Will Cane Farmers Refuse to Supply Cane if No Negotiations?

Oscar Alonzo

So, what is the association’s alternative if an agreement is not reached before the reopening of the crop season? We asked if they intend to hold the industry hostage as a majority sugar cane producer.

Oscar Alonzo, Executive Director, B.S.C.F.A.

“You are talking the same way B.S.I. has said, and I understand your concern. But, this is not the way we are thinking. We are not thinking of holding hostage anyone. We are thinking of trying to form the best foundation of the delivery of our cane to the mill. But what we are concerned, I think B.S.I., we understand, has been using its employees to get our members to panic and to want to either sign individual contract or to join other associations. I think this was revealed yesterday by the Sugar Industry Control Board, that there have been deliberate by the B.S.I. Board to provide false information; this is false information to our members, that they don’t have a contract that if they want to deliver cane leave B.S.C.F.A. and go to another association. We want to say publicly, we advise our members, record these statements that are being made by these officers when they give you. We will use that as an allegation of B.S.I. trying to undertake unethical trading practices in dissuading our members from remaining as members of our association. Those are unfair and immoral practices that fair trade those not tolerate. And if we have to take certain actions, send allegations of fair trade of this, this is really disruptive activity.”

In response to this allegation, A.S.R./B.S.I. says it has written an Open Letter to all cane farmers, not just members of any association. The company says it has shared information that will “inform farmers to make decisions on the way forward regarding sustainability and viability as an industry.”