Deputy Prime Minister meets with B.S.I. and A.S.R. to diffuse tension in sugar industry

Executives from the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association were purposely absent from a meeting on Garifuna Settlement Day. With the clock ticking, this afternoon, C.E.O. Joey Montalvo of B.S.I. and ASR Vice President, Ricardo Lima met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Gaspar Vega.  The purpose of the meeting was to urge the company to return to the negotiating table and reach an amicable agreement with the cane farmers association regarding the millions of dollars in revenues generated from the use of bagasse.  According to Vega, government is trying its best to avert industrial action.

Gaspar Vega, Minister of Agriculture

“As you know, there was an intention on having a meeting yesterday to go back to the negotiating table.  For different reasons the cane farmers association did not show up and we are very concerned, the government is very concerned.  We would like this line of communication to stay open to ensure that we have a crop this year.  It is of high importance to us to have a crop because that’s our industry in the north and one of the biggest if not the biggest industry in Belize.  So basically what our role is to ensure that both parties come back to the negotiating table so that they can come to a common understanding so as for us to have a crop that we need.”

Isani Cayetano

“What is the latest development coming out of this meeting this afternoon?  I know you guys met to discuss the state of affairs but what is the most salient thing coming out of this afternoon’s meeting?”

Gaspar Vega

Gaspar Vega

“The most important thing as I have been telling both parties is that they have to go back to the negotiating table, they have to because they won’t be able to arrive to any agreement if they don’t meet and discuss and they have to learn to compromise, you know.  That is life.”

Reporter

“Sir do you believe that the cane farmers plea to request payment for the bagasse is rational?”

Gaspar Vega

“I would not want to be put in that position.  I would like both parties to come to a common understanding and to realize how important the industry is to our entire country.  I would like the cane farmers to be able to get the best deal possible.  The entire government would like that but at the same time we have to recognize certain limitations within the industry, within our plea for more payment.  There are limitations on both sides and that is what both parties have to learn to recognize to be able to talk to each other without confrontation.”