlike shrimp, cocoa or other products, those industries stopped yesterday because of no security guarantees.”
The Presidency of the Ecuadorian National Government confirmed in a bulletin yesterday that through several military and police operations they have arrested the escaped prisoners and are restoring order countrywide. This allows the very large banana industry to continue operations while the police and military guard key highways and port infrastructure.
For more information:
Richard Salazar
Acorbanec
Tel. +593 42136348
Email: rsalazar@acorbanec.com
www.acorbanec.com
For more information:
Jose Antonio Hidalgo
AEBE
Tel: +593 96 402 9141
Email: communications@aebe.com.ec
www.aebe.com.ec