But that breakthrough resolution wasn't the only one taken on Sunday. In the heady moments right after that was passed - another was tabled and approved - for the Cane Farmers to dip into the fair trade funds - and take out 2.5 million dollars to share equally amongst themselves. It's a sort of cane country Christmas cheer - except that it's more like a fair trade fleecing since the regulations of the programme don't permit that type of wanton spending. But, in cane country the majority always rules - and that's how the resolution was passed even with universal apprehension form the industry leaders we spoke to:..
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Can you tell us about that?"
Alfred Ortega, Member, Negotiating Team
"Well you know, as Jules said that the economic situation is in a bad situation. The farmers have approved right now that they would want an amount that would be set aside for the next upcoming year in regards to the fair trade premium. They would want 2.5 million dollars to be distributed amongst the farmers so that they can have something for Christmas and they have passed the motion. It is the farmers that approved, so that motion has gone through, and I believe that it will happen."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Basically, all that's left is for you all to figure out how you will divide this 2.5 million?"
Alfred Ortega, Member, Negotiating Team
"According to the motion that was passed that it will be granted into equal part to each farmer, no matter what was the amount that the farmer delivers. So it will be a division based on the amount of farmers that deliver cane last year; if it is 5,500, then the 2.5 million will be divided between 5,300 farmers."
Reporter
"The CEO warned that this was not something that fair trade endorses; the use of this funds."
Alfred Ortega, Member, Negotiating Team
"Even myself because we as the leaders, we have to try to guide the process to the farmers, for them to understand what all needed to be done and what is the expectation of the people that are out there that are buying our sugar under fair trade certification and they would want to see happen, with investment of those premium. But notwithstanding that, it is only the voice of us trying to guide the process."
Ezequiel Cansino - Chair, BSCFA Cmte of Mgmt
"I am very concerned about that because that's lowering the standards of fair trade and they might have some precautions to us. We should have maybe stop this motion, but the general assembly voted for that, and we will comply and even though we will have some problems with fair trade."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you are able to comply with a motion even if it's against the rules? Let say they take a resolution to burn down all the cane fields - you can't do that because it's other people's property. I am saying, are you prepared to comply with something that's manifestly against the rules of fair trade?"
Ezequiel Cansino - Chair, BSCFA Cmte of Mgmt
"Of course not. Also the standards of fair trade, we have that the cane farmers are the ones who decide what we will do with the money."
The financial controller of the Cane Farmers Association told us he would resign before writing out the fair trade cheques for farmers.
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