Is the BSCFA trying to pit BSI against the Government on the sugar price issue?

In 2014, BSI/ASR asked for an increase in sugar sold in the local market. Nine years later, two cane farmers groups from Corozal are supporting an increase. But it appears that the largest association, BSCFA, has changed its position, citing that an increase is too much for consumers to bear at this time. We asked BSI/ASR’s Director of Finance, Shawn Chavarria, to weigh in on why he feels the BSCFA has had a change of heart and whether this is the association’s way of pitting the company against the government in a power play. Chavarria’s response to that was circumspect.

Shawn Chavarria, Director of Finance, BSI/ASR: “Well I wouldn’t want to speak to why the BSCFA would take such an approach. From our standpoint as I mentioned earlier we’re approaching it from one of making logical economical arguments as to why there should be an increase in the price of brown sugar. We believe we have laid out credible arguments to the government of why this should be done. I wouldn’t want to get into any sort of conjecture as to why the turnabout from the BSCFA because you know we’re still in discussion on trying to reach a long term agreement so I think we see as well that there’s support from other cane farmer associations for an increase in the price of brown sugar and really at the end of the day the biggest benefit of the increase will go to the cane farmers because they will get 65% of that increase so I think we’ve asked for a twenty six cents increase in the price for brown sugar they will get seventeen cents of that increase and that will have a positive impact for the cane farming community.”