The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry, Dr. Vinesh Kumar, has directed the Sugar Industry Tribunal, in coordination with the Sugar Cane Growers Council and the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC), to ensure minimal disruption across the sugar industry and to implement swift solutions supporting farmers and stakeholders.
Dr. Kumar made the announcement following a meeting with lorry drivers at the Lautoka Sugar Mill yesterday.
A Ministry statement said concerns were raised about long delays in offloading cane and slow quota allocations caused by the closure of the Ba Mill.
The Permanent Secretary commended farmers and lorry drivers for their patience during the “challenging period”
The Ministry said Dr. Kumar met with the CEOs of sugar industry bodies to align priorities and ensure the quota system works efficiently, particularly to support manual labourers engaged by farmers.
“He stressed that collaborative action is crucial to keep the industry moving forward despite ongoing operational challenges,” said the Ministry.
