An Update on the Commercial Agreement Negotiations between A.S.R./B.S.I. and B.S.C.F.A.

The start of the 2021 sugar crop was delayed as a result of a standoff between the miller and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, over the commercial agreement. So today, A.S.R.’s Country Manager Mac McLachlan was asked about the state of affairs regarding the negotiations.

Mac McLachlan

Mac McLachlan, Country Manager, A.S.R. Group-Belize Sugar

“There is still a commercial agreement in place, we continue the discussion and I am very confident that the kind of relationships we’ve had with all cane farmers. Remember we have commercial agreements in place, long term ones, with three of the four associations. So I am very comfortable that these are good agreements that have withstood the test of time. Plus, as I have explained before, every investment we make, we end up sharing through that value share agreement with the farmers. So I think, when you look at it objectively, I think what we have is actually a very strong foundation for moving forward. And as I’ve said earlier on today, unity is key for us to be able to make the advantages and the viability that we need for this industry. If we can do that, we can go anywhere.”