Earlier in our newscast we reported that an interim agreement was signed by Belize Sugar Industries and Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. Following the meeting the media spoke with BSI Chief Executive Office Joey Montalvo.
JOEY MONTALVO
“I am particularly pleased that we signed today and we now must focus on getting the crop off the ground. We have a late start and we have a big crop to mill. We must also focus on negotiations coming ahead to finalize that and also, I want to say that this hasn’t really slowed ASR/BSI plans for expansion; we need to boost the field and the mill. We need to focus on getting the economic pie bigger; there is great scope for expansion, there is great scope for productivity both on the farming side and the milling side and there is great scope and potential to increase cane production to about two million tons and sugar production to about two hundred and twenty thousand tons of sugar. If we are to stay in business we must look forward to both sides working together. This has been a learning experience; I think these things serve a meaningful purpose and as I said, I think we need to look ahead and move forward. We have been stuck for at least two decades at the current level of sugar cane production and so we need to move forward and that is where the focus ought to be for the future. I am particularly pleased that we have reached this stage and we can then move forward with the plans for both the field and the mill.”
The Government has said that two million dollars will be put into rehabilitating sugar roads. Vice President of the BSCFA Alfredo Ortega said there is a lot of work to be done.
ALFREDO ORTEGA
“I think it was a figure that the Prime Minister gave us when we had a meeting with him but I think that at that time it was a very good portion and since the rain that has fallen from that time up to now, I think we need a little bit more but I think that if we do an effective work with it and they really push forward in certain areas, I think that two million can do a good work but I think we need a little bit more because all branches have their sugar roads are in bad condition.”
ARTURO CANTUN
“Isn’t there a problem since contractors are being given one division at a time and it is within 8 – 9 days until next week Monday, you don’t have enough time to have all the roads fixed?”
ALFREDO ORTEGA
“That is another important area that we are looking at, hoping that contracts can be given to other contractors so that works can be done simultaneously, at least in a substantial amount of areas that farmers can harvest their cane.”
As mentioned earlier both parties have set January 20 for the start of the crop season.
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