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As we've reported, there are rumblings of discontent in the sugar industry where the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association is demanding a dialogue on the Bagasse, the by product of the sugar production process which is now used a bio-fuel by Belcogen. The cane farmers have been calling on BSI to meet with them since September 25th â€“ but BSI has not set a date for that meeting.  Now, with less than three weeks to go before the start of the Cane season, the Cane Farmers Association has given BSI a deadline

With only twenty days before the start of the new proposed Sugar Cane Crop Season, the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association has yet to get word from the executives of the Belize Sugar Industries Limited, BSI, on a way forward as it pertains to the by-product Bagasse. Fred Ortega, who ends his one year contract as Chairman of the BSCFA Committee of Management tomorrow, stopped by our studious today and told us that the Association is giving BSI a deadline to come to the negotiating table.  While that plays out on a tense deadline, the issue made it to the House Meeting on Friday where Orange Walk Representatives on both sides of the House spoke on the volatile issue with the opposition pressing the government to intervene:

Hon. Jose Mai - PUP Area Representative, Orange Walk South
"At that meeting, Mr. Lima, the ASR representative, asked the cane farmers to write BSI a letter asking for another date when that issue can be discussed, only to find out later that BSI called to tell them, 'We can't meet on that date.' They have been turning the farmers around and around, avoiding the discussion of a very important, I believe, now considered bi-product. Timely intervention is needed. Let us not allow history to repeat itself. The farmers are taking a very serious approach toward this, Mr. Speaker, and I believe that last week, there was a stakeholder's symposium, and after the Committee of Management Chairman presented his address, all the cane farmers stood up and left in solidarity. I have never seen that before, Mr. Speaker, but it means that they are serious, and we must take them serious. We must move forward with this negotiation. We must bring BSI to the table in best interest of all the stake holders."

Hon. Gaspar Vega - Deputy Prime Minister
"Yes, I am concerned about the negotiations going on with BSI, and like the Representative from Orange Walk South, we should all come together and encourage the cane farmers to ensure that they continue the negotiations. We know that it's not easy. Everyone knows it, but at the same time, we cannot be saying something here today, and when we're undermining and hoping that it becomes another political football or circus. How long have we been negotiating for the bagasse? It's not since we became Government in 2008; it's for the longest. But we cannot give up; we must continue the battle, and we must ensure that we assist the cane farmers. Give them new tools; give them new people, if that's what they want to be able to negotiate, but don't get there and tell them what someone else is getting, so that we rile up the people and create another riot like said."