C.E.O. Oscar Alonzo, “Our sin is that we question.”

Oscar Alonzo

While the sugar industry remains in a state of crisis, C.E.O. Alonzo spoke to the membership of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and how they have remained resolute throughout this unpredictable period at the start of the new crop.

Oscar Alonzo, C.E.O., B.S.C.F.A.

“It’s unfortunate that we have reached this stage, but nevertheless, we have been able to ensure the support of our members which you have seen for the past two days.  That they have remained firm, they have come out in their numbers, they have come out giving their backing to us, contrary to what they have been letting our membership understand that it’s only us, only eleven, only nineteen men and women trying to lead you astray and making you lose your money by not being able to deliver cane.  You saw the loud clamor of our farmers out there, making the decisions.  We didn’t make the decisions, you heard it.  They are the ones that put the motions, we didn’t put the motions.  We gave them the information for them to make a decision.  So what is it that BSI really doesn’t want with us?  Our sin is that we question and if you question, we’re going to punish you.  And this is what we’ve gotten because we have questioned the veracity of costs.  We have questioned the discrimination that Tate & Lyle has done to us in not paying us our premium.  We have questioned their interpretation of the Fairtrade standards in trying to deprive us of our means.”