BELCOGEN Sues B.S.C.F.A.

The Belize Co-generation Limited, Belcogen, has brought a claim against the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and four of its members. Belcogen is seeking relief for special damages to the tune of five hundred thousand dollars. They allege the association instructed and encouraged the other four defendants to trespass over B.S.I.’s land and unlawfully block access to cane farmers at the start of crop. Belcogen asserts the blockade prevented the delivery of sugarcane and sale to B.S.I. by the other associations. The blockade, they allege, prevented the production of sugar and bagasse, the by-product used to generate energy. The claim was filed on Friday and a press release today said it is to avoid further blockades. The release in part says, “the company views the December blockade of the mill as illegal because it exceeded the principle of civil protests and was operationally and economically damaging to not only the mill, but also farmers that sought to honor their contracts and deliver cane to the mill”. So, will the government take now step in to back the Association? Viewers may recall in December 2021 G.O.B. reportedly gave its commitment to the B.S.C.F.A. that it would take responsibility for any potential lawsuits that derive from the blockade. Here is that phone interview with Andrew Westby the Chairman of the Management Committee at B.S.C.F.A. from December.

Andrew Westby

On the Phone: Andrew Westby, Chairman, Management Committee B.S.C.F.A. [File: 31 December 2021]

“That will be in the government, the government will take hand of that, will handle that. They assured the farmers that they will handle that. We have a letter signed that was brought to me. PM personal got the copy to me at the conference room at B.S.C.F.A. office in front of the ministers and our directors. They will take full responsibility if any legal thing was brought against the association.”

Paul Lopez

“That’s what the letter says?”

On the Phone: Andrew Westby

“Yeah.”