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Today, we spoke with Chairman of the Committee of Management, of the BSCFA, Ezequiel Cansino, and Chairman of the Orange Walk Branch, Alfredo Ortega. They told us that the farmers are on the verge of caving and signing with BSI to start delivering their cane:

Ezequiel Cansino - Chairman, COM of BSCFA
"We have been saying that we already having losses on this delay and if we will wait 6 weeks more, I think definitely cane farmers will actually from the list of the cane farmers."

Mike Rudon, Ch5
"In terms of the delivery of cane, you are the head of the San Estevan Branch, responsible for 150,000 tons of cane. Are you a part of this alliance which was spoken of yesterday, this alliance of people are ready and prepare to deliver cane immediately to the field?"

Ezequiel Cansino - Chairman, COM of BSCFA
"I have said long before that, that San Estevan is already ready and they are asking for the start of the crop. If there are any other branches that are willing to start the crop, I think that we will have no problem to sign to start the crop as soon as possible."

Mike Rudon, Ch5
"How difficult is that position that you are put in? As you are the head of the San Estevan Branch, but you are also the chairman of the committee of management of the BSCFA which has been mandated by farmers to do something completely different from what you as head of the San Estevan Branch want to do."

Ezequiel Cansino
"It's very difficult of me. At least I will try the last to keep the BSCFA as united as possible."

Mike Rudon, Ch5
"And that is difficult at this point?"

Ezequiel Cansino
"Well it's very difficult for me."

Reporter
"Do you see the association breaking up? It almost seem inevitable."

Ezequiel Cansino
"If we are supposed to wait the 6 weeks more, I think that it's definitely that we will break up. But if BCSFA act as quick as possible, maybe we might have a possibility to reunite and get stronger. The consensus of the cane farmer to stay together and sign the agreement as soon as possible."

Alfredo Ortega - Director, BSCFA Orange Walk Branch
"I receive may calls from the farmers from during after the press conference of the Prime Minister and during like late last night. The farmers are saying where are we now? Because if the Prime Minister of the country is prepared to protect us, if the Prime Minister of the country is not obeying the law, where are we? And many of them are saying well you know what, just sign and let us move for a crop and that is a situation that corners the farmer that if they would move into that situation to sigh, they will be signing something that they really understand that will be to their detriment."

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, attorney for Lucilo Teck
"I have no control about the maneuvering of any government or any entity who want to crush the farmers. Yesterdays' press conference was a clear indication that the lines were drawn, that there are 3 people or 3 entities against the cane farmers and the common denominator of those 3 entities is clearly the government of Belize. The Government of Belize is part owner of BSI, so when they sided BSI, they are siding with themselves. The Government of Belize is the one that appoints the Sugar Industry Control Board, so when they side and refuse to have the Sugar Industry Control Board carry out the law, again, it's the government of Belize that is behind that. And then the Government of Belize in its own standing yesterday, to the highest office that we can find in governance in any government administration made it clear, that they drew the line and said they will not go with the cane farmers. As a matter of fact, proudly announce that they have met with ASR and we've had said about meeting with the cane farmers. So, clearly that's an indication that lines have been drawn and that the cane farmers now, can expect anything against them to divide them, anything against them to discourage them."

And on that other big challenge facing the association, the 18 directors have voted on whether or not they will disburse the 4 million dollars of the Fairtrade funds. 14 said yes, and 4 said that the management shouldn't.

That's the majority, and so, the association's hands are tied; the General Assembly called for it, and now 14 directors want to comply. So the cheques for about 750 dollars each will be cut for each of the 5,300 or so farmers. In meantime, while that is being processed, the directors are trying to change the minds of their branch members, which seems more or less made up on this issue:

Alfredo Ortega - Director, BSCFA Orange Walk Branch
"Yesterday there are many farmers agitating that they want that we disburse to them. Nevertheless we are explaining to them that it will create problems for them. Personally I didn't sign the paper because I am not in agreement for that to happen because it will hurt the association, but in the further end it will hurt the farmers because this is leading to a decertification and a decertification from Fair Trade is not only that we will not be receiving any more premiums, the situation is that the movement of the market, the movement of the consumers out there, they are looking forward to products that are produce with less use of agrochemicals and that child labor is not involve and that protection to the labor force is being done, so many things are there that need to be in compliance with and those are things that we need the farmers to understand and we are trying to see how best they can understand the implication of all of this. But nevertheless there is a potential political intervention to farmers that the 4 million dollars be disperse to them."

"Vote was taken and the majority voted in favor that that money be disperse. It will be use, it will be disperse to the farmers. Four of us didn't sign the paper, but the majority rules, so we have 18 directors, so 14 of them has sign the paper and it will go through."