Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh has admitted Ba’s Rarawai mill is in bad shape.
His response comes as canefarmers and lorry drivers raise concerns about the continuous breakdown of the mill and how it is making their lives harder than it already is.
Mr Singh also made a renewed plea to the farmers for understanding, saying the mill machines were very old and upgrading them would cost millions of dollars.
Earlier Rarawai Cane Lorry Association president Atish Kumar said as many as 200 drivers had been suffering since the crushing began in May.
Frustrated drivers also raised concerns, claiming the stoppages occur after at least two truckloads of cane were offloaded.
The Wailailai, Ba, grower expressed concerns at the level of neglect of the miller towards their plea to have at least a toilet and bathroom facility to cater for the drivers during their long wait.
“These drivers can testify that we have been facing problems at the mill ever since crushing began in May,” Mr Kumar said.
“We had a meeting before the mill started crushing and they encouraged us to bring the cane and that the mill would run smoothly without a problem.
“Three months later and the mill still breaks down. It’s so annoying that our drivers are again facing the same problems.”
Mr Kumar said a number of drivers drove all the way from Rakiraki and stayed on site for two days before they could offload their cane and head back.
“Drivers use nearby bushes to relieve themselves and that is the reality,” he said.
“I’ve been asking for a long time for a toilet to be constructed here but still nothing.
“These are basic necessities.
“We are tired, the drivers are tired and yet we are doing our best to harvest mature cane and transport them to the mill.”
The Minister said he visited the mill and witnessed its bad state.
“I myself have been following this issue and I have been receiving these complaints from the farmers and lorry drivers,” he said.
Mr Singh assured the farmers and lorry drivers that “if they think that mill workers are sabotaging machines in the mill, that is not the case”.
“I have seen what the mill workers are dealing with and they are working with very old machines that need to be fixed and repaired every time they break down.”
Mr Singh said the mills needed to be replaced and this alone would require millions of dollars.
He said the Fiji Sugar Corporation with the ministry, were doing their best not only to deal with the present crushing season, but also with the future of the mills that needed to be fixed and upgraded.
“That will take an even longer process,” he said.
“So, I understand where the farmers and lorry drivers are coming from and all I am asking from them right now is to please give us some time to address this ongoing problem.”
