And turning now to another soap opera with no end in sight….we're talking about the protracted and unending dispute in the sugar industry. We're only weeks away from what should be the start of the sugar crop - and - the BSCFA and ASR/BSI are no closer to a settlement than they were a month ago.
Today the Prime Minister discussed the state of play - including the push from other smaller sugar associations to go ahead and start the season even if the BSCFA does not sign the commercial agreement with ASR/BSI:
Reporter
"Are you aware of any ultimatum from the BSCFA that the crop should not start until the act is amended to require that all four associations have to have this agreement with the miller?"
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, that has just been brought to my attention and, ahm, well, I mean, they can make recommendations, ahm, and it's for us now to decide what we'll do. The important thing is that we need to get the crop going, I mean we have not only BSCFA, but other associations that have already signed contracts with BSI, and who knows? What if we decide we're not going to open until BSCFA gets an agreement? And then what if the other associations then decide to sue the government to say, well now you are preventing me from earning a living? So, we have to find the best balance to be able to get this going."
Reporter
"Will the government intervene at some point?"
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well we can't in a way because these are two private entities. It's an impossible situation. Both sides need to be able to sit down as, as adults and try to find a common ground to be able to move this thing forward. And, unfortunately I believe in some instances, they have pinned themselves in a corner and they can't find their way out of that corner."
"And so it is a matter of trying to find a common ground. That is why since Janua…sorry-in August I recommended for mediation. At that time BSI was not prepared. Now, BSI said yes. I gave a name. BSI accepted the name. But now the cane farmers are saying, well, we don't want to accept that name because BSI never gave in that name…it's just endless games that both sides are playing. And, unfortunately, a lot of innocent people are going to get hurt, a lot of cane farmers are going to get hurt because they would not be able to deliver their cane. And the truth is, this is some of the highest prices we've had in a long time."
Reporter
"Do you anticipate a delay in the start of the crop?"
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, I hope not. I hope that we can start the crop in the next few weeks."
