United Cane Farmers to become an official association

In others news in the sugar industry, the breakaway group in the sugar industry is no longer considered to be rogue. United Cane Farmers desired to be recognized as an independent group of farmers, separate from what they saw as an inefficient Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. But the Sugar Act did not allow for separation or independence and the group had to take government to court because they felt the act was unconstitutional. Hubert Elrington, attorney for UCFA, said that the tide turned in their favor yesterday when he got a call from the Solicitor General Oscar Ramjeet.

Hubert Elrington, attorney for United Cane Farmers Association
“The Solicitor General got in touch with me and indicated to me that they would be asking for an adjournment with a view to settling. They have apparently come around to the position that the position that they were taking cannot be defended. If the Act is struck down by the courts then that would create a chaotic situation in the north and that would not be in anybody’s interest; not in our interest, not the Cane Farmers’ Association interest, not the country’s interest. We have asked for an adjournment and an adjournment was given until twenty-third of September so that there can be negotiations to see what form the organization of the industry will take in order to replace this act which we still hold is unconstitutional.”

Jose Sanchez
“What amendments are you looking for your clients?”

Hubert Elrington
“We have to have the right to work in whatever industry you choose. So you can’t tell the cane farmer they must join an association or the factory cannot buy their cane and that sort of thing. That has to come out. Then you also have the freedom of association. You can’t say to them you must join or you are obliged not to join or to join, the freedom says you will do it if you want. Then in order to maintain the association, that has to be absolutely voluntary.”

Jose Sanchez
“Next cane season coming, will we see United Cane Farmers?”

Wilfred “Wille” Magana, Rep., United Cane Farmers Association
“Yes we will see United Cane Farmers working. I am so happy for this day because it has been over two years and it has been basically in evidence in what we have been saying in words for such a long time.”

Elrington said that the Attorney General and the cane farmers gave an undertaking that they would not do anything to change the status quo between now and the twenty-third of July and all parties must adhere to that decision.