PM Briceño Says Two Years Too Much for Interim Agreement between B.S.I. and B.S.C.F.A.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Last night, we told you that A.S.R./B.S.I. is proposing a two-year interim agreement with B.S.C.F.A. under the same conditions as last year’s crop. Well, Prime Minister John Briceño says B.S.I.’s two-year agreement is too lengthy a term. According to the P.M., the government will intervene to propose a one-year interim agreement. During that one-year period, earnest and serious attention will be given to the issues that are preventing B.S.C.F.A. and B.S.I. from striking a compromise. We caught up with the prime minister at an event in Ladyville today. 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“To be honest with you, I have not seen the mediation report. I am waiting for that. They are supposed to give me a copy. I hope I could get it before Friday. That is in two days time. The mediation efforts came to an end I think Friday or maybe late Saturday. Both sides, I think it is an issue where both sides have to find a way where they can compromise to come up with something that is going to be working in the interest of everyone. As I mentioned, BSI cannot exist without the farmers and the farmers cannot exist without BSI. Us as a government we have to be able walk that thin line in finding a balance. We have been doing everything to encourage the process so that they can find common ground. We are not there yet. I am still hopeful that we can get there. The plan now is that we are hoping, we are asking, I know BSI issued a press release saying they are prepared to sign for two years. But we believe we don’t need two years. We are going to ask for one year for both of them and now to work with them in earnest, now seriously, that probably BSI can present the actual cost of manufacturing the direct consumption sugars for instance, the actual cost to get to the net strip value, as part of the negotiations so that then the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association can also see and convince themselves that BSI is right, maybe not. So, that I think we need to look at as a next step. So, we are going to be asking them for a year. We will be inviting BSCFA to address the Cabinet. Mr. Mai has for sometime want us to meet with them so we will probably invite them early. Then we will have invited BSI also to hear both sides. But, at the end of the day the Belize Sugar Industry is one of the most important industries in the country and as a government we need to be able to see it move forward.”