Independent cane farmers in Barbados still awaiting monies owed to them

Whilst other key players in the sugar industry have been paid, independent cane farmers have not been paid for the canes delivered to the factory last week.

What’s more, Chairman of the Barbados Sugar Industry Limited (BSIL), Patrick Bethell says, over the last five weeks, the farmers have suffered losses, as the money paid to them has been cut by 44%.

Bethell raised the issue on Thursday, as the Barbados Society of Technologists in Agriculture (BSTA) and the Agronomy Research and Variety Testing Unit (ARVTU) of the Barbados Agricultural Manage-ment Company Ltd., teamed up to launch a book entitled “Sugar Cane Farming in Barbados”. The launch was held in the Outside Meeting Room, of the ARVTU at Groves, St. George.

Whilst delivering words of appreciation to ARVTU Head, Dr. Sandra Bellamy and her team for the sugar cane manual which will benefit farmers and other key personnel in the sugar cane industry, Bethell said it was unfortunate that in spite of the progress being made in one area, now the independent farmers are being overlooked.

“The manual is a wonderful book and it is unfortunate that when you read this, when we realise the opportunities we have, it is extremely distressing to stand before you and…tell you that we have not been paid this week, for the cane we delivered to the factory last week,” he stressed.

“It is also distressing to tell you that while the Government passed legislation, making it prohibitive to cut the salaries of civil servants, the money paid to the independent cane farmers was cut by 44% over the last 5 weeks, with no discussion. Yet we are expected to carry on,” he added.

“Everyone in the sugar industry, up until this week, has been paid. The workers, (the) office (staff), (those at the) factory, the management, the consultant at the consulting firm. The independent farmers are the only ones who have not been paid what they are supposed to have been paid. I have to ask, why is this?” the BSIL chairman further commented.

He meanwhile noted that whilst some farmers in the industry have remained enthusiastic, others have decided to cut their losses and call it quits. As such, he said, the time has come for the independent farmers to stand up and
demand what they are due. (RSM)