SCGC boss wades through sugar politics

Newly-appointed Sugar Cane Growers Council (SCGC) chief executive Surendra Sharma admits politics exists within the local sugar industry.

And he has indicated keeping an open mind while carrying out his task with relevant stakeholders for the benefit of all farmers involved in sugar cane cultivation in Fiji.

Sharma told Fijilive that politics existed in Fiji’s sugar industry, even within the SCGC.

But he downplayed speculations of animosity that could have been initiated by industry stakeholders who were against his appointment and his attempts and calls to increase the price of local sugar for farmers.

“There has been a wonderful collaboration between the council and everybody involved in the sugar industry,” Sharma said.

“They sort of welcome the change, the change that we anticipate to take the council and the industry forward,” he said.

Sharma said there had been no problems of any kind since his appointment.

“I have sat with cane cutters, sirdars, officers in the various sectors from Seaqaqa (in Labasa) to Tavua, including stakeholders at high levels in one month and there has been nothing but support,” he said.

“So it has been a pretty hectic month given that there are a lot of urgent issues we need to sort out.

“And from all these meetings, one thing is for sure and that is we are on the right track.”

In the SCGC board meeting held in October, one of its directors walked out of a board meeting - claiming Sharma’s appointment was in breach of a standing resolution.

And again last weekend, Fiji Sugar Marketing chairman John May issued a statement against Sharma’s call to increase the price of local sugar.

Sharma had said that following a meeting with the interim Sugar Minister, it was agreed to seek the Prices and Income Board’s (PIB) approval to marginally raise the price of sugar locally. This, he said, would put an additional $3.5 million into the cane farmers’ pockets.

In response, May said the pricing of all sugar for exports and local sales was the responsibility of the Fiji Sugar Marketing (FSM) board and not the FSC.

He said the FSM board comprised representatives at the CEO level of the FSC, SCGC, the Government and the chairman of the Sugar Commission of Fiji, and their decisions on imports and local sales was unanimous

“The recent decline in sugar production in 2008 and the increase in our preferential obligation to the EU with the new EPA quota and increase in Fiji’s complementary quota meant that we did not have enough sugar to supply our total quota to the EU,” May said.

However, Sharma maintained that the SCGC was owned by sugarcane farmers and so the office must act in their interest.