Opposition says it fully supports the farmers; even to strike
Francis Fonseca
Back to the press conference hosted by the Opposition. Prime Minister Barrow on Wednesday went on record to give government’s full support to the stance of the cañeros that they should receive payment for bagasse. P.U.P. leader, Francis Fonseca, today stated his government’s position, and it is the same. But that’s where any accord ends, because Fonseca says the government’s handling of the sugar cane crop impasse has been woefully inadequate. He lashed out at Barrow today.
Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader
“This is a very, very serious matter, it is not a political matter, it is a national issue, which requires leadership and it requires immediate intervention, we cannot allow one single more day to pass without solving this issue. It is going to affect the entire country of Belize; it is going to affect the entire economy of this country so we can’t allow it to fester any longer. The uncertainty certainly is not good for Belize. A meeting should have taken place already, we should have already have had a meeting in the Prime Minister’s office in Belmopan, bringing these parties to the table. So that we could move ahead with opening of the sugar cane the grinding season. And we certainly, I want to make it very clear, I want to place on the record very strongly that we reject in the strongest possible terms, the arrogance of the Prime Minster and then to so veil treat that he made to the cane farmers of this country. By saying that he was not going to fix the sugar roads, if they did not come to the table; well it is the governments duty, it is their obligation to have those roads ready for the opening of the cane season. That is their obligation, it should have been done already, to now try to hold that treat over the heads of our hard working cañeros is absolutely disgraceful.”
There is also discord in the matter of the threat by cane-farmers to suspend delivery of cane once the season starts. The government does not support that stance because of the repercussions of a delay or worse, no crop at all. The P.U.P., on the other hand, has taken the position that it will support the farmers all the way, up to and including any strike or protest action.
Fonseca, on this one you are full of it!! Trying to earn votes. You only support because you trying to levy the Cane farmers support. How can you support somthing that these caneros have no right to?
These people only seeing $$$$ but their claims are useless.
Why does it have to be the GOB to intervene? This clearly shows the low self esteem the BSCFA leadership has. Why cant they grow up, man up, and act like educated gentlemen, rather than begging the Gov. and Opposition to deal with ever tidbit they’re unhappy with. I’m gonna say it again, the unions and the leadership of the BSCFA will cause the unfortunate downfall of this industry in the north with this type of extremism!
“This is a very, very serious matter, it is not a political matter, it is a national issue, which requires leadership and it requires immediate intervention, we cannot allow one single more day to pass without solving this issue. It is going to affect the entire country of Belize; it is going to affect the entire economy of this country so we can’t allow it to fester any longer. The uncertainty certainly is not good for Belize.”
Contrast
“There is also discord in the matter of the threat by cane-farmers to suspend delivery of cane once the season starts. The government does not support that stance because of the repercussions of a delay or worse, no crop at all. The P.U.P., on the other hand, has taken the position that it will support the farmers all the way, up to and including any strike or protest action.”