Cane farmers protest ministerial appointments
In Belize’s national elections, a voter must be over eighteen, a Belizean and registered to vote. To vote in Branch Council Elections of the Belize Cane Farmers’ Association, a voter must have delivered twenty-five tons of sugar cane. To vote by proxy, you must have a signed authorization. Master lists of voters are complied and are on hand when elections are conducted. But according to the Cane Famers’ Association, a number of ineligible people tried to vote in two of this year’s Branch Council Elections. Protests were made and the elections called off. And although the law says they have until October thirty-first to elect their councils, this week, the Minister of Sugar Industries, Florencio Marin appointed councils for them. The Minister says he was invoking his powers under the Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association Act, but the cane farmers are now accusing the Minster of trying to “hijack” their association. After several days of fast and furious press releases and counter releases, this morning the cane farmers of Orange Walk and Corozal called an emergency press conference in Belize City to state their case. They were accompanied by their lawyer.
Edelfino Kay, Chairman, Orange Walk Division
“We are trying our best to do whatever we can. We want a peaceful solution but like I said before, we have our limits and can’t do anything more in that manner. Well, I don’t know what will happen. I just can’t tell you but someone will be held responsible for what happens in the future.”
Members of the Belize Cane Farmers Association are accusing the Executive Secretary of the Belize Sugar Cane Board, Jose Cawich, of engineering Branch Council Elections held in the villages of San Narciso and Patchakan on the sixteenth and eighteenth of October. They allege that in both instances Cawich had his own list of voters that allowed ineligible farmers to vote. The Chairmen objected and according to the members present, Cawich walked out, calling off the elections. Pedro Cob, the Chairman of the Patchakan Branch Council says he approached Cawich about the discrepancies during the meeting.
Pedro Cob, Chairman, Patchakan Branch Council
“I went to the secretary and tell him that this lady was not called, she was never called, her name but that lady has come and vote. So I went to tell the lady that she is not going to vote because she is not a member of the cane farmers. The secretary continued calling names by bunches, he just called, I can say, like crazy.”
Cob says when he again objected to the woman being given a ballot, Cawich left the meeting on his own. A press release from the Government of Belize says Cawich left the meeting when “fractious elements” from the association did not allow the elections to continue. Minister of the Sugar Industry, Florencio Marin, under the Sugar Cane Association Act, then appointed members to the Branch Council. The association says there was no need for that action to be taken and say the videotapes of both meetings will prove it. They have sought legal assistance.
Dean Barrow, Legal Advisor
“It seems to me that it is obvious that the whole thing was prearranged. As soon as they objected, the secretary said, elections cancelled and Marin appoints another person. And if they don’t object then the irregularities take place, obviously resulting in skewed elections.”
The Association has requested a special board meeting with the Chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Board, David Gibson for Monday October twenty-fifth to discuss their complaints.
Edelfino Kay
“But now we hear that the Minister has already exercised his powers and what is the point of discussing something that has already been done but nevertheless… we will be there. Maybe something will come up like what Mr. Pott said, maybe it was a mistake the Minister made and maybe he can retract on his decision.”
Janelle Chanona for News Five.
Jose Cawich, the Executive Secretary of the Sugar Cane Board, could not be reached for comment.
