Burenitu villager and cane lorry driver Kolinio Nuve said a breakdown at the Lautoka mill has left drivers sleeping in their trucks since Tuesday.

He said to make matters worse, the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) did not provide meals or water during the shutdown.

“I came all the way from Ra thinking that I would be back by Wednesday morning but I’ve been here for two days,” he said.

“I didn’t bring enough food and water for two days.”

Mr Nuve said he and other cash-strapped drivers had spent the little they had on food and shared it among themselves.

“We have about 20 drivers in our group and a lot of us have not eaten.

“We managed to buy something with the little money that we had and that has kept us going.”

He said they were assured by security officers that crushing would resume at 9am on Thursday.

“It’s 11am now and we’re still waiting.

“They have done nothing for us, they have not even come outside to inform us about what’s happening inside the mill.”

FSC CEO Bhan Pratap Singh had said on Wednesday the mill would reopen the following day.