2 weeks ago, we told you about the infighting that was taking place within the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association. There was an attempt by a faction of the association to unseat the current chairman, Vladimir Puck, and his colleagues on the Board.
That matter is still unresolved, and by all indications, it could end up in court.
Well, there is news coming out of the north involving the lead personality - and the supposed usurper - who is trying to become the new chairman. He's Everaldo Uk, and last week, the millers, BSI/ASR, decided to ban him from entering their Towerhill Compound. They say that as one of the chief instigators in that public beatdown of Chairman Puck back on December 27th, he will have to send someone else to deliver his cane to the mill. Last Tuesday, the mill's attorneys, Courtenay Coye LLP, wrote a lawyer letter to Uk informing him of the ban.
That letter says, quote, "...as a result of your actions... you are permanently banned from entering the factory compound effective immediately… Should you attempt to enter, BSI will contact law enforcement and may take further legal recourse against you… you may appeal this decision after completion of 5 years of the ban, when it may be rescinded or reduced... The... ban and restrictions are only applicable to you personally. Therefore, you may still have your cane delivered to BSI's property by another person." End quote.
Today, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association sent out a release that criticizes the decision to ban Uk.
Their statement says, quote, "This permanent ban represents a miscarriage of justice by BSI… The video that captured the sequence of events and actions...clearly shows that there were members of the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association (CSCPA) who also perpetrated acts of violence against Mr. Uk and others accompanying him. Yet, BSI has singled out Mr. Uk against whom to enforce its policy instead of all persons who were so involved, including persons from CSCPA."
The BSCFA also insists that the appeal process of this ban is also unjust since Uk has to wait 5 years to qualify for an appeal. They also point out that the Court of Appeal offers a far quicker redress for defendants and litigants to pursue that right.
