CITRUS GROWER ANSWERS DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN BY SLANDERERS

*** Citrus Growers Association disinformation machine?



FRANK REDMOND ANSWERS QUESTIONS ON WHY HE QUIT THE CITRUS GROWERS ASSOCIATION
This response is in context to the slanderous, mud slinging verbal attacks of people with personal vendettas, who will not take responsibility he charges, for their own actions. ( see below )


From the debating Belize Culture listserve on the economy and politics of Belize.
---------------------------------
This message sent to the Bz-Culture Mailing List from "palmspring" :
>
> This message sent to the Bz-Culture Mailing List from MEL
> : Is Frank Redmond still a list member? Would
> be interesting if he could bring us up to date with what is going on
> with the quarrel in the Citrus industry and share his point of view.
>

Mel,


In summary, the root of the problem lies in the Investment Agreement
signed in 2006 when CGA (Citrus Growers Association) sold 47% of their
100% holdings in the fruit company, which they had 'BOUGHT" FOR $2
from the Commonwealth Development Corporation, plus approx $50M of
debt AND the battle of the personalities and egos of growers in the valley
who hate each other and are using the CGA to fight their battles. Many of us
who try to be professional farmers are tired of all the fighting and want
nothing more to do with it.

In 2006, the issues were settled by slanging, emotion and little sensible
business appraisal. Remember the headlines "Thunder in the Valley" !
There was good and bad in this agreement. Today, we see the same
emotion and slanging and little sensible talk. In short, attack the messenger
and not the message. We have this agreement, and growers need to work
within it, whether we like it all or not. That is reality.


I resigned as chairman of CGA in March 2009 because I saw which way the
CGA Board wanted to go.

They all need to shut up, face reality and get down to the business of
growing and processing citrus profitably and leave their personal vendettas
at home.

I personally find it very sad that an organization such as CGA, to which I
have given several years of my time, is self destructing because of poor
leadership. Belize has lost hundreds of small farmers over the past few
years, and the Industry could end up like the banana boys with just 10
growers.


Have fun.

Frank