BSCFA elects new committee of management

Alfredo Ortega

Alfredo Ortega was installed as chairman five days ago to the BSCFA’s Committee of Management. On October thirty-first, a special meeting of the farmers was held to elect new members of the committee. That follows a vote of no confidence in July that stripped the former members of their responsibilities and compensation. Before their tenure ended, the directors of the former Committee ousted David Madrid on October fourth and Ortega says applications are now being reviewed for a new C.E.O.  But taking the reins after a difficult period, Ortega says he will take a more inclusive approach in management. Ortega named the other key members who were elected and spoke about his plans for the next fiscal year.

Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, Committee of Management, BSCFA

“We have both divisional chairmen; we have Mr. Jose Luis Rodriguez from Orange Walk and we have Mr. Roy Navarro from Corozal and we have the secretary, Mr. Jose Mahil and we have the treasurer, Mr. Ezekiel Cansino. The Vice Chairman is Mr. Adolpho Pat; he is from Corozal and he is the vice chairman of the Committee of management.”

Delahnie Bain

“We know there was some friction between the past committee of management and the cane farmers. What do you plan to do differently as the chairman?”

Alfredo Ortega

“Ma’am, as I mentioned, our plan is to work together with the cane farmers. I know that we have had problems before and those problems, we encountered them in the organization. Our plan is to engage in a different style of how we can bring out information to the farmers. I think one of our biggest problem is to bring out information to the farmers. We plan to work in a style where we will be engaging all eighteen directors in different sub committees so that we can better communicate to the farmers and not only to the farmers, but the community as a whole.”

Delahnie Bain

“Is there anything that you plan to take on immediately; any specific project or anything?”

Alfredo Ortega

“Well, presently ma’am, we are starting some sensitization meetings, where we will be informing the farmers in regard to the plans for this fiscal year that started in November. We will be presenting to the farmers the premium plan, the proposed projects that we will be presenting to them, the budgets and our plan is to work based on what the farmers will approve.”

Ortega also wanted the farmers to note that the herbicide distribution is delayed by the procedures necessary to meet Fair-trade requirements. But he assured that the deliver should be underway around the twenty-second of this month.