Sugar Ministry says farmers backing out of agreement

The Minister of Sugar Industries Florencio Marin’s office announced today that he has been informed that the Belize Cane Farmers Association will not sign a modified agreement with Belize Sugar Industries Limited, B.S.I., for a one percent bonus on sales revenue for sugar produced this past year. The ministry says the agreement, which dates back to 1991, requires cane farmers to improve the delivery system for sugar cane in return for the bonus, but that B.S.I. has paid the one percent ever year since then despite the fact that no improvements have been made. The ministry says this year the Belize Sugar Cane Board, which has representation from both the Belize Cane Farmers Association and B.S.I., decided on a new approach that would pay the one percent for the 97/98 year, but next year if there is improved performance, one percent would be split in half, with fifty percent going to the farmers and fifty percent going to a Sugar Industry Development Fund. The proceeds of the fund would be used, says the ministry, to assist cane farmers improve their cane harvesting and delivery practices resulting in a higher sugar yield. The ministry says the Chairman of the Sugar Cane Board, David Gibson has asked the Cane Farmers Association to review the situation to determine how its earlier commitment to sign the agreement can be adhered to. News Five was told the executive of the Cane Farmers Association was meeting to discuss the issue this afternoon at their Orange Walk office and we hope to have their comments tomorrow.