Vega asks for B.S.I. and BSCFA to come back to discussion table

Gaspar Vega

As we said, the BSCFA has threatened that it will not make deliveries at Monday’s start of the next crop season if its request to receive a percentage of the profits realized from the use of bagasse in energy cogeneration is not met.  That warning, says Vega, should be taken seriously in light of what transpired a few years ago when B.S.I. attempted to introduce a core sampler.  Representatives of BSCFA, he continues, should keep in mind the best interest of the sugar industry.

Isani Cayetano

“As the mediator in this situation, how seriously do you take the threat made by the sugarcane farmers that they would cease delivery once these demands aren’t met?”

Gaspar Vega, Minister of Agriculture

“I think they are pretty serious.  I definitely believe that they are serious and that’s why I am here today talking to the people from ASR/BSI to take these threats seriously and at the same time the cane farmers also, the cane farmers association have to realize how serious the other party is.  And like I say they have both taken their position, all I am wishing for is that we don’t have any confrontation, we don’t want a crisis like the one we had just a couple, a few years ago.  I definitely am not ready to relive that one again.”

Reporter

“Did you seek an audience with the association prior to the start of the next crop season which is next Monday?”

Gaspar Vega

“We just, I just met with the manager, with the chairman of the management committee of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association just last week and the plea was the same to them to ensure that they meet with the leaders of BSI/ASR group and to ensure that whatever we negotiate for we do it in a sober, mature manner and to always have the industry at heart.  To me that’s the most important thing, for us to have a prosperous industry.  I think we have been able to see some growth in the last year and all the cane farmers are expecting more growth but if we start fighting one another I don’t know what that will tell in the near future.  How much growth will we be able to continue seeing continuously.”

With time running out for the start of the season, the situation remains volatile in one, if not the biggest industry, in the jewel.