As justification, Prime Minister Barrow indicated that it was essential that the bill be pushed through all stages because of the new associations in play, and the complexities involved in ensuring that all operate on a level playing field. And so, notwithstanding the protest by the opposition, Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega introduced those amendments. […]
That justification didn’t impress P.U.P. Leader Francis Fonseca, who then declared open season on the government, and on those he called their moles and cronies within the B.S.C.F.A. Fonseca says history will record that it was the treachery and betrayal of the government which forced caneros to their knees. Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader “We […]
Fonseca also reserved special attention for Prime Minister Dean Barrow, asking him why he has to be so rude…to attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd, that is. The P.M. recently referred to her as a junior grade, empty-vessel attorney. Francis Fonseca, P.U.P. Leader “What does ASR have over this Prime Minister and his government? What is really […]
Even as the debate raged inside the House, outside cane farmers and supporters were gathered in protest. There weren’t many of them – at peak probably fifty – but there was representation from the N.T.U.C.B., V.I.P., COLA, ROC and even random activists. Mike Rudon has that story from outside the House. Mike Rudon, Reporting […]
Inside the House today, Orange Walk Central Area Representative today handed out his share of licks to his colleagues on the government’s side of the House. He started by making fun of government’s ad on saving the industry, and of course took the opportunity to, in his words, remind them of just a few of […]
Briceño, after outlining what the P.U.P. has done for the industry, chastised the government for what he calls playing politics with an industry which affects the lives of fifty thousand persons in the north. John Briceño, Area Representative, Orange Walk Central “I dislike the idea that we are playing politics with an industry that […]
As we’ve heard, government took its licks today over an issue which is serious business. The government has come under serious and sustained fire during the weeks of impasse. Government has been accused of siding with ASR/B.S.I. against the farmers – playing big brother to those farmers and then withdrawing support at a serious time. […]
Like it or not, protest or not, duress or not…the general assembly of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association passed on Sunday a resolution to sign onto the agreement with ASR/B.S.I. That means that pending normal pre-crop procedures by the SICB and the SCPC – like verification of quotas and delivery schedule – the 2015 […]
Prime Minister Dean Barrow called a press conference just before noon stating that government is once again intervening to save the sugar industry. Actually, it wasn’t quite as simple as that. Apparently, even as ASR/B.S.I. announces signing agreements with splinter associations, it has also announced that it can’t sign on with the B.S.C.F.A. just yet. […]
Arising from ASR’s new stance, there is some speculation that the company is seeking to punish the organization for its insubordination, so to speak. And following from that, there is also some speculation that the company is seeking to deal the B.S.C.F.A. a death blow. At this point farmers are desperate to start the crop […]
Now here’s the thing. News Five has been reliably informed that if ASR/B.S.I. does open its gates to those Associations with which it has signed, farmers registered with the B.S.C.F.A. can also deliver, even without signing any agreement. Even if that is so, the Prime Minister says that is a scenario he has no wish […]
And so ends our coverage of the critically complicated sugar industry tonight. On Monday there will be a sitting of the House of Representatives, where the government will push through amendments to the Sugar Industry Act. Today, PM Barrow confirmed that it will happen. He says that he does not expect the crop to start […]
It was confirmed today that the Avian Influenza Type A has been detected in two poultry farms in the Spanish Lookout area, Cayo District. BAHA says the outbreak is limited and that measures have been put in place to prevent the poultry and poultry products from leaving the farms. BAHA is also mentoring other farms. […]
Even as the start of the sugar cane crop seems inevitable, the chaos within the industry continues unabated. Tonight, there is much to report—both from the farmers and the factory, which includes the signing of agreements with ASR/B.S.I. But we start with a midday press conference hosted by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. […]
When it comes to the government in this scenario, attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd pulled no punches. She believes that Prime Minister Dean Barrow deliberately and with great calculation did not speak the truth at his press conference last week. Barrow stated that the B.S.C.F.A. was misguided in seeking an order of Mandamus, which he said would […]
As we told you earlier, there is news to report not only from the farmers, but also from ASR/B.S.I., and it is fairly monumental. Early this morning two associations outside the auspices of the B.S.C.F.A. signed on to deliver cane. The signing comes on the heels of a release from B.S.I. on Wednesday stating that […]
So where does this leave the B.S.C.F.A.? Well certainly not in a better position than they were in before negotiations. In fact, there are those who expect that the Association will not be able to recover. Of course, there are those who will blame the government and/or ASR/B.S.I., and do, for the crumbling of the […]
That’s bad news for the Association, and there’s more. There’s allegedly a report circulating that ASR/B.S.I. is expressing some hesitation in signing with the B.S.C.F.A. branches who have expressed that they do so under protest. From what we’ve been able to ascertain, the position of signing under duress raises the possibility of future legal implications. […]
The protracted standoff between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and ASR/B.S.I. has been in the news headlines for weeks, but is the crisis finally coming to a resolution? That’s what we asked B.S.C.F.A. chairman, Ezequiel Cansino, today when we sat with him exclusively. Despite factions of the association proclaiming that they are signing the […]
Still yet, the petition to gather as many signatures approving the endorsement of the agreement has been described as B.S.C.F.A. yielding to pressure being brought by government, as branch directors have gone on record to voice their discontent for not getting the best deal. But farmers are cash strapped and after Thursday’s press conference by […]
Regarding the use of Fairtrade funds being paid out to farmers, Cansino says that the suggestion to replace the spent monies with PetroCaribe dollars is a singular idea coming out of a splinter group of the B.S.C.F.A. While agreeing that the disbursal will lead to decertification, Cansino says that the ball is already in play […]
Government has gone on a PR push to counter an abundance of flak for their role in the recent sugar debacle. While it is true that farmers have decided to sign on with ASR/B.S.I., effectively ending the impasse, many are doing so under protest. The prevailing sentiment is that G.O.B. turned its back on the […]
There has been some confusion as regards a court case in 2010, when other associations took legal action to fight for the right to deliver cane to the factory. That matter played out to an uncertain end – with both parties making concessions through a consent order. Government undertook to make amendments to the Act, […]
One of the three biggest stumbling blocks which stood in the way of resolution was the issue of ownership of the cane. The factory has maintained that farmers must relinquish ownership of the cane once it is delivered and weighed. Farmers are of the view that they share ownership with the factory, since they don’t […]
Acting first on behalf of cane-farmer Lucilo Teck, and latterly on behalf of the B.S.C.F.A., attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd sought an order of Mandamus from the Court. That order would effectively instruct the Sugar Industry Control Board to declare a start date of the crop, and force the factory to mill. The hearing is, or was, […]
