For weeks now, the future of the sugar industry has been clouded by the ongoing impasse between the cane farmers association and the owners of the sugar mill, ASR/BSI. But, finally tonight, there appears to be some room for optimism in this critical national industry. That's after the Prime Minister and ranking government officials held a meeting in Belize City with the Executive of the cane farmers association and the 18 branch presidents from all over the north. 7News was there from beginning to end and Jules Vasquez reports:
Jules Vasquez reporting
The directors lined the verandah at the Biltmore to wait for their meeting with the top brass from the ministry of agriculture, the deputy prime minister, and the Chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board and at 10:20 am - the Prime Minister.
After that everyone piled into the boardroom for a meeting that would last two hours.
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Government congratulates the BSCFA and commends the BSCFA on the position that has now emerged. Which position in our view represents a fair and in deed compelling basis on which negotiations can now take place. The position that has emerged represents perhaps, and I want to choose my word carefully, a refining of what still remains - the core stands of the BSCFA, but in an effort to move the process forward, the BSCFA has introduced some modifications into their core position. Happily the outcome of this meeting is such that I will immediately thereafter get in touch with ASR and invite them to agree the actual date for the resumption of negotiations. I have no doubt that the BSCFA position is a fair one, seeks to protect the interests of the cane farmers, but seeks at the same time to be able to compromise with ASR so that the crop and the industry can go forward. If this is matched on the part of ASR/BSI, we should be able to reach agreement."
Ezequiel Cansino, Chairman - BSCFA
"The position of the BSCFA has been one that the cane farmers has given us the mandate to start the crop with an interim agreement. But the time is getting, is closing out for the start of a crop and we as usual have been flexible in the negotiations. So here we are today with the Prime Minister assuring him that BSCFA is being once again flexible and reasonable and asking his intervention to help us to bring back BSI to the negotiating table. This is, we feel the best that can happen to the industry since we have an overproduction this year and our cane farmers cannot afford to lose none of that production."
Reporter
"Does the concession include that interim agreement?"
Ezequiel Cansino, Chairman - BSCFA
"Just as I've said; we are willing to negotiate and we are asking BSI to come to the table."
And while that sounds good, what happens if it doesn't work:
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"If the negotiations do not result in success? Well government wants a corp. The farmers, the economy of the north, the economy of Belize need a crop. And I have already communicated this in no uncertain terms to ASR/BSI. Here we have this movement on the part of the BSCFA which convinces me that we can have a crop..but ultimately if the negotiations do not prove fruitful….there are limits on what government can do."
Both sides - the cane farmers and ASR/BSI are expected to meet early next week - but no date has been set. But before that there will be an AGM of the Cane Farmers Association on Sunday - and no one knows what the general membership will say about a possible compromise.
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