This Sunday is set for the special General Membership Meeting of the cane farmers association where the 5,000 plus cane farmers will decide whether or not they want to accept the compromise agreement between them and the factory owners for a second time.
That's the decision that 18 directors took on New Year's Eve after going to the Bi-laws of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association.
If you've been following the news, you'll know about that tricky issue involving the sugar cane production committee. It caused quite a stir among the farmers and their association when it was discovered after the compromise agreement was being proof-read by both sides. BSI has decided to let this issue go, but just last week, they wanted this committee to be replaced by an organization called the Harvest and Delivery Control Unit.
In the wake of the dispute, those who believe that the farmers are giving up far more than they are getting in return for a signed agreement to start the crop have been pushing hard to get that deal pulled off the table complete.
You may have noticed that the Government entities in the cane industry, such as the Sugar Cane Production Committee, and the Sugar Industry Control Board as well as factory owners, BSI, have been making the media rounds on the news and the morning talk shows to get their side of this dispute out. It's only a few days before this very important meeting, so everyone involved have been working hard to get their message out.
It's within that context that reports went out that Alfredo Ortega's cane fields were burnt down. He and CEO Oscar Alonzo have been two of the members of the BSCFA who have been strongly opposed to the signing of this compromise agreement. It turned out that Alonzo's apartment, which he rents in the San Lorenzo Housing Site in Orange Walk Town, was destroyed by fire.
On Preliminary observation, the investigators are suspecting that arson or burglary may be the reason that Alonzo's apartment was torched. It may only be a coincidence it happened only 2 days before the general meeting, but the minority opposing the compromise deal are wary, especially since there are reports that their properties may be targeted for their opposition to the cane deal. Here's what we've been able to find out so far from Alfredo Ortega, Chairman Ezequiel Cansino and The Deputy Commanding Officer of Orange Walk Police Station:
Alfredo Ortega - Member, BSCFA
"I was listening to Love FM this morning where there was Mr. Carballo and Mr. Young, when I heard a call that was made from a lady saying that the house that the CEO was renting was burned this morning. Well I just took it as a joke really, I didn't believe that that has happened. So when I finish I was going out when I receive a call asking if I was in good health and I ask why and they said it is true that they have burn down your house? I said no, I just left my house and it is in good shape...and your cane field? Well I don't know because I haven't gone to my cane field. The person ask if I was in good health and I said yes and the person said that they heard that something has happen to you or your house has been burnt down and said no."
ASP Selvin Tillett - Deputy OC, Orange Walk Police
"Acting upon information received this morning, police visited San Lorenzo housing site are in Orange Walk Town where they saw fire fighters had already extinguish a fire to a concrete bungalow house measuring some 25 by 30 feet. It appears that all items inside were destroyed by water and fire. We know there is Erlene Pelayo rented to one Oscar Alonzo, who is out of the country, so we cannot determine if anything was stolen or whatever."
Daniel Ortiz
"Are you able to tell us if the investigators are suspecting arson or is it cause by a natural element?"
ASP Selvin Tillett - Deputy OC, Orange Walk Police
"At this moment we are looking at either arson or burglary."
Alfredo Ortega - Member, BSCFA
"We can see that yes it's a situation of arson that happened. I don't know if anything was stolen from the place, but we saw that one of the burglar bars has been wrenched off and louvers had been removed where person/s entered the house and almost everything has been burnt from inside - everything that is there. It's only a little corner where some books and some papers have been left that was not burnt, but have received water damage when the fire engine manage to out the fire. But yes, it shows that it was not something that came just as an accident, but it was premeditated by someone."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, do you suspect, given all the circumstances, you've received this call if you are okay and in good health, if your house is in good shape, if your cane fields are in good shape and then finding Mr. Alonzo's house burnt, does it leave you to suspect that it may be mischief from within the cane industry due to this unrest? Is that a thought that has occurred to you?"
Alfredo Ortega - Member, BSCFA
"In moments yes. I can say that I have that thought because it comes right to the heels of general meeting that is coming this Sunday and Mr. Alonzo has left this house from since the 17th December since he went away and nothing has happened almost during those two weeks since he has been away. And coming to this point and those calls as you rightly mentioned, those really put even myself to think that it could be mischief and may be it might be a sort of intimidation."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is there anything to investigators to believe that it may be connected to the current unrest that's happening in the sugar industry?"
ASP Selvin Tillett - Deputy OC, Orange Walk Police
"At this point we have no leads into that, but as no stone will be left unturned."
Ezequiel Cansino - Chairman, COM of BSCFA
"I don't want to speculate and in deed if that is the case, we regret it and I hope this doesn't continue with the properties of the BSCFA or properties of our cane farmers."
Oscar Alonzo is out of the country on vacation, and the BSCFA has communicated with him via email to inform him of the misfortune. The investigators do not have any estimates of the damage, and there is no inventory of the possessions of the house to determine if anything was stolen.
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