As we told you at the top of the newscast, today in Belmopan - Government went to the House of Representatives to pass the amendments to the Sugar Act. These will make legal provisions for new farmers associations - thus breaking the Belize sugar Cane Farmers 55 year monopoly on membership. And also today, that same cane farmers associations, somewhat splintered, but still three thousand strong, signed a commercial agreement with BSI. Now, the efforts of those who've opposed the signing have been very well documents - and today they made one last stand. Today, Audrey Matura Shepherd, Alfred Ortega, Lucilo Teck, and a few handfuls of cane farmers were joined by members of the NTUCB executive, and members of the public to march n Belmopan. The crowd was small, only 65 at its peak, which isn't very much when one considers that there are 5500 cane farmers. But what they lacked in numbers they made up for in spirit. The group put on hearty show with singing, marching and symbolic cane stalks. We asked Ortega why so few came out:..
Alfredo Ortega, Director, Orange Walk Branch, B.S.C.F.A
"We have this amount of farmers here in symbolism, that we need changes to be done in favor of the farmers. So, the amount of farmers we have here, we know that there are some that are coming on their way. It doesn't reflect the numbers, what is the cause we are fighting for - that is it."
Audrey Matura-Shepherd
"I have no problem coming out here even if I was the only one, but I am glad some people came out and I am sure more people are coming out. I also posted on facebook my telephone number 610-0702. I've been getting a lot of text of support because there are more than one ways to show support. So, I think the moral support is good and I am glad for all the people who have sent out texts and given their names and said the words of encouragement."
Reporter
"Do you feel like this is the end of it or the start of it?"
Audrey Matura-Shepherd
"I know it's the start of it."
Jules Vasquez
"You all intervened, but fail to change the course of events."
Marvin Mora
"Actually no, I disagree with you. Two things: 1) I believe that we did intervene. We just might not have done it the way we wanted to because of how things played out, like I explained to the other media. However, in saying that we did not change the course of events - we did, because if it wouldn't have been for us, the cane farmers would have signed on to that agreement without full knowledge of what it actually was."
Alfredo Ortega
"What we want to accomplish, is that we want respect form our government to our cane farmers. It's true that the farmers said yesterday a yes to the signing and we are not going against that because we want our farmers to deliver their cane and we have seen that farmers are being cornered and I have been saying this from ever since. This is what we are fighting for because this is the bread and butter of the farmers and the people that are involved in the sugar industry."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you able to speak about the direct personal and direct attacks the Prime Minister made against you on Friday?"
Audrey Matura-Shepherd
"All I will say is that as a leader, I have to lead by example and the example I will give today is say nothing personal against the Prime Minister because I don't think I want to go down that road. All I want to know is if the Prime Minister can attack my message, not me."
And not only good grace, the group also showed good stamina - the group stayed out there until close to three PM when the house meeting was finished. Political crowds usually pack it in by lunch time.
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