Politics will not be part of the new look Sugar Cane Growers Council, says Minister for Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs Charan Jeath Singh.
Mr Singh said the council which he hoped would be chosen before the end of the year would be independent.
“My goal is to hold the elections before the end of the year and what I want to assure all of our growers is that the council will not involve any kind of politics within its ranks,” said Mr Singh.
“We want them to be independent and to be answerable to the people that elected them and those are our growers.”
He said the council would have 38 members.
“They will represent all of our sectors across the country. And we will have a nine-member board as well who will oversee the operations of the council.”
He said pre-elections processes had been carried out.
“We have advertised the requirements from the Fiji Elections Office and the final documents are now being vetted by the Solicitor-General’s office. Once we receive the SG’s feedback then we will proceed with setting a date for the elections. I want to assure our growers that it will happen and we want to have that before the end of the year.”
