Another year, another sugar standoff….and this time ASR/BSI says it's not waiting around for the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association to come around.
The company announced today that it will commence the crop in a week's time on December 28, 2023, quote, "as was agreed by a majority of stakeholders in the sugar industry and announced by the Sugar Industry Control Board."
Now, the largest growers group which is the BSCFA has still not signed on. But, in a bold and risky move, ASR/BSI is inviting its members to deliver their cane under an open agreement - which requires no signed commercial agreement.
A release says, quote, "This open agreement will be posted at the entrances and delivery points of the Tower Hill Sugar Mill and provides for the purchase of their sugarcane on terms identical to those set out in the Sugar Cane Purchase Agreement between BSI and BSCFA that governed the 2022/2023 crop."
They also say that IF the BSCFA signs a commercial agreement with BSI during the crop season, that newly signed agreement will immediately supersede the terms of the open agreement. And while the move is sure to provoke the BSCFA to, ASR BSI says, quote, the "arrangement is intended to be a short-term solution to facilitate the smooth start of the 2023-24 crop and ensure that BSCFA members have an opportunity to deliver their cane."
Copies of the Open Contract will be displayed at the entrances and other key locations at the Tower Hill Factory.
Like we said, a risky maneuver and we wait to hear the BSCFA's response.
