Member of Parliament Viam Pillay has urged the Minister for Sugar, Charan Jeath Singh, to provide financial compensation to sugarcane farmers affected by the recent closure of sugar mills in the Western Division. Pillay emphasized that the matter transcends politics, focusing instead on delivering justice to the farmers who represent the backbone of Fiji’s sugar industry.
Pillay outlined several critical issues that require the minister’s immediate attention. These include immediate financial relief for farmers who were unable to harvest their cane due to the mill closures, a full refund of penalties related to burnt cane—which he argues are unfair since the delays stem from infrastructure failures rather than the growers’ fault—a transparent audit to investigate why the Rarawai Mill was largely non-operational throughout the year, and the establishment of an emergency recovery plan to prevent such a crisis from recurring.
He articulated that sugarcane farming is not merely an industry but a time-honored tradition passed down through generations, serving as a vital component of Fiji’s rural economy. “It deserves respect and action, not excuses and locked gates,” he stated, calling for immediate government intervention. Pillay firmly believes that farmers should not bear the full consequences of a season marked by operational failures in the industry.
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