B.S.C.F.A. and B.S.I. Enter into One-year Interim Agreement

Sugar cane farmers in the north, represented by various associations, have signed a one-year interim agreement with A.S.R./B.S.I., effectively breaking a deadlock between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and the miller.  That means that the new sugar crop will likely commence on Tuesday, December twenty-seventh.  Earlier this week, Prime Minister John Briceño and Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai spoke about the failure of the mediation process, as well as a proposal that was placed on the table for all parties to enter into a twelve-month agreement while government revises existing legislation that pertains to the industry.  This morning, a joint press release was issued by the Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association and the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association indicating that they have entered individually into binding commercial agreements with the A.S.R./B.S.I.  Later on in the day, members of the B.S.C.F.A.’s committee of management, including Chairman Alfredo Ortega, signed on to the pact.  News Five spoke with Ortega by phone following the meeting.

On the phone: Alfredo Ortega

On the phone: Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A.

“Today, we finally agreed with BSI in regards to an agreement that we had, in a back and forth with them.  So this morning, they sent their signatures on it and also, we, the committee of management, signed on behalf of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association.  As you know, that was the portion that was awaited so that the SICB can declare or send to the government gazette that we are prepared.  Well the BSCFA has signed already, so that the crop can start, as put by the board, on the last meeting we had.”

Isani Cayetano

“What date is that?”

Alfredo Ortega

“Well, the starting of the crop will be the twenty-seventh [of December] because as the board agreed on the last meeting that the twenty-seventh was a proposed date, based in proviso, that BSI and BSCFA sign an agreement.  So that has happened now, so that date will be announced, should be announced today or latest tomorrow, that the twenty-seventh will be declared as the start of the crop season.”