Posted: Wednesday, December 27, 2023. 11:49 am CST.
By Aaron Humes: The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) management is calling on Prime Minister John Briceno to intervene on their behalf in their ongoing dispute with Belize Sugar Industries Limited/American Sugar Refining (BSI/ASR).
“We are deeply disappointed in your lack of disposition to ensure a fair and impartial agreement for the BSCFA farmers, which represent almost 60 [percent] of the total farmers in the Sugar Industry and your unwillingness to exert your authority,” the Prime Minister was told in a letter dated December 24 by Chairman to the BSCFA Committee of Management, Elvis Reyes, and Secretary Hernan Villas.
The BSCFA says it proposed a one year commercial agreement along with making BSI the conveyor of the Fairtrade Premium paid by Tate and Lyle Sugars (TLS); however, it reports, BSI has outrightly refused to consider it.
This agreement, the BSCFA said, came through dialogue with the Ministerial Sub-Committee appointed by the Prime Minister and including the Ministers of Agriculture and Home Affairs and Minister of State Oscar Mira as members; but it says the Prime Minister seems to be leaning more toward BSI’s proposed four-year extension of the lapsed Commercial Agreement on the same terms and conditions which BSCFA opposes.
The proposed “open agreement” offered by BSI/ASR is seen as an invitation to “union-busting” and destroying the BSCFA, and says members are already upset and roiled and disruption is risked by this offer.
The BSCFA closes by reiterating that it wants BSI/ASR to agree to its proposal by close of business this afternoon, or its edict to members not to deliver starting on Thursday remains in effect.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-601-0315.
© 2023, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.
Comments
The post BSCFA calls on Prime Minister to “exert authority,” broker extension of interim agreement before crop season starts appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, December 27, 2023. 11:49 am CST. By Aaron Humes: The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) management is calling on Prime Minister John Briceno
The post BSCFA calls on Prime Minister to “exert authority,” broker extension of interim agreement before crop season starts appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
