THE Sugar Ministry is awaiting a full report from the Fiji Sugar Corporation on the damage assessment of a fire that has shut down Ba’s Rarawai mill.
Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh said all necessary immediate plans have been activated while they work on a more permanent solution to ensure growers between Rakiraki and Ba are able to get their cane to the Lautoka mill.
“Farmers are assured that all cane will be now taken to Lautoka mill and all additional transportation costs of sugar cane will be taken care of by the industry,” he said.
“It is too early to comment as we await a full report on the damage caused and how it started.”
Mr Singh also chose not to respond to Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry who questioned the future of the mill after the permanent damage caused to one the main boilers.
Mr Chaudhry questioned whether the Lautoka mill would be able to crush the remaining cane by the close of the season in November or December.
He also asked whether farmers whose crops remain unharvested be given fair compensation for loss of earnings, adding the employment of close to 400 Rarawai mill workers were at great risk.
