The Fiji Sugar Corporation is sticking to its decision to close the Rarawai Sugar Mill in Ba on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Responding to Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry’s criticism of the two-day closure, FSC CEO Bhan Pratap Singh said the shutdown also allowed for adequate volume of cane to reach the mill.
“Crushing was stopped at Rarawai Mill on Wednesday evening for Christmas shutdown and resumed after midnight yesterday (Sunday) when adequate volume of cane was available,” Mr Singh said.
Mr Chaudhry had labelled the closure as a delaying tactic.
“FSC should have taken advantage of the good weather post-Christmas holidays which facilitated harvesting and good supply of cane on Saturday,” he said in a statement.
“There were over 60 lorries at the mill that morning but the drivers were told to park and come back on Monday morning.
“This stopped other laden lorries from being driven to the mill until early Sunday.
“FSC knows that an emergency exists in so far as the harvesting and milling of cane in the Ra, Tavua and Ba area is concerned.”
The National Farmers Union national secretary added there were over 100,000 tonnes of cane to be milled and time was running out.
“FSC is playing games with the farmers while the Sugar Ministry and the government appointed Sugar Cane Growers Council look on.”
