Shortly after agreeing that the cane farmers will not sign the compromise agreement, one of the farmers tabled a motion that the executive of their association must make available 4 million dollars of Fair Trade money to distribute evenly among the 5,300 farmers in the north.
Now, the farmers still haven't gotten a conclusive response if they ran afoul of Fair Trade regulations when they made a resolution to share out 2.5 million dollars of those funds during Christmas. They claimed that it was to assist with the hardships of the delay in the start of the grinding season, a sort of cane country Christmas Cheer.
But Christmas is done, and now the farmers want to make an even deeper dip into the Fair Trade Funds. At yesterday's meeting, the directors tried their very hardest to kill that motion and convince the farmers that it's against Fair Trade rules to share up that money. The funds have already been allotted to different upgrading projects within the sugar cane industry, all designed to modernize the industry and make it ready for 2017 when the preferential markets disappear. But, the majority demanded that their executive discard those programs and allow the farmers to divvy up the 4 million dollars.
Chairman Cansino, who was troubled by the last 2.5 million move, told us yesterday that he is completely disappointed that even after the dangers of being de-certified by Fair Trade, the farmers insisted that they wanted the money:
Alfredo Ortega - Member, BSCFA Executive
"Farmers are going through a hardship right now financially because we don't have a crop right now. But I think that most of the funds that are available at this time, they have been approved for different projects and some are funds that have been approved from 2 years ago - projects that are not finalize as yet and the portion that was available, farmers approved on it before Christmas which has been delivered to the farmers. I cannot see there is more money to be distributed among the farmers."
Ezequiel Cansino - Chairman, COM of BSCFA
"I am completely disappointed because this is not the way. If we manage to keep the cane farmers united to stay in one and now we will decide in something that will automatically break down the projects and the benefits for our own cane farmers and it's a pity that it's our own cane farmers who decided this. I am in deed not in agreement with this, but they are the ones who take the decision, so I know that the committee of management and the committee of finance will make every effort to make this available for Friday."
Reporter
"This is 4 million dollars that could put the association or could disqualify the association forever."
Ezequiel Cansino - Chairman, COM of BSCFA
"It's true, but I have to call an immediate meeting tomorrow with the 18 directors and also with the head of departments so as what we can do because in deed, I repeat, it's what I expected and I am completely disappointed."
Reporter
"Do you think that this is a result of desperation on behalf of the farmers with the crop not starting?"
Ezequiel Cansino - Chairman, COM of BSCFA
"Maybe it could be desperation, but I think if they themselves say that they are well intelligent, that they know what they are doing, if by saying no, what not to sign or yes to what to sign - I think that this is not the way to end this thing. Definitely, this is not the way and I am disappointed."
Chairman Cansino said that he would call an emergency meeting to discuss this troubling resolution. He also said that he will get in contact with the officials of Fair Trade to get their input on yesterday's resolution.
If the Executive of the BSCFA concedes to this resolution, each farmer will end up with about $754 dollars after that 4 million dollars is divided equally.
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