BSCFA Says New Commercial Agreement Proposals Only Address One Area of Concern

Oscar Alonso

Today the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Associations and the B.S.I./A.S.R. met to discuss a proposed new formula for payments to farmers for sugarcane. The proposals makes a change from the current formula which divides sixty five percent of earnings to farmers and thirty five percent to the Mill at net strip value. The new formula now seeks to divide earning at sixty percent for cane farmers and forty percent to the mill from total earnings. While B.S.C.F.A. says they welcome the discussion, they say it is only one of the five proposals they have made for the new commercial agreement.

Oscar Alonso, CEO, BSCFA

“We have been experiencing a delay by BSI, who in its reactions and responses and cause to meetings, have been delaying it for several reasons. Among them, they want to see clear justifications for our proposals, even though in response to our initial letter; they have categorically stated they would not discuss any new clause in the agreement. They have also used other excuses such as the COVID-19 protocols requirements in terms of the number of persons who could gather to conduct any meeting. Also, a proposal to require a test to the proposals we have submitted to even commence considerations of them. Also, to try to reach a satisfactory venue to meet, but, in any event we have finally met today, and we have not been able to address the five proposals we have put forward to them. And these five proposals have to do with how the price of the sugar is calculated, the current formula under the current agreement, also the manner in which we are paid this price of cane. We also put forward a proposal to negotiate a better price for the baggage that is used from our sugar cane that is used to produce electricity and sold to the Belize electricity company. Also, another new clause we were proposing is to bind BSI to mill seven thousand tons of cane in a period of twenty four hours.”