Black Immigrant Daily News

If the situation between cane farmers and BSI/ASR is not resolved, sooner or later, farmers will begin phasing out of the industry, BSCFA chairman Andy Westby said.

by Khaila Gentle

ORANGE WALK TOWN, Thurs. Oct. 20, 2022

The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) says that they have been proposing, for a number of years, the use of a mediator to quash the impasse between the association and BSI/ASR, which need to agree to the terms of a new commercial agreement prior to the start of the approaching sugar crop season in December. The association held a press conference in Orange Walk this Thursday to respond to statements made by the Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceño, this week. In an interview outside the National Assembly building, Prime Minister Briceño told reporters that both parties (BSI/ASR and BSCFA) had finally agreed to a mediation process that is set to begin in a few weeks.

“What we’ve been discussing and something that we have proposed to both teams is for us to have a mediator—a mediator that can sit with both sides and try to see what are the sticking points and see how we can walk them through to find an agreement,” he said.

This was also revealed by Director of Finance of BSI, Shawn Chavarria, who told 7News reporters on Tuesday that the company and the association had agreed to invite an independent mediator to assist with negotiations.

The vice chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, Alfredo Ortega, says that the BSCFA has been suggesting the use of a mediator for as much as seven years now. According to Ortega, the first time they made such a proposal, in 2015, it was flatly rejected by BSI/ASR. The association then took the matter to the government, a then UDP administration, which failed to provide an independent mediator.

BSCFA chairman, Andy Westby, says that it is now up to the current administration to succeed where the past one failed. In November of last year, the association submitted their proposal to the Briceño administration, and two weeks ago, almost one year later, BSI/ASR finally indicated that they were prepared to undergo negotiations with the aid of a mediator.

The BSCFA is hoping to resolve the impasse with BSI/ASR before the start of the next crop season in December of this year. One of the main points of contention between the two parties has been what the BSCFA feels is the unfair division of profits from cane production and sales.

The current mechanism being used to share revenue between the cane producers (BSCFA) and the millers (BSI/ASR) sees BSCFA receiving 35% of the revenue, while the BSI/ASR receives 65%, but this division is done only after BSI/ASR has removed overhead costs from the total revenue. According to the cane farmers, this equates to them paying for costs that they have nothing to do with.

The BSCFA also feels that they are being kept in the dark when it comes to the accuracy of those overhead costs. And so, to make things easier and make progress with the negotiations, the association wants to split the gross revenue rather than the revenue left after overhead costs are taken out. And they want to split it 40/60—just as is the case with cane farmers and millers in Brazil and other parts of the world.

“And that is why we have brought to the table that we need these negotiations to go on so that we can have clearly that what is being charged to the farmers—the expenses that are being charged to the farmers—are a true reflection of what they are supposed to be,” said Ortega.

According to Ortega, BSI has said that a 40/60 split would mean transferring 20 million dollars over to the farmers, something which the company says it is unable to do. The Prime Minister, on Monday, also agreed that that request would be unfeasible, stating “To be fair, no company will give up twenty million dollars, and I’ve been saying that to the Belize Cane Farmers Association, that if you give up twenty million dollars for revenues of what, they end up with about sixty million—you’re driving them to bankruptcy. And we need both sides.”

The chairman of the Association said the Prime Minister’s statement was disappointing.

“We were a bit disappointed when the Prime Minster mentioned that no company will transfer 20 million to us as cane farmers. I want to clarify that point—it’s not a matter of transfer. It’s a matter of reflecting the true cost that is being charged on overhead expenses where we as farmers are spending sixty five percent of our money on those costs and those numbers are not disclosed to us in detail in [BSI’s] added report. So we as the BSCFA—if these costs would reflect the true value … then there would be a just payment for both sides,” Westby said.

If an agreement is not made soon, said Westby, farmers will begin to phase out of the sugar industry and will go out of business.

