And at the press conference - which ran for what must be a record two hours and forty-one minutes Prime Minister Barrow also discussed the impasse in the sugar industry. As we have reported, BSI and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association are far from an agreement on the price of bagasse in fact, it's fair to say, they aren't even in the same ball park!  Today, the PM addressed the subject at length. He says government had offered to hire an international expert to study the problem and suggest a baseline figure but that was flatly rejected by ASR as recently as this morning. They say that it is a commercial dispute and as senior long time partners, both sides should be able to come to an agreement.

Except, that they haven't and the industry is facing perilous times ahead

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize

"In that context they are saying the coming together of all stakeholders should start with an ability to work out the issues for payment of Bagasse; That if they can't even solve that problem, it doesn't bode very well for the longer term existence of the industry. Bottom line, I don't know how we are going to be talking about starting another crop unless number 1, the commercial agreement which has expired; A new commercial agreement is reached between A.S.R and the farmers. Number 2, the matter of the quantum of payment for Bagasse is sorted out."

Renee Trujillo, LOVE News

"If they continue bucking heads at what point would government be forced to?"

Hon. Dean Barrow

"I hate to confess this and confound some journalist, government isn't all powerful you know and doesn't behave that way. We are well aware of the limitations on the power of government in a democracy and you're talking about a private commercial arrangement, there is a limit to how much government can do. The genesis of this problem was with Bagasse; Government was able to persuade A.S.R to agree to pay for Bagasse. Government couldn't pass a law to tell A.S.R you must pay for Bagasse, the people would pack up and leave. Let's hope that they can solve it themselves, but if not I will merely reiterate that we stand ready if both sides can see the value in this. We stand ready to intervene to try and assist."