SUGARCANE farmers in Fiji have completely lost their voice in the governance of their own industry due to decades-long pattern of forced legislative changes, says Sugar Cane Growers Council chief executive officer Vimal Dutt.
Speaking at the Fiji Constitutional Review Public Consultation in Lautoka on Wednesday, Mr Dutt explained a timeline of structural dismantling that happened without grower consent.
Mr Dutt said the Sugar Commission of Fiji was dissolved in 2009 without consultation and elected sugarcane growers’ councillors were stripped of their duties that same year.
Further updates in 2015 repealed provisions for democratic council elections and removed growers from the board of the Sugar Cane Growers’ Fund, which Mr Dutt said acted as the custodian of the farmers’ money.
“Today we don’t have any cane grower representing on the sugar cane growers’ fund board,” he said.
“So the growers’ right, growers have lost their voice in the industry.”
Mr Dutt said the new Constitution must establish meaningful consultation ensuring farmers are legally protected from being excluded from future industry reforms.
