Recap of farmer’s protest at Tower Hill
The unfortunate shooting death of Anastacio Felix Gutierrez, a farmer of the village of San Victor in the Corozal District, has stunned the north and the nation, unnecessary as it was when security forces opened live fire on the striking farmers. Duane Moody looks back at the worst strike to be recorded in recent memory.
Duane Moody, Reporting
It first started last week Tuesday and on Monday the strike by cane farmers in the north spiraled out of control. One farmer was killed when the security forces fired live rounds at the protesting farmers. We take a look back at the events that led up to Monday.
Carlos Magana, C.E.O., Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association
“The cane farmers are definitely not happy with the cane payment systems, by the usage of the core sampler. In that case, they have requested that it be suspended. The administration is hundred percent in support of the request by the farmers. No, they are not in anyway doing something wrong. They asked them to volunteer and they did it but what has happened is that there is two many fluctuation between one payment and the other and we can say that it is because a can field is being burnt; from that same cane field a truck may be paid forty or forty-two dollars per ton in that truck and from that same cane field the other truck load might get six or seven dollars less and that is what really has affected the cane farmers. And that is why we in administration have pointed out that there are certain things we believe that are not done in the correct manner.”
Representatives from the Sugar Industry and the Government met later that day. But three days and numerous meetings after, a decision was still not reached on whether the use of the core sampler would be suspended. Over the course of the weekend, the cane farmers convened and decided to step up the strike. This was still no word from Belmopan and Prime Minister Barrow. The events intensified early Monday morning when access to the Orange Walk Town—at mile fifty-eight, the tower hill bridge and the BSI grounds— was cut off. And tension grew as farmers upped their demand from suspension to the removal of the core sampler. In the early afternoon, the PM held a conference that was being heard in Orange Walk Town by the agitated farmers.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“If I don’t hear from them by four o’clock, then the security forces of this country will do what they need to do to clear the roads and to ensure that innocent, law abiding citizens can go about their business. There is no problem with negotiations on my side and BSI has assured me that the same is true for them, but I will not negotiate in the context of a mob scene. Secondly, in terms of the issue that has provoked all this, I am open to what the farmers have to say. BSI assures me that it is open to continued dialogue. Finally, while the security forces will be asked to exercise every restraint, the people in this country need to know that law and order will prevail and the farmers need to respect the rights of others. We have exercised a great deal of restraint so far. They have every right to advocate their cause but then let’s do so in a way that we see them still within the bounds of the law and we see them respect the rights of other citizens of this country.”
But this was no music to the ears of the farmers and the crew grew hostile.
Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney, Cane Farmers
“If you do not move they are prepared to come in, confrontation will happen, people will get arrested, unfortunately people will get hurt. If you are prepared to do that then you stay. I cannot tell you what to do; you decide what you want to do. I can’t tell you what to do.”
Alejandro Gonzalez, Cane Farmer
“This morning everybody was calm but the Prime Minister wants to attend to Belize first and deh noh have no cane farmers are not in Belize. The cane farmers are in Orange Walk and Corozal. If he would have said that he was going to meet us in Corozal, we have cane farmers in Corozal.”
The farmers headed to the BSI compound in full force, intending to physically remove the core sampler. But they were met by the riot squad who used live rounds. One cane farmer was killed and many injured.
Late Monday and seven days after the strike began, the PM announced the Core Sampler was suspended. Duane Moody, for News Five.
