Workers blamed for abusing and damaging properties
FIJI Sugar Corporation workers have been blamed for abusing, misusing and spoiling company properties.
Many complaints were raised with Minister for Sugar Charan Jeath Singh and his team as they started the first day of consultation with farmers in Vanua Levu.
Farmers complained about workers who have not worked hand in hand with farmers especially during the harvesting season.
Complaints were raised with Mr Singh’s team which consisted of the ministry’s permanent secretary Yogesh Karan, Sugar Industry Tribunal commissioner Timothy Brown, FSC chief executive Bhan Singh, Sugar Cane Growers Fund chief executive Raj Sharma, FSC board chairman Vishnu Mohan, Sugar Cane Growers Council chief executive Vimal Dutt and field officers.
Farmers in Wainikoro and Lagalaga told Mr Singh that FSC lorry drivers had allegedly abused the vehicle by using it for their own personal gain which has disrupted the cane collection routine.
Eliki Tuvil said drivers of lorry and rail carts wouldn’t arrive in cane farms on scheduled time.
“Sometimes we harvest our cane, but the lorry and trucks (rail system) has not arrived to collect the cane then we find out its gone to other farms,” he said.
“Only the farmers suffer and this is why we are saying that FSC workers are abusing the trucks and lorry that belongs to the farmers.
“That’s not their properties. That belongs to the farmers, to us.”
Another farmer Akisi Vinaka said upgrading works to prepare the farm for harvesting was always late.
“FSC should see that other government departments work on this like drainage in farms and work on access roads before we start harvesting,” she said.
“A lot of times, these things are not done until harvesting has started and it delays our work.”
Sugar Ministry’s permanent Secretary Mr Karan asked FSC team to respond to the issues raised.
FSC’s manager harvesting and transport officer Rajnesh Narayan said they had made changes to improve the system.
“We have two field officers now compared to past years where farmers in Lagalaga and Wainikoro farmers had just one field officers,” he said.
“And we have also appointed a new transport logistics officer as we work towards improving services.”