Fortunately, the Government, BSI/ASR, and the BSFCA have a little less than five months to resolve this impasse before it disrupts the next crop season. Today the press asked the PM about the request from the BSCFA for his government's intervention in this commercial dispute.:
Reporter
"The BSCFA saying that they want the government to intervene again because they feel that is ASR BSI is not moving the goalposts."
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"Just yesterday, I had a long meeting with the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), and the week before, I met with the management of BSI/ASR, and we know now that it seems that they are at an impasse. We have made some decisions. The BSCFA needs to also understand that the government cannot solve its problems with a stroke of a pen because it is two private entities that are operating. We can only intervene and try to put them around the table for us to be able to find a way where they can be a win-win for everyone. Because we all understand, and we always tell both sides. BSI can do without 50% or 51% of the cane, or 600,000 tons of sugar cane that the members of the BSCFA have. But at the same time, the members of the BSCFA cannot do with BSI/ASR. So we have to find a middle ground. We are connected at the hip. We are partners, and so we have to try to sit down with both parties and try to work a way forward. I'm optimistic by nature, so I do believe that we will be able to find an agreement before the start of the next crop."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, I've spoken to the two sides, and it seems as though this impasse will continue to stick because the two sides have very differing views. The two sides aren't resiling from their views, sir."
Hon. John Briceno "Well, again, it's a matter of starting to create some sort of trust between both parties."
We'll keep following this story.
