Posted: Tuesday, July 29, 2025. 1:11 pm CST.
By Aaron Humes: The High Court of Belize has ruled that the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) and two of its members, Pablo Burgos and Canuto Alpuche, must pay over half a million dollars in damages to Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) and its energy subsidiary, Belize Cogeneration Energy Ltd. (BELCOGEN).
The court found that the BSCFA orchestrated a three-day blockade in December 2021, preventing the delivery of cane and the sale of sugar products, which interfered with the companies’ economic operations.
BSI was awarded $520,674, while BELCOGEN was awarded $43,456, both with 6 percent annual interest from January 1, 2022. Despite the ruling, the government has pledged to cover the damages, likely exceeding $1 million with interest and costs, due to an indemnity agreement signed in 2021, as confirmed by BSCFA leader Alfredo Ortega. He maintains that the BSCFA, which was in the midst of a dispute with BSI at the time, was not acting in bad faith but trying to secure the future of its membership and ensuring that they could continue to deliver cane and be fairly paid for their labour.
However, Justice Rajiv Goonetilleke ruled that the blockade was intentional and that the BSCFA leadership had the power to stop it but chose not to until a new agreement was reached with BSI.
This landmark case marks the first successful award of damages for interference with economic interests in Belize, setting a significant precedent for future cases.
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The post Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association hit with half-million-dollar blockade bill appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Tuesday, July 29, 2025. 1:11 pm CST. By Aaron Humes: The High Court of Belize has ruled that the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA)
The post Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association hit with half-million-dollar blockade bill appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
