Bagasse Impasse of 2013/14 Used as Example for Renegotiation

Andy Westby

Viewers may recall the impasse between B.S.C.F.A. and B.S.I. back in 2013/2014 over bagasse. That impasse caused the sugar cane crop season to get off to a late start. And, according to A.S.R./B.S.I. it cost the industry twenty million dollars in revenue losses. With crop season set to start in a few months, B.S.C.F.A. is resurrecting the bagasse issue, seeking a satisfactory resolution.

Andy Westby, Chairman, Caledonia Branch, Vice Chairman

“To have a fair understanding of what happened with the issue of bagasse, I will take you back seven years ago that caused an impasse on the bagasse issue. At that time, B.S.I.’s formula that they had, bagasse is tied to the sale of sugar, which on our side the bagasse would be tied to the sale of electricity. At that time, it caused the impasse and we asked the government to bring in a technical person, to identify a technical person to determine a justified formula for the payment of bagasse. Now, the opportunity arose again, today, on the agreement we want to revise so we can have clarity once and for all on the issue of bagasse, justify a good payment for our cane farmers.”