Fiji : Focus on sugar industry, Chaudhry tells minister
NFU secretary Mahendra Chaudhry criticised Fiji’s Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna for attacking farmers instead of addressing cane growers’ grievances over low payments, high fuel costs and delayed crushing, warning the sugar industry crisis could worsen without negotiations.
THE Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Minister Tomasi Tunabuna should be responding to grievances raised by cane farmers rather than launching personal attacks, says National Farmers Union (NFU) general Secretary Mahendra Chaudhry.
Mr Chaudhry was responding to Mr Tunabuna’s recent statement where he termed the FLP leader’s comments at the NFU meeting in Ba last week as signs of a drowning politician clutching at straws.
The former prime minister said Mr Tunabuna was hiding behind the age-old tactic of mud-raking.
“With the onset of crushing already delayed by the refusal of growers to harvest unless their demands are met, Minister Tunabuna should be working to address their grievances so that the mills can start rolling.”
He said this was the opportune time for Mr Tubuna to be negotiating with farmers rather than prolonging this crisis in the industry.
“He has visited all three mill areas Ba, Lautoka and Labasa trying to talk farmers into harvesting without any success.”
Harvesting under current conditions with a low delivery payment and high fuel costs will result in huge losses.
“You should take a lesson from what happened in the campaign for a just Master Award in 1989-1990.”
He said Mr Tunabuna was spreading disinformation about the Valelawa Camp.
“The camp was set up by the NFU following pleas for help from farming families terrorised at the height of the unrest sparked off by the 2000 coup.”
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Source : The Fiji Times
