Farmers Warn: Walking Away Could Cost Millions

Turning back to our interview with Prime Minister Briceno whose portfolio includes oversight of the sugar industry. A new rift is opening in the sugar belt and this time, it’s not between farmers and the mill, but over what the government wants the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association to give up. Reports from inside the BSCFA suggest the Briceño administration is pressuring the association to walk away from its ongoing court battle with Belize Sugar Industries and Tate & Lyle. The association’s legal adviser warns that dropping the case now could mean forfeiting as much as nine million dollars, money they believe they stand to win if the judge rules in their favor. But when we put that to Prime Minister John Briceño today, he pushed back, saying his government isn’t forcing anyone’s hand. What he did make clear is that the drawn‑out legal fight is costing farmers far more than they realize. And in a twist that adds fuel to the debate, the Prime Minister also confirmed that he personally left the BSCFA and joined another cane farmers’ association, a move that is already raising eyebrows as Sunday’s pivotal vote approaches.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“That is not for us to decide. That is a decision for us to make. It has absolutely nothing to do with government.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What has government proposed, is it for them to drop the case?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“No, government has not proposed for them to drop the case. What the government has been saying is that it is their right if they want to go to court. But at the same time what they have been saying is that you are spending all of this time losing money from Fair Trade to the detriment of the farmer and it is their thing to decide if they want to come out of that or not.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What is the prudent way forward?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I don’t think I should answer that question because you would say I am being biased. But let us put it this way, I have left the BSCFA because I don’t see I am getting anywhere else. So, I went to progressive. Progressive has signed on to Fair Trade, so we will be able to get the support from Fair Trade.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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