There’s a big development out of the Belize High Court and tonight, sugar cane farmers are calling it a step in the right direction. The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association is celebrating a legal win, not a final verdict, but a green light to move forward with their case. The association claims that Belize Sugar Industries and T&L Sugars Limited withheld Fairtrade premium payments between 2021 and 2022, funds that are meant to support farmers with fertilizer, community programs, and more. Now, a judge has ruled that the case will be heard right here in Belizean courts. News Five spoke with B.S.C.F.A. Chairman Alfredo Ortega, who says while this ruling is worth celebrating, the fight for justice is far from over.
Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association
“We feel that justice is prevailing way. It’s something positive for us as an organization. And it came in a right time, when the farmers are getting desperate with everything that is ongoing and plus that we are not getting any premium as yet. I think that this came right in time so that farmers can see that something is being done. Nevertheless, we are not getting the fund as yet. This is just a first step towards what we have in court. But it is very important for us the direction that the judge has taken with this. We have been respecting fair trade standards. We have been working. Nevertheless, we don’t have any funds. We have been working in maintaining the certification because we know that having the certification give us the opportunity to remain our association fair trade certified. So once we are certified, we know that there should be a guarantee that our organization should be getting its rightful premium as the other association. But as you see where things are at this point because of not signing the letter of enhancement we are where we are, but we hope that the courts can resolve these issues that we. Haven’t been able to resolve amongst ourselves between the BSC and BSI.”