BSCFA Makes Presentation to Cabinet amidst Commercial Agreement Negotiations
On Tuesday, Cabinet heard a presentation from the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. According to Prime Minister Briceño, in light of the ongoing negotiation between B.S.C.F.A. and B.S.I., Cabinet has taken the decision to hear presentations from both parties. We asked the Prime Minister about the takeaways from yesterday’s presentation. Here is what he told us.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Cabinet felt like it was important for us to listen to both sides. This is something, an ongoing problem with BSCFA signing an agreement with BSI, and it is something that has gone for way too long. So, we felt as a Cabinet it would be important to invite both parties to come in and make a presentation so we could get a better in-depth understanding. A few of us have a fairly good understanding of it, but most of the Cabinet doesn’t because they don’t follow the sugar industry. For instance, I am from the sugar belt, so it is obviously it is in my interest to be able to keep our hands on that. So, they made a presentation and they made some good points on how is it they can leave a fairer agreement that would then seek to ensure they get a fair share. They believe there are certain charges BSI is making that is unjustified or need to be done differently. So, we listened and we asked questions. But, it is not for us to make any kind of decisions. Now, we are going to hear the next side form BSI and hear what their postion with this negotiation is. It is important to point out that we cannot legislate away this issue between these two organizations because both groups are private entities. If we are to legislate in favor for the farmers, BSI is going to take us to court. If we were to do differently, the cane farmers are going to take us to court. So, all we can do is try to be an honest broker, try to find how we can compromise on both sides and how it is that we can find a more fair and transparent agreement that would benefit both sides. As I tell everybody, we cannot have a sugar industry without the cane farmers and we cannot have a sugar industry without the factory.”
