Did Briceño Administration Handle Stevedores Differently Than Caneros?

The standoff between sugar cane farmers and A.S.R./B.S.I. in the north, when compared to the logjam between stevedores and the Port of Belize back in January, bears some similarities. In both instances, the Government of Belize stepped in to mediate between the respective parties. While the end results varied, some feel the Briceño administration dealt with the caneros differently than it did with the dockworkers of the Christian Workers Union.  Here’s how PM Briceño responded to that question.

John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We are writing a check of one point five million dollars to the stevedores, for crying out loud. We are giving stevedores one point five million dollars, [that’s] one. Two, when we settled with the stevedores to open up, there was no threat of a lawsuit. With B.S.I. there was a threat of a lawsuit, no for us to be able to open up a factory then we told… because the farmers would not have opened the factory if B.S.I. did not pull back that indemnity.  So we decided, in the interest of the industry, in the interest of the country is to say, okay, we will give you an indemnity that should there be a lawsuit then government is going to respond. Now that does not mean now that we are going to take that lying down. B.S.I. is an important partner in this country. I don’t think it is in their interest to pick a fight with the government. There are a number of things that they will be asking of us, so if they are going to be fighting with us then obviously we are going to take a second look at whatever it is that they are asking. I do not expect that B.S.I. will come and say well, government you have to pay me.”