Conflict Continues Within the C.S.C.P.A.
Just because the sugar crop has begun doesn’t mean trouble is over in the sugar belt. Two factions of the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association continue to be at odds with each other. One group, led by Everaldo Uk, a former Association Director, is calling a special annual general meeting on Sunday. But, another group, who say they are the legitimately elected Board of Directors, says the A.G.M. is fraudulent and being organized by a non-member. To give you some context, thirty-four members of the association claim that they were expelled after persistently clamoring for an election, and greater transparency. On the other hand, C.S.C.P.A. is on record saying these farmers were not expelled, but did not register during the October re-registration exercise. Last week, this internal feud erupted into a scuffle outside the compound of A.S.R./B.S.I. in Orange Walk. In that incident, the mill was reportedly not recognizing the farmers as members of the association, therefore, barring them from delivering their cane as association members. In the end, it was agreed that they would be allowed to deliver their cane as C.S.C.P.A. members, and that the conflict would be addressed internally. Well, Uk and his crew will be holding a special A.G.M. on Sunday, January ninth, and it appears they already have clearance from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Home Affairs. We spoke to Everaldo Uk over the phone about the purpose of this contentious meeting.
Everaldo Uk
On the phone: Everaldo Uk, Member, C.S.C.P.A.
“I just want to make it clear that the four members who are representing the Association, they have been illegal since 2018. Out of the seven directors that are supposed to be members of the board, it is only four of them that are now representing the Association. And, they have been illegal since 2018. Presently, they reelected themselves again, even though SICB does not recognize them as legal leaders representing the association. But, they insist that they are the ones that form the board of directors.”
Paul Lopez
“What do you mean by they elected themselves?”
On the phone: Everaldo Uk
“Since 2018 we have been clamoring for elections. Elections have never been done in the Association as according to our by-laws. Our by-laws clearly states that we should be having elections for the Board of Directors every two years. Remember that since the inception in 2015, we have not had an election. And, this has been the illegalities that these people have been playing. The government was trying to file an amendment particularly to have elections in the association. But, as you know the Senate has not taken the decision as yet. However, the Minister of Agriculture was the one trying to help the members from all the associations to be recognized, to have those elections. Where we are at the moment, we are not calling an election; we are calling a special General Assembly as approved in our constitution that we have our by-laws.”
