B.S.C.F.A. Says B.S.I. Using Intimidation Tactics

Before an agreement was reached, attorneys for B.S.I. sent a letter to Elvis Reyes, Chairman of the B.S.C.F.A., threatening the association with a lawsuit over B.S.I.’s economic losses. In the letter, Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith of Marine Parade Chambers LLP says that “the illegal blockade of the Philip Goldson Highway has prevented cane farmers and sugar cane associations from delivering sugar cane to B.S.I.’s mill and is causing substantial economic loss. These losses increase with each additional hour and day the B.S.C.F.A.’s illegal blockade continues.”  Smith tells the B.S.C.F.A. to desist from any illegal actions to minimize its liability. Responding to the letter was B.S.C.F.A.’s Vice Chairman Alfredo Ortega, who described the letter as an intimidation tactic.

Alfredo Ortega

Alfredo Ortega, Vice Chairman, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A.

 “We received that letter that was sent to us and that only show another way of intimidation to members of the BSCFA. We saw the letter. I think we have sent it to our lawyer so she can review. We haven’t got any response from her as yet, but I do believe that that letter is only a letter of intimidation because we didn’t block BSI. We didn’t block no way. What was done here was  very simple  and it was not in what they have placed in their letter, reducing or trying to  stop the trucks from going to B.S.I. Nothing like that. It was only to send a message to our government that enough is enough and we want them to react so that we get into what we have get today. It has nothing to do with BSI, so I don’t see why is it that they brought out this letter of intimidation. I will use that word of intimidation on which that is their tactics that they have done always.”