PM Signals Support for Progressive Cane Farmers Amid Sugar Dispute

A notable shift within Belize’s sugar industry emerged this week after Prime Minister John Briceño publicly signaled support for the Progressive Cane Farmers Association, a move that has raised eyebrows across the sector given his family’s historical ties to the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA).  Prime Minister’s comments come at a time when tensions remain high between cane farmers and Belize Sugar Industries and its parent company American Sugar Refining, collectively known as BSI/ASR. The dispute centers on a legal challenge brought forward by the BSCFA concerning Fairtrade premiums owed to farmers.  While reports have circulated suggesting that the Government of Belize wants the farmers’ association to withdraw its legal action against BSI/ASR, Prime Minister Briceño insists that the administration has not asked the farmers to abandon the case. Instead, he says the concern is that the prolonged dispute could ultimately hurt farmers financially.  According to the Prime Minister, the longer the legal matter remains unresolved, the longer farmers may have to wait to fully benefit from the Fairtrade system.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I have left the BSCFA because I don’t see them getting anywhere so I went to Progressive. Progressive has signed onto Fair Trade so we’re going to get the support from Fair Trade. The government has not proposed for them to drop the case. What the government has been saying is that it is their right if they want to go to court. But at the same time what they have been doing is spending all of this time losing money from Fair Trade and so forth to the detriment of its farmers. And it’s a decision that they want to make if they want to continue with that or not.”

Echoing the built-up frustrations with the BSCFA was Minister of Foreign Trade Francis Fonseca.  He made note of the many accommodations and concessions made for the cane farmers in the past years, yet there seems to be a reluctance to come to a resolution for all parties.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “I think all our engagements with certainly the US Embassy here in respect of ASR have been very, very positive, very productive. No intimidation, none of that. I think it’s all been very productive and we have a very good working relationship with ASR-BSI, government. They have come to cabinet many times to make presentations. We’ve discussed their concerns. Even their owners in Florida have come to make presentations. So I think we have a very good relationship with them.”

Under Fairtrade certification, farmers typically receive a premium payment above the market price of sugar, which is placed into a fund managed by farmers’ organizations. These funds are commonly used to support community development projects, improve farm productivity, provide training, and invest in equipment and infrastructure for cane farming communities.  The current dispute has raised concerns that delays could prevent farmers from accessing millions of dollars in potential Fairtrade benefits.  The Prime Minister’s public alignment with the Progressive Cane Farmers Association has also drawn attention because of his family’s historic role in the creation of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, which was established in 1959 to represent the interests of cane farmers in northern Belize.