BSCFA Rejects $1M Deal, Vote to Continue Court Fight

Members of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) chose to press ahead with its ongoing high-stakes lawsuit over Fairtrade earnings.

At a Special General Meeting on Sunday, an estimated 75% of members of the BSCFA voted to continue their Fairtrade Premium lawsuit against BSI and Tate & Lyle, which meant rejecting a proposal made by the miller that included one million dollars’ worth of fertiliser in exchange for dropping the case.

Chairman Alfredo Ortega described the vote as “overwhelming”, saying that farmers “clearly understood” the implications of the case outlined by the legal counsel, attorney Magali Marin Young.

“The farmers voted yesterday that we continue with the court case because what was being asked for them to drop was not beneficial to the farmers,” Ortega said.

We’ll have the full story tonight on News 5 Live at 6 o’clock.