| BSI to Cane Farmers: “Let’s Talk” |
| Tue, December 31, 2013 |
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The sugar industry standoff remains in effect - one month after the crop season was to have started. Yes, a lot of that is also due to weather, but it's also due to the fact that both sides still can't come to an agreement on bagasse.
Today the cane farmers put a statement in the Amandala saying quote, "it is BSI who is causing the stalling of the commencement of the sugar cane crop by first delaying negotiations and now by refusing to unconditionally make a payment for bagasse." End quote.
That statement is dated December 23rd, and a letter dated today from BSI to the cane farmers deals directly with the bagasse payment. The letter says, quote, "it is BSI/ASR's intent to negotiate and make payment for bagasse at a quantum to be determined through negotiations (if possible)." Whether that is the unconditional guatrnatee the farmers want is left to their interpretation.
It adds, quote, "we commit our best efforts to conclude these negotiations no later than the end of the 2013/14 crop season."
The letter ends by saying, "BSI/ASR has approached and is sitting at the negotiating table in good faith. In turn, we do request that the BSCFA and its representatives approach these negotiations in a demonstrable spirit of good faith and mutual respect."
We await a response from the farmers on this latest letter.
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