While it has not to our knowledge become an official inquiry, there is increasing discussion in the B.S.C.F.A. asking government to roll Petrocaribe monies into the Association. According to officials, thanks to the forced disbursement of Fairtrade monies recently, there will be almost immediate layoffs and the shutting down of projects. They figure that since […]
It is safe to say tonight, that the sugar industry has plunged into further chaos. According to stakeholders, there is still abundant uncertainty as to when the mill at Tower Hill will crank up to give way to the start of the crop. Five hundred thousand tons of cane is required by ASR/B.S.I. but that […]
According to Ortega, the P.M.’s press conference last Thursday was unfairly weighted as it appeared that he was in support of ASR/B.S.I. While P.M. Barrow openly said that he expected the application for an order of mandamus to fall flat, the Supreme Court has set a date for the fourth week in February to hear […]
Ortega further explains the reason why farmers believe that they have been cornered into signing the agreement. Alfredo Ortega, Former Vice-Chairman, B.S.C.F.A. “That has caused a situation among the farmers because they have said, “Well, we’ve listened to our prime minister on which he said that he is not in favor of the farmers […]
There is some movement, though little happiness, in the sugar industry tonight which has been in crisis for months now resulting in a delay of the 2014 sugar crop. News Five has confirmed that over the weekend, B.S.C.F.A. directors were tasked with going to their individual branches and taking a vote on whether to sign […]
As Cansino mentioned, there are branches who have decided to disassociate themselves completely from the B.S.C.F.A. Now can they legally do that? Prime Minister Dean Barrow says that they can, but other parties and attorneys have said that they can’t. But legally or illegally, some of them intend to branch off. And even if it […]
And that brings us to the Fairtrade disbursement of four million dollars. Up to Friday, we understood that following warnings from that certifying body, Finance Committee Chairman, Javier Keme, had refused to sign checks. But he did, and today three branches – Guinea Grass, Patchakan and San Estevan have already received their checks. This means […]
As has become apparent, the backs of farmers have been broken by a combination of ASR/B.S.I.’s inflexible stance, and G.O.B.’s deliberate withdrawal from the equation at a critical juncture. In the next couple of days all farmers are likely to have signed on to the agreement with the factory, for better or worse. The P.U.P. […]
According to Fonseca, the signs of today’s sugar cane debacle were foretold when the government refused to allow cane farmers to purchase controlling shares in B.S.I. He claims that a P.U.P. government, from that point, would have sided with the farmers. That was not done, and according to the P.U.P. leader, neither has there been […]
Even as the Opposition has its say, and expresses full solidarity with and support for the cane farmers of Belize, the fact is that at this point cane farmers have run out of time, backative and options. They certainly cannot wait for February twenty-third and a possible Mandamus order. So they will sign…which means that […]
Cane-farmers, those called the “radicals” by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, this morning got a green light from the Supreme Court to argue for an Order of Mandamus against the Sugar Industry Control Board. That substantive hearing is weeks away on February twenty-third. The intent is to convince the Court that the SICB does have the […]
“Foolishness on top of foolishness…nonsense placed upon stilts.” – Those words were used by the Prime Minister on Thursday to describe the notion by farmers, described by him as radicals…that they could get the Court to move on the Mandamus Order. But the Court has moved, quite decisively. And that brings into scrutiny a very […]
We note again that the impact will be felt on the ground by farmers, not by attorneys in a Courtroom. The reality is that as things stand now, there is absolutely no stability in the industry, and none of the stakeholders know what will happen next. In his press conference on Thursday, Prime Minister Dean […]
Ezequiel Cansino is the overall head of the largest cane-farmer branch in San Estevan, responsible for one hundred and fifty tons of cane. He is in the unenviable position of being Chairman of the BSCFA as well as branch director. And he’s torn between the two. The BSCFA has been instructed by cane-farmers to go […]
So the sugar cane industry is in turmoil and as we said at the beginning, nobody knows what will happen next. If the wish of government and ASR/BSI comes true, individual associations or an alliance of groups will sign the agreement to deliver five hundred thousand tons of sugar cane immediately, and the crop will […]
An organization has remained in the corner of the B.S.C.F.A. is the National Trade Union Congress of Belize which reaffirmed its solidarity with the farmers earlier today. The NTUCB demonstrated its encouragement for the association a few weeks ago and came under fire from government for being arrogant in the extreme. Notwithstanding the castigation, the […]
The NTUCB has also caught flak for seemingly leading the BSCFA impetuously. The release essentially goes on say that the NTUCB categorically refuses to fold under insults from government and that it’s primary focus is to lend continued support to BSCFA in an effort to safeguard the longevity of the organization. Rebecca Suazo, General […]
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also weighing in on the sugar crisis and is calling for a peaceful resolution to the existing debacle focusing on the impact the standstill is having on the local economy. The sale of sugar on the world market accounts for over a hundred million dollars in foreign […]
Equally affected by the ongoing logjam is Port of Belize Limited. The company does significant business with ASR/BSI and is experiencing cash flow issues as a result of the impasse. According to Vasquez, the ripple effect is far-reaching and stevedores at the port are also feeling the pinch in their pockets. Arturo Vasquez, Receiver, […]
There is perhaps an unprecedented level of turmoil in the sugar industry tonight. The issues delaying the start of crop are complicated, but we’ll keep it simple. On Sunday cane-farmers voted to reject the signing of an agreement with ASR/B.S.I. Instead, they instructed the B.S.C.F.A. to seek the intervention of the SICB to force the […]
And certainly the government is not prepared to see American Sugar Refinery close its doors. After clarifying ASR’s position, the PM did the same with his. The Sugar Industry Control Board will not step in at the request of farmers. He’s clear that will not happen. And the PM is also clear, in his mind, […]
Prime Minister says that the reason that government did not move to amend the Act as instructed by the Supreme Court in 2010 is because it wanted to preserve the B.S.C.F.A. But because of the developments in the industry, G.O.B.’s hand has to some extent been forced, and it must contemplate the formation of another, […]
And then Prime Minister Barrow dropped the hammer, expressing its full support for any group which would organize to deliver cane outside of the B.S.C.F.A. That signifies a complete dismissal of the Association by government. And the PM says he doesn’t even have to call a House meeting to amend the Act at this point. […]
There is still no date for the start of the sugar crop and farmers are encouraged to deal directly with the sugar company. While this represents a blow to the B.S.C.F.A., the association is still facing major hurdles. There is a looming threat from Fairtrade on the disbursement of funds and there is the possibility […]
So far it has only been bad news for the B.S.C.F.A. and it is also bad news for those farmers and directors who have vehemently advocated going back to the negotiating table. Traditionally, cane farmers don’t react well to bad news or adversity, and when their backs are against the wall, the north of the […]
