Posted: Monday, January 1, 2024. 6:07 pm CST.
By Aaron Humes: Recently appointed Lead Negotiator Hugh O’Brien, chief advisor to Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai, explained on Sunday following a long day of negotiations that while a “stalemate” has been reached with regard to a commercial agreement between Belize Sugar Industries Limited/American Sugar Refining (BSI/ASR) and Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), that the parties came extremely close to reaching a commercial agreement.
In an interview with Independent Journalist, Joseph Budan, O’Brien said that on Friday the two sides agreed in principle to a two-year agreement with an option for a third year, to be triggered within three months of the end of the second year if a long-term agreement could not be reached at the end of the second year. This would allow the forthcoming Commission of Inquiry to complete its work and provide concrete data and information to guide all sides in a sustainable, long-term, profitable vision for the industry and its stakeholders.
Also, the parties had agreed in principle to set aside, at least in this agreement, the matter of the Fairtrade premiums that BSCFA says it is owed for the past two years and which it wants BSI to pay. O’Brien said agreement was reached on these two (2) earlier points ie. first, the duration of the agreement and second, the issue of Fairtrade. This confirms what Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Jose Mai, told Buda, earlier on Sunday that progress was being made.
The sticking point now, O’Brien told Budna on Sunday evening, was BSI’s request to include terminal handling charge and throughput fees which were not part of the original agreement, but which it said carried on from its business at the Belize City Port to the Port of Big Creek. BSCFA maintains that they never agreed to this and that the charges are not specified and are primarily the province of BSI/ASR.
O’Brien concluded that negotiations have reached a stalemate unless one of the parties budge from their position on the port fees.
BSI is expected to re-open on Tuesday, January 1st, 2024 to receive cane from the other associations. Whether a last minute agreement will be reached, or what action will be taken by the BSCFA is not certain at this time.
Breaking Belize News (BBN) will continue to track the ongoing negotiations and developments in the sugar industry.
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The post Sugar impasse continues – Port fees now at center of dispute between BSCFA and BSI appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Monday, January 1, 2024. 6:07 pm CST. By Aaron Humes: Recently appointed Lead Negotiator Hugh O’Brien, chief advisor to Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai, explained
The post Sugar impasse continues – Port fees now at center of dispute between BSCFA and BSI appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
