And it's even harder to satisfy ANYBODY in the sugar industry.
As we've told you, with the opening of the Zafra looming, there is a still-unresolved commercial dispute between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, and the millers, BSI/ASR.
BSCFA - which delivers a little more than half the cane which the mill grinds every season - has informed the millers that they want to terminate their commercial agreement with BSI/ASR.
From the perspective of the millers, this could have devastating impacts on the next crop season, which is fast approaching. In their view, no agreement means that BSCFA members will not be able to deliver their cane to the factory.
The BSCFA has countered by saying that millers don't really intend to enter good-faith negotiations with them about a few of the terms of the agreement which the farmers don't think have aged well.
The cane farmers have written to Prime Minister Briceno twice to request a meeting with him so that they can present their case. So, will the PM meet with the BSCFA? That's what we asked his close ally, Jose Mai:
Hon. Jose Mai - Minister of Agriculture
"You have to have to ask the PM about that. I have also said to him that my advice that he needs to meet the farmers as early as possible. I am sure he will. He's out of the country right now but he will. I have met with him again yesterday, with the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. They gave us an update on the negotiations and I am pleased with what they have been requesting, though, because they were first requesting for something, which I believe was a little on the high end, which I believe would not have been achievable. What they showed us yesterday really impressed me. They have done their due diligence. They have done a lot of research,, they have crunched a lot numbers. And I was very impressed with what the proposed yesterday, and I wish that they will present that not to the Northern Caucus and I think they want to present it to the prime minister when he gives them the opportunity. But I think that is a good proposal, a good request, it is a fair request that they are asking for ASR. I just hope that again, that they can negotiate to reach some kind of compromise. In negotiations it's always give and take, can't get everything and you can't give everything you can."
Courtney Menzies
"But as time passes, will the government step in and try to force a compromise?"
Hon. Jose Mai
"The government of the day cannot force a compromise with anybody, and I don't think we should do that. This is an agreement between the farmers and the mill, but we will ensure that everybody gets treated fairly. Nobody would challenge nobody, not under this government, under the previous government, the government changed the law have started to weaken the association. That would not happen, and we have to ensure that everybody is treated fairly right now."
