Since January 27 of this year, when the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) initiated a strike action against payment by quality for sugarcane delivered to Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI), my employer has been the subject of several written opinions in the media which, for the most part, have not been fair or factual. And whilst BSI has issued a couple of press releases during the strike in an attempt to clarify the several misconceptions, there are some individuals who continue to propagate guile against the cane miller with a passion mostly motivated by ignorance of the stakes in the Industry.
Indeed in the past weeks, I have seen articles which try to portray BSI as a faceless villain who is relentlessly conspiring with foreign interests against the “poor and hardworking cane farmer”.
Before I proceed, let me state for the record that I will not be coy about my intentions or shield my name as does the anonymous writer in the Belize Times. This individual, who obviously has a very large chip on his shoulder against BSI’s management and probably the government, writes the most vitriol of articles every so often. He uses words that are clearly intended to stroke the ire of cane farmers in an already delicate relationship between the stakeholders in the Sugar Industry. Take for example, his article in the December 14, 2008 edition of the Times titled “BSI declares war on Cane Farmers”. Why would BSI do anything against farmers which would ultimately destabilize its very own existence?
Before I continue, please allow me to put a face to the Sugar Company and its four hundred employees. I have been employed at BSI for over 28 years. I served as a Union officer of the Belize Workers Union for 15 of those years. When majority ownership of BSI, 81.29%, was transferred to BSI Employee Holdings (BEH) in 1985, I was a part of the team involved in the discussions leading to the formation of the Trust, and later became one of the six elected Protectors of said Trust. Today I still serve as an elected Protector and a member of BEH’s Board. In 2007, I was further nominated by BEH to represent all employees on BSI’s Board of Directors.
When I tell you that the business of the Company is transparent, I am being totally candid with you. The Sugar Industry generates an average of about US $60 million in foreign exchange each year for our economy and provides for hundreds of jobs, businesses, and scholarships. As a stakeholder, BSI does not take that responsibility lightly, and will make all efforts to keep its doors open, even in the face of one of the most serious challenges that has ever confronted the Sugar Industry since Belize become a net exporter. This tangible threat is the accumulative price cut of 36% in sugar prices to the EU as of 1 October this year.
The same writer in another article in the Belize Times of April 19 makes several other accusations, one of which accuses BSI of conspiring with Tate and Lyle to provide my employer with “cheap money at the expense of the cane farmers”. He refers to the Sugar Adaptation Strategy, the Accompanying Measures for Sugar and Fairtrade. I intend to respond to these charges in my next article.
But I want to leave readers with some thoughts and stirring questions over this long weekend. Did you know that it was mainly BSI’s initiative which facilitated the process of certifying Belize’s sugar by Fairtrade? Did you also know that the US$60 premium paid on each ton of BSI sugar bearing the Fairtrade label is paid by Tate and Lyle (who trades all our EU sugar) and not Fairtrade? And finally, and this may be a burning question, what portion of the $7.6 million earned through the Fairtrade premium in 2008, and given in totality to the BSCFA, was actually invested in making the sugar industry more competitive in the face of the impending price cuts?
These are the relevant questions that I would like informed readers to consider, even after being assailed with so many uninformed opinions about BSI in the press. While some may believe that they are insulated against the repercussions of a collapse of the sugar industry, I can assure you that the entire country will feel the effects of such a loss.
In closing, I must reiterate that my employer is committed to its strategic plan aimed at sustained viability through increased operating efficiencies. We continue to be fully engaged with industry stakeholders in the implementation of Belize’s Adaptation Strategy for the sugar industry which provides the framework for funding under the EU Accompanying Measures for Sugar to ensure maximum support for industry development.
May you have a good Labour Day!
