The Ba Cane Lorry Transport Association is calling on the Government to reinstate the exemption of weighing cane trucks as was the practice in previous years.
Members of the Fiji Cane Lorry Association, which include truck operators from Rakiraki to Ba, met on Sunday and resolved that cane trucks should be exempted from being weighed by the Land Transport Authority.
All truck operators have decided that if no decision is made, the trucks will not make the run to the Lautoka mill from Ba.
“We want the Government to exempt cane trucks from being weighed just like in 2019,” said association secretary Deependra Singh.
“The (then) government gave LTA a directive not to weigh all cane trucks. We are requesting this government to do the same.”
Former Rakiraki politician George Shiu Raj, who owns 20 trucks and four harvesters, reminded the truck operators of the importance of unity.
“Unity is very important in any organisation,” he said.
“The sugar industry is the backbone of the country and we farmers are not traitors. We don’t believe in strikes to take the country backwards.”
Mr Raj said through the sugar industry, their forefathers and grandparents were able to educate their children and send them abroad.
“Our demands are for the benefit of the sugar industry because we have facts and figures to show for this demand. We need unity among members to get these proposals forward.
“The farmers are the main people who make the FSC run today and pay the CEO.”
