Opposition MP Viam Pillay has accused the Fiji Sugar Corporation of creating confusion and uncertainty in the sugar industry by attempting to shut down tramlines at the Rarawai and Lautoka mills while forcing farmers to sign harvesting agreements without announcing the forecast cane price.
Pillay said FSC’s decision to apply for the closure of the tramlines made no sense, especially after Government spent $1.7 million last September repairing the same railway infrastructure.
“To make it worse, FSC has gone rogue by trying to shut down the tramlines for the Rarawai and Lautoka mills,” Pillay said.
“This makes no sense. The Government just spent 1.7 million dollars of taxpayer money to repair these same rail lines last September. Why waste 1.7 million dollars to fix a track and then shut it down a few months later?”
He claimed the move would force farmers to rely on costly road transport, placing further financial strain on growers already facing rising costs.
“They want to force farmers to use expensive trucks so all their money goes into fuel,” he said.
Pillay also criticised FSC for requiring growers and harvesting gangs to sign the Master Award Growers Agreement (MOGA) before the forecast cane price and transport rates had been announced.
“Right now, FSC is forcing growers and harvesting gangs to sign the MOGA (memorandum of gang agreement) without even announcing the forecast price. This is completely wrong,” he said.
“How can a farmer plan his budget or know what to pay cane cutters and truck drivers when he does not even know the price of his cane?”
The Opposition MP called on FSC to halt the signing process until key industry figures were made public.
“FSC must stop forcing the moga until they announce the forecast price and transport rates,” Pillay said.
He also urged the corporation and Government to withdraw the application to close the tramlines and make full use of the repaired rail system ahead of the harvesting season.
“Withdraw the application to close the tramlines and use the tracks we just spent 1.7 million dollars to fix,” he said.
“FSC and the Government must stop hiding and clear up this mess before the harvesting season is completely ruined.”
