Miller and Farmers Hope to Finalize New Agreement in Twelve Months

Although the sugar cane crop season is off to a start, the disagreements between the farmers and the miller are in no way resolved. The two parties have signed an interim agreement, which will take them through the course of the season. But, for the next twelve months, they will be engaging in negotiations to finally come to a conclusive mutually beneficial agreement. BSI/ASR’s Finance Manager, Shawn Chavarria, says the result of this process rests on the shoulders of both parties involved.

Shawn Chavarria, Director of Finance, BSI/ASR: “I think the first step will have to be engaging once more with the BSCFA and the two parties discussing how they see it best to take the discussion forward so I think before we share our thoughts I think it’s more appropriate that we have an initial conversation with the BSCFA in terms of what their thoughts and ideas are as well and the two parties come together to find a way how we could reach a long term agreement. So we will prefer to sit with the BSCFA first to discuss that process. For us the priority became getting a crop started whether it be through a one year or two year agreement for us the priority was really to get to this point where we are starting the crop, we are receiving the cane and we can get things going. Ou r rationale for a two year was simply to provide more time and space for us and the BSCFA to see if we can reach a long-term agreement. If the BSCFA is confident that that can be done within the year we certainly look forward to that. At the end of the day that remains our objective to reach a long-term mutually beneficial agreement and if we can do that within one year then we look forward to doing so.”