B.S.C.F.A. Branch Chair Wants Dialogue with G.O.B. and the Millers
The projected prices for raw sugar sold to the European Union and on the world market have been on a downward trend. A decrease in profits was expected, despite the improved prices for direct consumption sugar in the Union and raw sugar to the U.S. But what’s ahead for the industry, which B.S.C.F.A. Orange Walk Branch Chair says, is in crisis? Alfredo Ortega hopes that dialogue with government and the millers can address the sustainability of the sugar industry.
On the Phone: Alfredo Ortega, Branch Chair, B.S.C.F.A., Orange Walk
On the Phone: Alfredo Ortega
“At this point no dialogue has started as yet because B.S.I. was very tight-lipped with regards to this information. Until today they released this information. They were holding on it that they were re-melting sugar to meet the amount for local consumption. That’s what they have mentioned in their information and that because of that, they were holding back the information and until today they released it because, according to them, last Thursday, they finalized producing the amount of white plantation sugar for local consumption. For the first time in our history for the second payment this information was withheld so strong that they didn’t want to take it out because to me they play out the numbers, they know how the numbers are played upon. And at this point in time, farmers on a whole, there are many speculations and different angles and many things that were said before. And now the reality is that we are six dollars and below for the second payment and really this is very hurtful for us. I think that there is much need from the government to look into this. I think that there is a necessity now for changes; the same way they changed the law for there to be more associations, that is the same thing that needs to happen for the manufacturers also. That not only them be the sole controllers of the marketing of sugar, but it should include members of the production sector and members of government into that committee so that better negotiations can be done.”
