Tonight, the cane farmers are locked in last minute negotiations with ASR/BSI - and the Prime Minister John Briceno himself - along with the Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai are the intermediaries.
Fred Ortega from the BSCFA told us more:
Alfredo Ortega, BSCFA
"Well we have not received as yet definitive word right now, but some of our leaders have been called to yo Creek where the minister is meeting and having a back-and-forth with BSI and other ministers that are there in regards to what we have been asking so they said that it is taking a little bit of time to gather all the information they want and that is why they invited some of our leaders to go over there. Mr Elvis Reyes went with Mr Javier Keme and also Ms Zuni. They are there to have a faster presentation as to what is being asked for, so we are awaiting information from them and we will be staying here. We are on standby if our presence is needed then we are ready to move."
"What we are looking for is that we want BSI to be the conveyor we want that this agreement once the commission of inquiry does their necessary investigation and it comes out with any information that that information can be used as fast as it can be for our new agreement and also for it that the government can use for the act so that are the two points we are taking to the to the table and also signing something before our farmers start to deliver."
Right now at this hour - reports say the cane farmers have expressed a readiness to compromise by signing a two year agreement - which, sources say, ASR/BSI would accept. But, they also want ASR/BSI to act as a conveyor for Fair Trade Premiums - which the company totally rejects. So, the standoff remains tonight - but, if you are an optimist, you would say both sides are inching closer.
Our team has been on the ground in Orange Walk all day and is just back. We'll have the full story from Orange Walk later on in the news.
