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But how did it come to this? To give you the full breakdown, our news team was at la Escuela Secundaria Technica Mexico in San Roman, Corozal yesterday, where it was standing room only. Daniel Ortiz reports:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Yesterday's general membership meeting saw one of the biggest crowds of farmers we've witnessed. The official register says that 1516 farmers showed up, but Association executives said that the final count was closer to 2,000.

Alfredo Ortega - Member, BSCFA Executive, Orange Walk Branch Director
"You can see that today we had a very well attended meeting on which we had more farmers attending this meeting ng than I could say for the past 3 meetings."

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, who has been working closely with those trying to block the compromise agreement, also showed up at Sunday's meeting. She sat directly behind the Association's attorney, Chris Coye, and BSCFA's Finance Officer, Javier Keme.

The atmosphere was cordial if not friendly, but their views on the points of contention were like night and day.

Surprisingly, at the outset, the farmers didn't seem to want Matura-Shepherd to address the Assembly. They were vocal on their disagreement with her legal moves on behalf of Lucilo Teck, especially the application for injunction to block the signing of this compromise deal. That caused a delay for about 30 minutes while the farmers argued over whether if they would allow her to speak in the meeting or not.

Eventually, the crowd agreed to hear Matura-Shepherd, much to the apparent annoyance of Chairman Cansino.

The compromise among the farmers was that they would hear from their attorney, Chris Coye, who some had become disenchanted with for his inability to speak to them in Spanish. After that, Matura-Shepherd would be given an audience.

Coye was given the unenviable task of trying to convince the farmers that the compromise deal was the best they would get.

He made as comprehensive an attempt at this, amidst the jeers and discontent of his employers, the General Membership of the farmers.

Chris Coye - Attorney BSCFA
"The eyes of Belize are on us and most important decision concerning your future and the future of this industry is to be made, comparing the old agreement, the individual farmer agreement and the new agreement put before you for consideration today. The new agreement is clearly an improvement over both of them. Moreover, this new draft agreement provides certainty a clear path forward. If this agreement is approved today, it will likely be signed tomorrow and the crop will probably begin by Thursday if not sooner. If this draft agreement is not approved today, then there will be a lot of uncertainty in the industry."

Cane Farmer (translated)
"Caneros, I want to give my thanks to the lawyer for doing nothing for us."

That pretty much summed up the reception he got from the farmers after a 28 minute. What Coye said was translated by SCPC Chairman, Jose Novel, and it got an equally luke warm reception. They remained unconvinced by Coye's explanation, believing that they can negotiate with BSI for a better deal. Audrey Matura-Shepherd then took the mic and gave a 40 minute presentation in Spanish. She spent a noticeable portion of her presentation on the Sugar Industries Control Board, and her interpretation of the law that the SICB can declare season open without an agreement, which then forces BSI to accept the sugar cane deliveries. When she spoke, you could hear a pin drop; she had the undivided attention of the cane farmers. She received 6 rounds of spontaneous ovations.

Alfredo Ortega - Member, BSCFA Executive
"We had a person in the person of Mrs. Matura-Shepherd that came and explain in the farmers' language what available legal terms are there on behalf of the farmers and I think that she was very open, that open the minds of many people - many farmers."

And that brought the meeting to its height, where Financial Officer, Javier Keme, brought the resolution that the BSCFA should join Lucilo Teck in his Mandamus law suit and compel the SICB to open the crop season without a signed agreement.

That received overwhelming support and was passed, so did another resolution that the farmers will NOT accept the compromise agreement the second time around. Those who opposed it in the first place got their desired outcome on Sunday in San Roman:

Alfredo Ortega - Member, BSCFA Executive
"This is what we were awaiting for. We thought that there was a mixture of thoughts from the farmers, but at the very end I think that the farmers show from the early beginning of the meeting today that they have a better knowledge on what the agreement entails as is and that is why I think that the farmers took this decision."

Ezequiel Cansino - Chairman, COM of BSCFA
"Indeed, this is not the result that I was expecting even though the decision was by the majority of the cane farmers. I simply agree and accept their decision."

So, now the issue goes to the Supreme Court where the farmers will seek to get the Judge's order to compel the SICB to declare the season opened. This show of democracy has kept the farmers together so far, despite the possible outcome that this impasse could cause the organization to splinter. The 60+ years of stability continues past this general meeting, but it also puts the crop in a state of uncertainty:

Ezequiel Cansino - Chairman, COM of BSCFA
"It's troubling me and not only me, many cane farmers I believe because definitely there is not a fix date when we could start the crop for this year. We are awaiting for a date. But by now I think that definitely we are not sure a date to start the crop."

Alfredo Ortega - Member, BSCFA Executive
"I don't think that will be beneficial to anyone, to think about losing a crop because of the neglect or because of using not signing an agreement as a tool or as a weapon against the farmers. It came last crop that we sign an interim agreement with them because of the heated of the negotiations, but before that we didn't sign any paper and the past agreement was used as the guiding principles for crop to go on. That could still happen. We can use that as our guiding principle for the crop to go on and then we can negotiations. This is a marriage between the cane farmers and BSI, we need each other. So, in that sense, if we need each other, then we should work together for the benefit of the industry."

Ezequiel Cansino - Chairman, COM of BSCFA
"I hope this doesn't go further because definitely it will harm the economy, not only for the cane farmers, I would say for the entire north of Belize."

Government has already issued a press release stating that it is not prepared to accede to the request that SICB declare season open. That statement says quote, "the law does not...allow the SICB to act unilaterally." End Quote.

Today in Cayo, the Prime Minister discussed the present difficulties:..

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Disappointed. I am not sure where we go from here. Government will have to try reach out to both sides and see if there is a basis for going forward. What I know is absolutely not on is this foolishness which was given additional currency by way of as I understand it, a resolution passed yesterday, this notion that somehow government can somehow can oblige BSI to accept cane in the absence of an agreement. That's not on. It's not on, from the point of view of government's assessment of the issue, government's position on the issue and I don't think it's on in terms of any kind of court order. Everybody knows you can't predict what courts will do, but my best sense is that courts don't act in vain. Courts don't have armies, courts don't have police forces and no court will make an order that is unenforceable for all sorts of practical reasons. So, that's off the table in my view and therefore we have to try to read institute dialogue which of course is going to be far easier said than done. What worries me, as I said trying to bring both sides back to the table, is going to be extremely difficult. BSI clearly will be reluctant because it means starting negotiations all over again. I notice yesterday the farmers never even pass a resolution saying well we want to deliver based on last year's agreement of an interim agreement. They seem to be saying we reject any agreement in the current form. They seem to be suggesting we go back to square one. That's going to be a very tall order, but I am worried about some rumblings I hear of these people talking about going it on their own, about hiving off from the BSCFA and doing their own thing."