Will An Agreement be Met in Ongoing Sugar Impasse?
Tension in the north remains high and everything is being done by the Belize Police Department to prevent the situation between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, A.S.R./B.S.I. and the Government of Belize from reaching a tipping point. Earlier today, near the outskirts of Orange Walk, Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai met once again with the leadership of the B.S.C.F.A. at the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute, SIRDI. During that meeting, it was learned that Prime Minister John Briceño had aborted his personal leave and scheduled visit with Pope Francis at the Vatican and was on his way back to Belize to address this most volatile situation. January fourth makes one week since the start of the 2023/24 sugar crop and the situation involving the B.S.C.F.A. and the miller remains fluid. We begin our coverage tonight with reporter Hipolito Novelo who is on the ground in Orange Walk and has been following the latest developments in the sugar industry standoff. Good evening, Hipolito.
Richard Rosado
Dr. Richard Rosado, Commander of Operations
“We agree that once the people, the people have a right to demonstrate but they must do so peacefully and we are allowing them to do that. The thing is, we do have a continuum of strategy available to us. At this moment, we are trying to negotiate with them to remove the blockage and we are working with them before we move up the escalation continuum. So we are working with them.”
Reporter
“Sir, you guys are trying to avoid a confrontation as much as possible. Do you guys believe that these farmers will be moved because they are signaling and saying that…”
Dr. Richard Rosado
“We understand the fight of the farmers, we understand their fight and hence the reason they have our support and we have their support and they are communicating to us. All we ask is that whatever protest they take, that they do it peacefully. And we are with them and they are with us.”
Reporter
“Are you expecting any escalations at this point?”
Dr. Richard Rosado
“Not at this moment because negotiations are still ongoing and I am positive that they will reach a successful resolution.”
News Five’s Hipolito Novelo also spoke to a sugarcane farmer to share his thoughts on the issue.
Hipolito Novelo
“So how long unu wahn wait out ya?”
Sugarcane Farmer
Sugarcane Farmer
“As long as it takes, as long as it takes. We noh worry, God is with us.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So what exactly is it that you want? You say you are a third generation farmer, what exactly are you looking for from the meeting? Weh you want?”
Sugarcane Farmer
“Mek wih explain the [best] as I can. We cane farmers, we do all our expenditures: fertilizer, poison, people, work, cutters, flip, everything we pay. They discount all the expenses from us and what we are doing? The thirty-five percent da full pocket and the sixty-five percent weh leff fu we, we haffu deduct everything. What is left for we cane farmers, for our cutters? How much fi wahn sack a fertilizer? We noh get duty exemption like the company. Noh man, that noh fair for us. We need betterment for our country, our people and for our lives.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Is it frustrating for farmers?”
Sugarcane Farmer
“Very frustrating. Very. But you know, we take calm, take patience, because at the end of the day dis da fu we land, we live ya and we wah fight for it because da fu we land. Dis da fu we life, dis da fu we living, dis da fu we bread and butter.”
Hipolito Novelo
“How long have you been a farmer?”
Sugarcane Farmer
“Me? From I was seventeen years old.”
Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai was also an integral part of the meeting, and shared any updates he had.
Hipolito Novelo
“Minister Mai, any updates in terms of the negotiation?”
Jose Abelardo Mai
Jose Abelardo Mai
“We are meeting with the prime minister, we are moving to meet with the prime minister right now.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Do you notice that the farmers have grown impatient?”
Jose Abelardo Mai
“Yes, very much so. I am aware of that.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Will they get a decision now?”
Jose Abelardo Mai
“I am aware of that and we are going to meet the prime minister right now. There has to be a decision made today.”
Hipolito Novelo
“The meeting is taking place where?”
Jose Abelardo Mai
“It will take place somewhere in Orange Walk.”
Hipolito Novelo
“How long is that meeting expected to last? I ask because the farmers are saying they can’t wait any longer, they want a decision now, from your government.”
Jose Abelardo Mai
“Yes, sir. I understand the farmers, I understand their concerns and I understand the frustration. We are going to meet the prime minister now. We are trying to end this today, so we are in a very tough position right now.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So there you have it. Abi Mai, the Minister of Agriculture saying that he is on his way. What’s happening here is that we have farmers crowding the minister here. The farmers are trying to get a word with the minister, look at that. What’s happening is that they are blocking the minister from passing, cane farmers are blocking the minister. They do not want him to leave minister to leave.”
