Last night, we showed you what the BSI/ASR had to say about their latest efforts to end their commercial dispute with the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. They are trying to end the impasse before the upcoming sugar crop season, which is due to begin in about 2 weeks or so.
The millers say that they are trying to remove the offending parts of the current commercial agreement which always seems to land them in some quarrel over what are fair fees and charges that the farmers owe.
But instead of getting better, tonight it appears that the commercial disagreement has intensified, and the two sides are drifting further away from a possible compromise.
The millers were proposing to remove the part of the current commercial agreement that addresses Net Strip Value, which has long been a source of contention.
Well, in a press release from yesterday the BSCFA commented on this counter-proposal saying, quote, "We find this proposal by BSI to be untenable as it does not seek to provide a fair cane payment to cane farmers" End quote.
And the BSCFA says that because BSI is still insisting on a 7-year contract, they see this as a point of inflexibility from the millers. The Association says that a 3-year contract would better fit the economic realities of their membership.
The BSFCA says that it is not prepared to sign an agreement based on these proposals, and they are insisting on a 1-year interim agreement, to allow for further negotiations. They are hoping that the Government will oblige the millers to agree.
In a late evening press release of their own, BSI/ASR responded saying, quote, "This rapid rejection, without any discussion to clarify what is being proposed, questions whether BSCFA is demonstrating a good faith approach to this issue. We cannot emphasize enough that the revised cane payment formula is in direct response to the BSCFA second proposal dated October 13, 2021, in which they suggested moving away from the Net Stripped Value (NSV) principle. It is, therefore, unreasonable that BSCFA would not even entertain the idea of a discussion of the new method of payment.
...Instead of discussing the issue with BSI, the BSCFA has sought to involve the government in this private commercial matter
We hope that the BSCFA will reconsider their decision and meet with BSI to discuss the particulars of the revised cane payment structure..." End quote.
