The next sugar crop season is now only four months away, and still, the impasse in the commercial disagreement between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and BSI/ASR remains unresolved.
If the two sides do not sign a new agreement on the delivery of sugar cane, then the start of the new season will most likely be stalled in another late start that none of the stakeholders can afford. The farmers and the millers are already feeling the financial pain of last year's unrest in the industry, which resulted in many tonnes of standover cane that couldn't be delivered in time for the last season.
So, in order to hopefully avoid another costly stand-off - and convince the government to see things from their perspective - representatives of the BSCFA met today with members of the ruling People's United Party in Orange Walk.
This afternoon, our colleagues from CTV3 News were at the Yo Creek Agriculture Station, and they got a chance to speak with both Agriculture Minister Jose Mai and Prime Minister John Briceno.
Here's what the Agriculture Minister had to say about the urgency of both sides to compromise and arrive at a new agreement:
Hon. Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"We had an excellent meeting this morning. We listened to the presentations of the BSCFA, the prime minister was here along with Minister Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and we listened to all the presentations the BSCFA, we listened to their attorney and we analysed in great details what they were saying, their numbers they presented. I will say to you that the Northern Caucus of the People's United Party is in full support of the BSCFA. Later on today we will issue a release stating the points that we are supporting the BSCFA. We are hoping that we will have an agreement no longer than October and that is something that we have to work on and parties have to come together. There is no other option, but we must have an agreement and its going to happen."
"We also working towards coming up with the new sugar industry act. That has to be done. We are already getting the consultant to do that, so we are moving ahead fast - both parties have to understand that there will be an agreement. There is no ifs and doubts about that, it has to happen and if it does not then government have to intervene and decide what will happen, but we are going to have an agreement."
Reporter
"Have you had similar meetings like this one though with representatives from BSI/ASR in hearing their point of view also with their lawyers, in anything."
Hon. Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"You will understand that it is the BSCFA who is proposing changes and BSI who is saying yes or no or maybe or whatever. So it is BSCFA proposals we are listening to. We've also met with ASR a number of times, but this is I think the time to move forward. It can't be chasing our tails in circles no more. That has to end."
Reporter
"In what was presented today, do you see BSI/ASR in any of the number of presentations putting a halt to it or not being in agreement with it, because we know basically all the demands that BSCFA made, BSI has been saying we can't agree to that."
Hon. Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"Well its about negotiations and there has to be some kind of reasonable request also. So its not like you will get everything, but you'll get something and that is negotiation."
Our CTV3 colleagues also got an opportunity to speak to Prime Minister John Briceno after he exited the meeting with the cane farmers. Here's what he had to say about the divisive commercial disagreement between this group of farmers and the millers:
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"As a Northern Caucus - this is the People's United Party Northern Caucus, not the government that met with the BSCFA and they gave us their presentation. What we have agreed that we are going to be issuing a press release and, in that press, release we are saying that as a northern caucus that we support their call for changing the payment of 60/40 split. Secondly, that we are urging both parties to be able to meet and to sit down and have a good faith negotiation and to have a settlement to settle their disagreements before the end of October and, thirdly, that we support the call for BSCFA to have access to fair trade which they have been unable to access simply because they are saying that BSI claims that because they dont have a commercial agreement they could not have access to it. We believe they have a commercial agreement, that commercial agreement was extended for this crop which will come to the end when the new crop starts. We believe they should have access to that."
Reporter
"But sir, the 60/40 agreement, does that include direct consumption of sugar, because I do know that is something that BSI/ASR is saying we do not want to include that."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"That is part of the negotiations, as to how you'd be able to come out with the 60/40 split. BSI has said Well we are prepared to give you the 60/40 split provided then that we are just going to pay you on the world market price and BSCFA is saying no we believe that it should be 60/40 split on the different sugars that you sell; the white sugar, plantation white sugar, the direct consumption sugars and the world market price sugars."
In a press release sent today, the PUP Northern Caucus said quote, "...We resolve that... after hearing the presentation of the… (BSCFA), we unanimously agree to support the recommendation to change the method of payment from one based on the Net Strip Value of Sugar to one based entirely on the Gross Revenue derived from Sugar. 2. We call on the Government of Belize to urgently look at the outstanding premium payments to BSCFA for sugar sold under the Fairtrade label. 3. We urge the Government of Belize to proceed with the reform of the Sugar Industry Act. [and] 4. We call on the Government of Belize to urge the BSCFA and ASR/BSI to meet as soon as possible to reach an agreement equitable to both." End quote. v We'll attempt to get a response from BSI/ASR on this latest development.
