Name calling aside, as we told you earlier, there are still farmers who resent being pushed around - and that's just what they feel BSI si doing to them.
That sentiment is what drove some farmers to gather in front of the BSCFA's Orange Walk headquarters today, ready to protest in front of the Tower Hill plant. Rumors of as an impending protest reached the management of the factory owners, who took immediate steps to send home employees and prepare for a possible riot. When we arrived in Orange Walk Town, the company's security personnel, were closely monitoring the entrance.
We spoke with two of the branch chairmen who said that their members were very upset:
Alfredo Ortega - Director, BSCFA Orange Walk Branch
"Yesterday saw in the news that BSI is signing with producers and other group that named themselves association and at this point BSCFA is a legal entity that represent the farmers. Based of those points and the letter that the BSCFA sends to BSI, informing them that they have 3,088 signatures if farmers saying yes to sign the agreement and to start the crop, then they are coming with other things. I told the chairman yesterday that he needs to step up and let them respect him, because he is the chairman of the association which legally represent the 5,300 cane farmers and no letter of resignation from one single farmer have come to the association. Based to those points, he represents all farmers and it is very important that BSI respect the letter that has been sent to them by BSCFA."
Daniel Ortiz
"Can you talk to us about what's the latest position of the BSI, why they are holding back signing the agreement with you all?"
Alfredo Ortega - Director, BSCFA Orange Walk Branch
"I can only speak to what I have heard from yesterday, that they are scrutinizing the letter that was sent to them and that they are sending it to their lawyers and a whole pile of rumbles over it. So, after that, I don't know if Mr. Cansino have had any call with them or any thoughts about it. The only thing I know right now is that he said that he will be awaiting on a response after the Prime Minister have his press conference this afternoon."
Reporter
"The chairman of the association Mr. Cansino, says that he thinks that BSI at this moment is acting in bad faith, because they have not sent an answer. What do you personally as a farmer and as a chairman of a branch think about BSI signing with other association, but not with the BSCFA?"
Cane Farmer
"I as the chairman of the Corozal Branch, think that we need letter, that answer. Because we need it in black and white, letter of response to see what they are saying. That is what I can answer at this moment."
But as we showed you already, the tension was quelled when the BSCFA's Committee of Management wrote the Prime Minister and asked for his intervention. And as we showed you, by noon, the Prime Minister made a statement in favour of the BSCFA's three thousand and eighty eight members.
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