If ASR/BSI had its way, the cane season would have started today - but tonight, there's still no fixed date for the start of the harvest.
And that's why some of the farmers are becoming increasingly frustrated that they have mature sugar cane to deliver to the mill - but no dice. They cannot legally start those deliveries until the Sugar Industry Control Board makes an official announcement via a publication in the Gazette.
Persistent reports from industry insiders indicate that the SICB continues to delay making that announcement. They're reportedly waiting for the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association to not only conclude its mediation with BSI/ASR but for these two business partners to also sign a commercial agreement.
We understand that representatives of the stakeholders participated in a meeting on Saturday, December 17th, which was hosted by the SICB. It was classified as an emergency meeting, and reports to our newsroom are that the Sugar Board passed a resolution that the new crop is to start Next Tuesday, December 27. But there is a condition or a proviso that BSI and the BSCFA must sign a commercial agreement for that date to become final.
Today, we contacted BSI/ASR for comment, and their public relations team told us, quote, "the mill has informed farmers and industry stakeholders that we are ready to accept cane starting today, December 19, 2022. This past weekend the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB) met, and no firm date for the start of the 2022/23 crop was decided. BSI reiterates it is ready to start the crop." End quote.
So, these days of potential productivity and earnings are now being lost one by one as the entire industry waits for the BSCFA and the millers to try and resolve their commercial dispute, which has remained unresolved for over a year now.
SICB Chairman, Marcos Osorio, says that a government press release on the start of the crop is forthcoming, after which he will be able to speak on it.
A year ago, when Osorio was facing the same kind of pressure to Gazette the start of the season, our CTV3 colleagues challenged him that his delay was negatively impacting the other associations who were ready to start the season. Here's how he answered at that time:
Reporter
"How would you respond to those who say for the sake of protecting BSCFA, you are infringing on the rights of the other cane farmers who belong to the Corozal sugarcane producers' association, the northern producer's association and the progressive sugarcane producer's association?"
Marcos Osorio, SICB Chair
"Yes, and I would say that the decision is simply upholding the law and secondly, I must say we want to ensure a smooth and easy start of the crop. I must tell you that many farmers, leaders of the other associations that have signed are saying we will join with the other."
"I believe it is not infringing on the rights, but protecting the wellbeing of each and everyone and I believe if the farmers of all the associations unite, we will simply see a situation where everyone will win out of this situation that we are facing today."
IF BSI and the BSCFA sign a commercial agreement before next Tuesday's start, theoretically, the industry will only have lost eight days of potential productivity. It is still unclear how long the SICB is willing to wait for those mediation talks to conclude with a positive outcome.
