Last night, we showed you what Prime Minister John Briceno had to say about his government's strategy to end the impasse in the sugar industry.
As we told you, multiple industry stakeholders have spoken out publicly to say that the Sugar Industry Control Board, which is chaired by Marcos Osorio, has refused to publish the start of the sugar season, even though the stakeholders had agreed among themselves that Monday, December 20th, was an ideal date to begin the grinding season. That decision by the Chairman immediately put him in the cross-hairs of the millers and the 3 smaller associations who have signed contracts and are ready to start delivering their cane to get the industry rolling. But, because Osorio has not approved that Gazetting, the start of the season is now delayed by 4 days and counting.
So, this morning, the Sugar Board called all stakeholders to an urgent meeting today at SIRDI offices in Corozal to discuss the way forward for the industry, the impasse, and a new start date.
Viewers will remember that the BSCFA, which represents 67.1% of the entire population of cane farmers in the north, was insisting that they wanted to sign an interim agreement with the millers. That would give the two sides time to continue negotiating, and it would allow BSCFA farmers to continue their business with the millers without any interruption caused by their rapidly expiring contract. The millers, on the other hand, were adamant that this would not work for them.
Well, this evening, the SICB Chairman granted the press an interview to provide an update on the industry, and he made a surprising announcement: that Prime Minister Briceno and his team managed to broker a truce between these 2 business partners. Via Zoom he told us that the Crop season will begin next Monday, December 27th:
Marcos Osorio - Chairman, SICB
"Deliberation and discussion at the board level, we were not reaching common ground and I must mention that thanks to the prime minister who saw the need to intervene, the prime minister was in dialogue with the high authorities of ASR/BSI and the high authority in the BSCFA where he managed to reach an agreement with both parties which the start date of the harvest season which will be December 27th on Monday, BSI will open it's gates by 10 in the morning. In the meantime when the crop starts, BSI and BSCFA will sign an extension to the current contract that will go end of April 2022 during which time of the interim agreement both parties will continue negotiating in good faith, both parties and to reach and agreement and sign a new contract. I have the letter that issued by the office of the prime minister which also states that if we come to the end of the interim agreement and there is still no agreement but I think the key thing here, BSI/ASR and BSCFA agreed to continue the negotiating process during the extension of the present commercial agreement to act and behave in good faith."
In a late evening, press release, the Millers said, quote, " Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) applauds the decision by industry stakeholders earlier today to commence the crop on Monday, December 27, 2021. The new date, one week later than had been initially agreed, is a critical decision for the entire industry and bodes well for this year's production. BSI encourages farmers from all associations to deliver their cane since it has active agreements with all four associations. BSI and the BSCFA will continue discussions to reach a mutually beneficial agreement." End quote
