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Mai also addressed the issue of BSI - which expressed a concern with what it says is the Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry's Change of Focus.
BSI says it cannot share proprietary and confidential information and will not cooperate with a commission whose platform and focus is to use the process as an avenue to negotiate a new commercial agreement which is a private commercial matter.
Mai says government has bent over backwards to please the company and the Commission must proceed:
Jose Mai, Minister of. Agriculture
"The Commission of Inquiry's focus has never changed. The terms of reference from the onset was very clear. They accused us of having not not consulted with them in the early stages. We said fine? Sorry. We will consult. We went to them, we consulted. They said, You know what: I don't like this. I don't like. They offered changes or addendums to the terms of reference. So they said, oh, and by the way, you said, I need, I want to appoint two people to the commission of inquiry."
"We found out that these people in the past had done some kind of consultative with them. So some were saying, Well, that's a conflict of interest. We said, No, if they want to appoint these people, if they have confidence in them. Let us move ahead and put them on the list of commissioners. Let's get the job done."
"I was concerned that the crop is coming to an end shortly, but we haven't begun the commission inquiry. So I said, Let us move ahead with the Commission. I was surprised to see the release that they issued last week, that changed focus. No, sir. The focus never changed. It is a commission of inquiry. It will make recommendations and then we decide, or they decide if they want to follow the recommendations."
"In my view, after empirical measurements are taken and interviews and observations of the mill are done and the experts, because these are experts, come with a commission and say listen, I believe that this is what should be done. You can either do this, this, or this. Right? It's a recommendation. And this would help in the process of understanding that a good, a good commercial agreement. Why not?"
"And as I have said before, if ASR does not want to give information, well Santander has said listen, I am, if you want information, you can get it from me, right? I mean, I don't know who you will look, if you have participated in the terms of reference, have contributed to it. You have suggested two names which we do not object to bring the persons in. And now you will say I don't want to participate? it doesn't sound, It doesn't speaks good. And it just causes more and more doubt in the minds of the, not only the cane farmers, of the people."
"I don't know if I would be ASR, I'd bet hell, worried about my credibility."
Jules Vasquez:
"What they are saying is that you all are presuming to inquire into their private business affairs, and every business has a right to to keep its corporate affairs private."
Jose Mai, Minister of. Agriculture
"I cannot go to Sancas, for example, to say I want a commission inquiry on the milk that you import, because, one, I'm not forced to buy your milk, and two I don't share costs with you - it's a buy and sell. The sugar industry is a very peculiar arrangement with farmers. It;s the first, it's the only one in the country that shares costs with the farmers."
"So is not a private business or their private business, this is a very peculiar type, that the farmers share their costs. And if I'm a citizen, I want to make sure that you are charging me what is right.
