BSI and BSCFA still have don’t have an agreement

The number of farmers protesting has dwindled in the north, but despite that dip in supporters, there is a blockage of sorts, at this hour, on the Philip Goldson Highway in Buena Vista Village.  It has been almost one week since the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association (BSCFA) has been lobbying for a signed agreement with BSI/ASR.  Negotiations were held most of last week, with Thursday evening seeing both the association and the BSI/ASR come to terms with a 2-year agreement.  That agreement, however, is only verbal up to this point as the signatures on the document are still pending.  The farmers showed up every day since Thursday, eagerly awaiting the confirmation of the deal, but so far, nothing.  The government, particularly, Prime Minister John Briceno, intervened in the impasse last week, resulting in the compromise.  We understand that after another round of meetings today, the senior players of the BSDCA were called to Yo Creek to meet with the Prime Minister.  Reporter Vejea Alvarez along with Angel Noble have been following this story very closely.  We now join the team, Live from the north.