“This is the third time that the Prime Minister has made mention in regards to the transfer of value of twenty million. Because that is what BSI brought up. And these are things that as BSCFA—because as you can clearly see we have 3 other associations—but it is the BSCFA that is in this path moving forward in finding true benefit for our farmers because, as the chairman rightly said, if we are unable to find or to get better value for our product, we’ll be phased out. And as you know, for the past fifty, sixty years, the north, the people from the north have been living, have been getting their benefits out of the sugar industry,” added Vice Chairman Ortega.

Ortega then added that the BSCFA has been prepared “from day one” to negotiate, but BSI/ASR have been “dragging their feet.”

At the moment, the situation between the two parties remains a delicate one, but the BSCFA is standing firm in their proposals.

“This is an industry that is the backbone of the country,” said Andy Westby. “And government cannot be neglecting the fact that this is their responsibility … They have to get up and take their responsibilities serious, because this is an industry that will benefit all of us here in Belize. And if that industry goes down, 50 thousand plus in the north will also go down. And everybody that depends on it directly and indirectly will go down.”

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More than 200 bankers, financial services professionals, regulators, Government officials, and representatives of regional and international agencies from the Caribbean, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa will meet in the coming days for CAB Conference Saint Lucia 2022.

It will be the first time since 2019 that the foremost gathering of regional banks will be convened in person, and from all reports, the highly anticipated event will be crucial and transformative.

The 49th Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) Inc. will be held at the Harbor Club – Curio Collection by Hilton on Wednesday 26 October 2022.

During the AGM, members will deliberate on matters affecting the financial services industry. There will also be voting for vacant positions arising on the Board of Directors, including a new Chairperson to replace Mr. Dalton Lee, who has served two terms with distinction.

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The AGM will be followed by two days of high-level discourse, presentations by inspirational speakers and industry leaders in technology and finance, under the theme: “Banking For The Future.”

The opening plenary will speak to Sanctions, Supply Chain Resilience, Environmental, Social and Governance Compliance, Trade Finance, and Technology & Payments. The closing plenary will address South-South Co-operation, The Changing DNA of Caribbean Banks, Leadership, and De-risking.

Among the agencies represented will be the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Atlantic Council Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Avvant, the Central Bank of Barbados, Financial & International Business Association (FIBA), Pt. Lisas Industial Port Development Corporation (PLIPDECO), Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services (SRC) of University of the West Indies, The Leadership Xperience, Ernst & Young Services Ltd., Hitachi Systems Security Inc., Alliance One Management Consulting, the International Finance Company (IFC), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, and Republic Bank, inter alia.

CAB Conference 2022 will also feature a Training Day facilitated by IFC and FIBA, which will delve into Trade Finance and Correspondent Banking.

This will be the first time that IFC will be offering training through CAB. The Atlantic Council will also take the opportunity to host a roundtable on de-risking and correspondent banking, a topic on which CAB, The Atlantic Council, and FIBA recently offered testimony before the House Committee on Financial Services in the United States of America.

Further to the business sessions, participants will also be eager to take advantage of networking opportunities during social events such as the Opening Ceremony, Poolside Cocktail, the Closing Party, and Surf & Turf Networking Day, where delegates will travel by catamaran to visit a working cocoa plantation, Fond Doux Eco Resort.

For the first time, the CAB Conference will have a Main Sponsor – UTC Global Balanced Fund Limited. CAB also welcomes the support of Diamond Sponsors, MasterCard, Howden Insurance Brokers, Euro Exim, Alliance One Management, Hitachi Systems Security Inc., Ernst & Young Services Limited, Republic Bank, and First Citizens Bank. Additionally, Grant Thornton, ERI Banking Software Ltd., Finastra, Temenos USA Inc, the International Finance Corporation, and Republic Financial Holdings Limited occupy the Platinum Sponsor positions.

