So, tonight while the attorneys are deviling the details - best guesses are that the agreement may not be signed until tomorrow.
So, for the time being we take you back to last night where the BSCFA culminated its battle for better terms in their new commercial agreement. Jomarie Lanza was there and here's what she gathered for us.
7 days after the crop season started, the BSCFA members were the only ones not delivering cane. That's because the association chose to negotiate for a better deal, a new agreement and GOB's commitment to amend the Belize Sugar Industry Act.
And after a protest, a few rallies, two road blockades, and two burning tires later, the BSCFA succeeded in securing a new commercial agreement between them and BSI ASR. Their leaders, Fred Ortega and Javier Keme addressed the anxiously waiting association last night at SIRDI, after leaving a 7 hour meeting at Yo Creek with the Prime Minister, The Minister of Agriculture and the BSI ASR representatives. The BSCFA proudly informed its members that they were successful:
Javier Keme, BSCFA, Finance Committee
"The decision not to move past a maximum of two years, we got it!!"
Alfredo Ortega, BSCFA Chairman
"Now they will realize that the BSCFA has talent, that the cane farmers need their passports. Because once we get the right price for our cane we will be able to go the USA to Europe to Mexico to buy our vehicles. Long Live the cane farmers, one for all, all for one."
So now that the ball is in their court will the association accept the Mill's final offer. While he was unable to say so, The minister of agriculture shared that the prime minister played a pivotal role in convincing both parties to meet halfway at the table.
Jo
"Have you managed to come to an agreement with the BSCFA?"
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"Yes we have just ended a meeting with the BSCFA negotiating team, the committee of management. We did arrive at what we believe is a workable agreement for the farmers. We cannot disclose right now the details of the agreement because they are going back to their membership right now to explain to them in detail what the agreement is. I am hoping that this agreement they will accept this agreement and I think it's in the best interest of everyone that we sign this agreement and we move on. I must give credit to the prime minister who today was extremely, extremely convincing to both sides. Worked very hard to convince the ASR personnel and he also worked very hard to convince the members of the BSCFA. I must thank him for that I must thank the leader of the BSCFA and I also want to thank my technical team from the ministry of agriculture who has worked diligently for the past three weeks trying to reach to a solution I hope I'm not speaking to fast because we still have to wait for the membership of the BSCFA to accept the agreement."
BSCFA's Javier Keme, broke down the terms of the agreement for us later that night. He said that there were four points they agreed on
Javier Keme, BSCFA, Finance Committee
"Basically the Proposal is straight forward the agreement is a two year term agreement without any roll over clause it's a two year agreement on the side the other request from the membership was met as a commitment from the government which is the implementation of the commission of inquiry immediately or within the first 30 days from today. And the next one is that if they would advocate or approach Tate and Lyle for us to sign an agreement with Tate and Lyle and if that doesn't materialize and we don't get out premium next year there is a commitment of the government to assist the BSCFA with an amount of up to 1 million dollars in fertilizers. That is basically the four compromises. There is a condition on the cost, the additional costs which is one of the most difficult points in contention and it was agreed that it will not be charged to the BSCFA it will be paid by the government of Belize in the first three months and during which time and investigation will be done to justify if it is a charge that merits to be included in the agreement and if it is it will be included after the three months. So mean time the three months it will be covered by the government it will not be charged by the BSCFA."
And while the BSCFA has yet to decide when they will start delivering cane, their chairman Alfredo Ortega says that the members are happy that they managed to gain some advantages in their agreement, and that the wait was not in vain.
Alfredo Ortega, BSCFA Chairman
"Well as you have seen the farmers were very happy that at least we got something that can make us work that can make the farmer work and the sentiments out there of the farmers they are very happy that the sacrifice they have done for these days were really good we got at least something out of nothing and the plan is to move forward and we will continue with our vigil today until tomorrow that we have signed an agreement then from there we move on."
