Latest proposal to BSCFA being analyzed but cañeros remain firm

Published by BBNTEAM at January 4, 2024

Posted: Thursday, January 4, 2024. 6:16 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: While there were a series of tire fires on roads in the North starting Wednesday afternoon, things appeared more calm today, Thursday.

Latest reports say another proposal brokered by Prime Minister John Briceño is being considered by the legal team of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA).

However, as farmers remind, the root cause of their anger with Belize Sugar Industries Limited/American Sugar Refining (BSI/ASR) is that they feel they are not being paid enough for their work in the field – at least not enough to go around.

Police have managed to avoid any scenes like those on Tuesday or Wednesday when, in a scene reminiscent of Gaspar Vega’s February 2009 run-in with farmers outside the BSCFA office in Orange Walk Town, Agriculture Minister Jose Mai was briefly held up by cañeros outside the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) compound in Buena Vista, Corozal District who were demanding an immediate answer to their demands and for the P.M. to come to Buena Vista himself.

Mai today said he was not hurt and did not feel he was in any danger, but that “you do not [mess with] those who produce your food.” He added that the Government is trying its best but BSI/ASR has been unmoving and seems to want a confrontation.

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