And the police were out in full force but the ComPol says they'll be pulling back some of those officers since they believe the caneros will continue to be calm. As we told you at the top, they've even asked for a peaceful demonstration in front of the prime minister's house, which the police have OK'd. And ComPol Williams hopes that over the weekend, things will remain as they were today:
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"In the past we have seen what these events have turned out into and this time we are seeing that things are being dealt with differently. Yes, as the police, law enforcement we do have the authority to do certain things we do not believe we have authority to do certain things we must just exercise those authority without due consideration for what people will going through and the plight of people and so we are acting reasonably as well, trying to strike a balance not to be on either side but rather stand in the middle to make sure that at the end of the day law and order prevails and I must say thanks to the cane farmers and their association for working so good with us and we have a very good rapport, every so often we dialogue with them to see what is that they are planning, what is it they are going to do and at the same time we ask for them to maintain civility in this process and they have given their word and they have lived up to the word they have give in terms of making sure that despite the fact that they have their grievance that they are trying to find a peaceful way to resolve the grievance and I think that is the way it is supposed to be, so we're very grateful for that. From our standpoint, we will maintain our presence in the area, the cane farmers are still going to be on the grounds, they will have certain areas blocked off and they are going to clear certain areas to ensure that the employees for ASR/BSI can move to and from work until Monday morning when the final decision is made, then we want to see what the next course of action is going to be but the cane farmers are patient and they are going to wait for that decision to come Monday."
Daniel Ortiz
"We also understand that they just ask you permission for sort of a peaceful walk and demonstration in front of the prime minister's house."
Chester Williams
"They have asked for permission to do a peaceful walk, I've said to them we are still in a time of covid, so we cannot allow all 300 persons that they had intended to go on that walk and we have asked them to have only 50 and again gratefully they have agreed to only have 50 and so they will have their peaceful walk and from there they will return back to this location and we will see how we go from there."
Officers will be present at the demonstration. But, late reports say that a late evening breakthrough could see the signing of an agreement tomorrow - and things could return to normal before then. Again, this is unofficial and awaiting confirmation.
