So while any increase in that wage bill would require serious reflection - how much reflection did the Prime Minister do when he gave the Cane Farmers Association a blanket sovereign indemnity in their dispute with ASR/BSI?
As we have told you, ASR/BSI is now suing the farmers for unlawful interference with business when they blocked cane trucks from going to the factory in December of 2021.
Between Belcogen and BSI, they claim to have lost 1.5 million dollars in revenue - and because of the indemnity - government - or more accurately taxpayers, are now on the hook for that money if a judgement is delivered against the cane farmers. Today we asked the PM, under what authority was a sovereign indemnity given to a private association. He said he approved it in the interest of the industry:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well it's not a matter of an issue of a private association. What is important is that the industry was being held back, the crop, and for us it was very important to get that going and I felt then as the prime minister that it was the appropriate thing to do, trying to avoid that, tempers flare up and then people got hurt. If you can remember I think it was 2009 I think with Atanacio who was shot and died. I certainly do not want that to happen in my time as prime minister. o to avoid or to have tempers calm down very quickly I felt it was important to give that indemnity, to be able to end the strike at that moment."
Jomarie Lanza
"Can you see how taxpayers may balk at the prospect of having to pay millions to compensate for a private commercial disagreement?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well I think it's something we need to address later on. I am hopeful that the government and taxpayers will not have to pay anything."
JO-
"Do you expect they will enforce the indemnity if they win the case?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No I do not expect them to enforce the indemnity, but I think you would need to speak with BSI on that one."
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