Internal Rumblings in the B.S.C.F.A.

Ezequiel Cansino

The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, established over fifty-five years ago, has existed as a recognized body representing the interests of eighteen branches. But that was until mid-January when government amended the Sugar Industry Act to allow for other independent groups to do business with ASR/B.S.I.   The amendment to that piece of legislation came as a last-ditch effort to resolve a protracted dispute between B.S.C.F.A. and the miller.  But there is a development tonight that the B.S.C.F.A. has been incorporated by an unknown faction within the organization.  On Friday, Chairman of the Committee of Management, Ezequiel Cansino, received information that B.S.C.F.A. has been registered as a company.  Directors, as well as the wider membership of the association, are expressing concerns about the consequences of incorporation.  This afternoon in Orange Walk, a meeting was held with B.S.C.F.A. attorney, Chris Coye, to determine the way forward in light of the recent development.  News Five spoke with Cansino earlier today who says the association remains uneasy.

Ezequiel Cansino, Chairman, B.S.C.F.A.

“That’s a big concern right now for the, let’s say for the management and also for all the cane farmers and members of the B.S.C.F.A.  We don’t know exactly how it happened but a group of farmers went and registered the B.S.C.F.A. as a company, that’s the understanding that we have.  We don’t know why they did it because we know that there is no need for us to register the B.S.C.F.A. in, let’s say as an association or a company, because when the amendment was done it was to us.  To our knowledge it was clear that the B.S.C.F.A. still exists as an association and it is recognized as an association and we did receive a certificate from the Belize Sugar Industry Control Board that we are a registered association.  Then it comes on Friday that we get to know that we are being registered as a company.  This is a surprise for us because we never expected that.  We are in contact right now with our legal advisor and in a while we will be having a meeting with him, waiting for him to come and so he can explain to us what is the real situation with this.  But maybe later on I could give more explanation on the issue.”