Gold Sponsors include Raymond James – The Americas Group, Crown Agents Bank Limited, Bangor University, IBIS Management Associates Inc., Jack Henry, ADVANTAQ Solutions, and 1st National Bank (St. Lucia) Limited. Further support has been furnished by Ascendancy Fund, Moody’s Analytics, HPS, Salesforce / Crescent Digital, and Ictual NV.

CAB has extended thanks to a number of local collaborators, who have helped ensure a great experience for delegates, including the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the Saint Lucia Customs  and Excise Department, the Immigration Department, Sea Island Cotton Shop, Harry Edwards Jewelers, and Barbay Limited.

CAB, the recognised voice of the industry in the region, is a community of Caribbean banks and other financial institutions, which proactively influences issues impacting the financial services sector through advocacy, education, and networking.

The pan-regional body was founded in 1974, as an instrument of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

 SOURCE: Caribbean Association of Banks

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ORANJESTAD (AAN): Durante e conferencia di prensa di Gobierno di Aruba diabierna mainta, Prome Minister a haci un reflexion riba kico lo a pasa si Aruba lo a haya e aanwijzing

enfatisando cu Gobierno mes no tabata sa kico e contenido di e aanwijzing pasobra nunca Hulanda a indica con e lo bay hinc’e den otro.

            “Un cos si cu nos sa sigur ta, cu Hulanda lo a impone medidanan riba Aruba mientras ta cumpli cu tur e recomendacionnan di CAFT. Nos a purba di splica na tur manera posibel cu no ta tur recomendacion bo por ehecuta sin mas riba un pueblo cu ya ta sufriendo”, Prome Minister a enfatisa.

            Si e aanwijzing a bin, Gobierno lo mester a tuma mas medida entre otro hisando impuesto riba lomba di pueblo, corta mas den servicionan di Gobierno, servicionan social di bijstand, Polis enseñansa, cuido di salud, cuido di nos grandinan. “P’esey nos ta bisa awe, danki Dios nos no a haya un aanwijzing. Esaki ta un dia cu henter Aruba mester ta celebrando pasobra si e aanwijzing a bin, lo e no a bin riba Evelyn of Xiomara sino riba cada ciudadano, especialmente esnan mas vulnerable”.

            Prome Misister ta gradici un biaha tur esnan cu a yuda Gobierno evita un aanwijzinng y a indica cu pa 2023 ta trahando pa yega surplusnan. Te ainda e presupuesto ta entrega na Parlamento cu un deficit di 0.5%, pero ya caba ta logrando caba pa haci’e un balance budget. Y tur esfuerso ta pa continua otro aña pa conberti esaki den un surplus. “E lo no ta facil, e lo tin su retonanan pero nos lo traha duro pa logr’e”, Prome Minister a enfatisa.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Secretario di Estado Alexanda van Huffelen:

*GDP mester baha cu mitad 

ORANJESTAD (AAN):  Conseho di Minister di Reino a dicidi di no duna Aruba un instruccion pa aña 2022. Un mihor resultado inespera ta haci cu e deficit ta yega na 112,7 miyon Florin Arubano (AWG); 53 miyon euro. Cu esaki e deficit ta keda bou di e 131 miyon AWG palabra y pa e motibo ey un instruccion no ta necesario e aña aki.             E mihor resultado di Aruba a sali na cla despues di e conseho di Colegio di Supervision Financiero di Aruba (College Aruba Financieel Toezicht, CAft). Riba 13 di juli CAft a conseha Conseho di Minister di Reino pa duna Aruba un instruccion pa motibo cu gobierno di e pais no tabata tin su presupuesto balansa. CAft no a nota pasonan pa trece mas balance den gasto y entrada di e pais y segun CAft Aruba no ta haci suficiente pa drecha su situacion financiero pa termino largo.            “Ta bon cu gobierno di Aruba na ultimo momento a presenta algun resultado cu ta mihor cu prome a spera y asina tene e deficit riba su presupuesto pa e aña aki bou di e limite palabra”, asina Secretario di Estado Alexanda van Huffelen di Relacionnan den Reino ta indica. “Cu esey a logra evita un instruccion pa 2022.”             Pero ainda e Secretario di Estado hunto cu gobierno Hulandes ta preocupa pa futuro di e pais y di arubianonan. “Nos ta mira cu Aruba ta mantene debenan grandi, mas di 90 porciento di e Producto Domestico Bruto (Bruto Binnenlands Product, BBP) mihor conoci como GDP. Esaki mester baha cu mitar. Casi 19 porciento di e presupuesto awor ta bay na pago di interes. Ta placa cu bo lo kier inverti den enseñansa, salubridad of combatimento di pobresa; cosnan cu ta importante pa e hendenan den e pais.”             Den Conseho di Minister di Reino a palabra anteriormente cu otro aña e pais mester tene su mes na e reglanan presupuestario atrobe. E reglanan aki ta indica cu Aruba mester tin un surplus di 1 porciento di su BBP. Na 2023 Aruba no por haci un apelacion mas riba fiansa di emergencia manera durante periodo di Corona, e asima yama sosten di liquides.

