C.E.O. Alonzo on B.S.I., “Any negotiation would still be futile.”

Also on the BSCFA/B.S.I. timeline was a request for government intervention.  This was done through the establishment of a ministerial subcommittee made of several three individuals, including Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa and Minister of State Oscar Mira.

Oscar Alonzo

Oscar Alonzo, C.E.O., Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association

“We know that we depend on the ministerial subcommittee to try to help us reach an agreement.  We have been sharing our position with them as well, I think they have been obtaining BSI’s position and we feel that at this point, bear in mind, I think the manner in which BSI has submitted their addendum, any negotiation would still be futile.  And this is why we have submitted a proposal, an amendment, and our members have approved that we do not sign a long-term agreement at this point, that we sign only a one-year agreement and that we have in this agreement, included now, that BSI would be the one that pays us the Fairtrade premium for any sugar it sells during this crop for which a Fairtrade premium is derived.  So basically, that is the mandate which our membership has given us and which we’ll be forwarding to the relevant parties as very soon.”