Will A Mediator Help With the Sugar Impasse?

The Belize Sugar Cane Farmer’s Association (BSCFA) and the Belize Sugar Industries Limited/American Sugar Refinery Group (BSI/ASR) continue negotiations with the help of the newly appointed mediator, Julie-Ann Bradley. The two entities are hoping that these meetings will have fruitful results so that a new commercial agreement can be signed before the proposed start date of the new sugar cane crop season. Bradley began meditating last week. While she states that mediation is a confidential process, today she gave insight into her role in helping the farmers and millers resolve this issue.

Julie-Ann Bradley, Mediator: “It would not be appropriate for me as a mediator to discuss what is happening and if the parties so choose they will decide what information is provided and so because of the confidential nature of mediation I’m not able to discuss that. Like I said I can’t address this particular issue but mediators generally and what mediators do I am able to say that a mediator is a neutral third party and that third party actually facilitates a discussion between parties who are in dispute and tries to come to a mutually acceptable resolution of the dispute. The mediator is different from a judge or an arbitrator so the mediator doesn’t make a decision. I’ve been a mediator for over thirteen years at least as far as I can recall I’ve been a mediator for over thirteen years and in Belize you may be aware that there is a mediation process that the Supreme Court has included as well and so you have many other mediators in Belize who are trained and able to assist parties in disputes.”