Last Friday, we showed you what ASR's Mac McLachlan had to say about Prime Minister John Briceno's suggestion that the mill should work out some temporary compromise with the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. The PM was sharing his views on a possible work-around so that the impasse between the millers at this group of cane farmers does not affect this upcoming sugar crop season.
The PM suggested that maybe, the millers and these farmers could work out some sort of arrangement where they conduct business under the current contract's terms, while they try to negotiate a new agreement.
Well, the Government sent out a press release today to note that the deadlock came up in yesterday's weekly Cabinet meeting.
Their statement says quote, "It was clear to Cabinet that it is unlikely that an agreement will be reached before the start of the crop in December 2021.
….Cabinet views it as critical that the 2021-2022 sugar cane harvest begins in December 2021 as is programmed regardless of whether or not a new agreement on the Commercial Cane Purchase Agreement is reached between the BSCFA and BSI/ASR.
In the interim, Cabinet believes that the current Commercial Agreement should be extended by the parties for not more than six months." End quote.
