Cane farmers square off with B.S.I. management
This morning, things in the Sugar City got sticky after cane farmers from the north went head to head with factory managers. The situation was simple: the truckers were tired of spending long hours waiting to deliver the cane, and the factory said its hands were tied. News 5’s Janelle Chanona was at the Tower Hill Factory and files this report.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This morning the smokestacks at the Belize Sugar Industry Factory did not billow their usual thick clouds, as a mechanical problem caused a temporary shutdown. But they stayed that way all day because during the delay, the farmers and truck drivers took the opportunity to protest the speed at which B.S.I. is accepting the sugar cane.
Silvino Bacav, Chairman, Douglas Branch Cane Farmers
“Just yesterday it actually order about six thousand tons, but they never tek it, only tek about four thousand, two hundred and change tons, and we had to stop it at 10 o’clock last night. And this morning it bruk down and they haven’t fixed it yet up to now.”
According to the farmers, the time spent waiting in lines to offload their cargo has become excessively long.
Janelle Chanona
“How many hours?”
Arnulfo Muñoz, Chairman, O.W. Cane Farmers Assoc.
“Eighteen hours.”
Janelle Chanona
“You wait in line?”
Arnulfo Muñoz
“Yeah, that’s too long.”
Janelle Chanona
“And when you get inside you have to wait a long time too?”
Arnulfo Muñoz
“Yeah, two, three hours inside the factory.”
According to B.S.I. management, the long lines are due to the amount of mud on the cane, caused mainly by mechanical reaping, which increases the time needed to filter the product.
Eduardo Zetina, Research Mngr., Cane Farmers Relations
“Rightfully, the way to prevent this problem is really to try to leave the mud and the soil out in the field. So the solution really has to be attacked from the field side. The factory can only do so much, and the factory right now is at its peak, it can’t do anymore with mud other than slow down and try to take out what comes in with the cane.”
By their own admission, the farmers say that mud is the root of the problem.
Arnulfo Muñoz
“The farmers bring too much mud… This week the farmers deliver forty-two thousand cane and five thousand point three mud. Just the cane comes to thirty-seven tons, five thousand in mud. That’s the problem, da the mud.”
But for the hundreds of men tasked to deliver cane to the factories, the solution was simple.
Arnulfo Muñoz
“The farmers no want, they stop today and fix your factory and start tomorrow, that’s what the farmers seh.”
After a midday meeting with the factory’s management, the cane farmers and truck drivers decided not to make any more deliveries today. However, it is expected that trucks will begin driving through the gates of the factory at 6:00 a.m. as usual tomorrow. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.