            “Pa construi un pais y mantene e confiansa di e mercado financiero, ta importante pa tin un presupuesto cu ta cuadra. Cu un debe di 5,8 mil miyon AWG Aruba ta duna futuro generacionnan un peso enorme pa carga. Pa e motibo ey ta sumamente importante cu e presupuesto ta cuadra cu e palabracionnan haci y cu tin placa pa tur locual Rubianonan kier pa nan pais.”, asina e Secretario di Estado ta bisa.             Na nomber di e gabinete, e Secretario di Estado a manda un carta pa gobierno di Aruba pa trece gobierno na altura di e decision di Conseho di Minister di Reino. Den e carta ta menciona tambe reemplaso di e fiansanan di liquides existente pa fiansanan nobo, e asina yama refinanciamento. Esaki mester sosode otro aña.

            Den e carta ta menciona cu un presupuesto balansa, mara na un ehecucion confiabel y supervision financiero adecua pa medio di e ley di consenso Aruba financieel toezicht (RAft), ta esencial pa por drenta den dialogo cu otro tocante e topico di refinanciamento di debe.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Staff and Children of the New Beginnings Transit Home now have a safer, greener and more habitable place to call home, due to recent technological retrofits and structural upgrades in the infrastructure of the residential institution.

A beneficiary of the Smart Facility Project, the New Beginnings Transit Home opened its doors to residents in January 2011.

The home is a safe haven for children between the ages of 0 – 18 years who are victims of child abuse, severe neglect and who are in need of care and protection.

The facility works closely with the National Foster Care and Adoption Services to ensure that children are returned to where they thrive best – in secure and loving families.

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The implementation of the Smart Project at the Home is designed to integrate new technologies, improve communication and strengthen the structural and operational components of the facility, thus making it greener, disaster resilient and safer for occupants.

Rolled out in 2018 at a cost of US$100,000.00 and completed in October 2022, the upgrade was funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Health and Elderly Affairs.

New Beginnings Transit Home Manager Avice Inglis welcomed this venture and stated that the service provided to vulnerable children at the Home during disasters would be vastly improved. “Having these upgrades being done enables the Home to be more environmentally friendly and disaster resilient. Due to the recent upgrades and retrofits, we can now say that  we are a smart facility,” noted Inglis.

She went on, “We got support to develop a contingency emergency plan and signage at the home, so therefore the children are now safer because of this smart upgrade. Saying we are smart means that we are safe and green.” 

 The Home was retrofitted with modern secure-proof doors, internet surveillance systems, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, low level switches or valve systems, roof and floor repairs, ramps at ground level, back-up power and safer electrical systems as well as  a more reliable water supply.

Apart from the New Beginnings Transit Home, sixteen (16) other health facilities around the island were transformed into smart facilities, making them more resilient and energy efficient.

The Smart Facility Project was implemented in seven countries namely Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines at an estimated cost of £46.3million.

SOURCE: Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment

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