Cane farmers squeeze out committee of management

In the north temperatures were running high as the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association ran into plenty trouble with its membership. Over a week ago, a number of its vehicles were crow footed by marshals of the court when the Association failed to make good on payments for fertilizers. The debt is being paid off, but coupled with persistent allegations of mismanagement prompted calls for a special meeting by the farmers to consider a vote against the top-heavy management committee. News Five’s Delahnie Bain was in the north for the contentious meeting.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

On Sunday, hundreds of cane farmers convened for a Special General Meeting and went head to head with management of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association.

The event was historic not only for the size of the turnout, but for the actions to be taken. Top on the agenda was the proposed suspension of the entire committee of management.

Marcel Cardona, Legal Representative, BSCFA

marcel cardona

“There are certain legal requirements how the committee of management is appointed and there is no provision under the law for the removal of the committee of management by this general assembly as the law currently stands. However, a resolution of no confidence was passed earlier in the current members of the committee of management.”

David Madrid, CEO, BSCFA

“They want to terminate the services of the eighteen directors, which includes the six members of the committee of management. They voted to suspend their pay and to immediately remove them from their roles and responsibilities, all their duties as of today.”

valentin carillo

Valentin Carillo, Cane Farmer, San Lazaro Branch, BSCFA

“Some of them are here because of the allowances and so forth and just to spite the cane farmers I believe that they would not perform as they are supposed to. So we have to pass a resolution to strip them of their responsibilities. The resolution that follows is to form an oversight committee—three from Corozal and three from Orange Walk—to supervise the projects that are already going on.”

Gregorio Espiritu was elected chairman of that Oversight Committee. With all the allegations of mismanagement being hurled at the suspended committee, Espiritu says he has already made it clear that he will run a tight ship.

Gregorio Espiritu, Chairman, Oversight Committee

“What I have told them is that I will not tolerate none of them to go away with funds from this association. They have to be straight and be very, very transparent to the farmers and work fast fir hem because we are farmers and we feel just like a farmer. I know what’s wrong and I need that to be corrected. That’s my position.”

The farmers also demanded the distribution of fertilizers that were long promised to them, but are still sitting in a warehouse.

Gregorio Espiritu

gregorio espiritu

“The fertilizer program that they are way back, they are not implementing it. Up to date they have not distributed one sack of fertilizer to the farmers.”

David Madrid

“I’ve always been under the thought that we shouldn’t give anything free, we should charge something. I have written a proposal for we charge them ten dollars per bag so that ten dollars can go to debt repayment program, which we are in desperate need of. By giving everything for free and not addressing our debts, we’re not addressing all the issues.”

But along with the fertilizers and other agrochemicals, the farmers also feel the association is holding out on the four point one million dollars in Fair Trade Funds.

Gregorio Espiritu

“The monies from the Fair Trade have been deposited two months aback, the cash and the farmers are very, very—they don’t like the situation.”

david madrid

David Madrid

“The problem is before I got there, there was never any policies to go with disbursements, to go with programs. We have to write a proposal for every program; a three year work plan. And we have to show Fair Trade that we are operating in a business type atmosphere. And that’s part of the slowness, part of what’s keeping it back.”

But those funds are particularly vital to the farmers because the current crop year has been noticeably poorer than in the past.

Valentin Carillo

“We are passing a time where cane farmers will receive seven dollars of second payment compared to last year’s twenty-two dollars of second payment. Those people who receive that money, the cane farmers, they have two things; one is that they owe the bank. Whoever owes the bank those seven dollars will go toward their loan. Whoever doesn’t owe, they will take that money not to invest in the sugarcane fields but for their running up to December when the crop season comes again. They will have it for food or whatever.”

In the end, cooler heads prevailed and the farmers were satisfied with the resolutions passed. They feel that with the oversight committee, which holds over until their AGM in October, the stagnant projects should see some progress. Delahnie Bain for News Five.

The BSCFA’s Annual General Meeting will be held in late October, where the farmer’s have the option of voting in a new Committee of Management.