PM clears air on two new Bills before standing committee

Prime Minister and Minister for Sugar, Voreqe Bainimarama has assured cane farmers that the two new bills that are now before the standing committee of parliament will not adversely affect them as individual cane farmers.

While speaking to the cane farmers at a public meeting with Sugar Cane Growers at Penang Sangam in Rakiraki today, Bainimarama said certain opposition politicians and former politicians have been spreading a lot of misinformation about what is in these bills.

He says they claim the bills will take away the rights of cane farmers.

Bainimarama highlighted that there are a couple of amendments that he will bring about in the Bill.

He says registered growers will no longer have to pay a fee for having their farms registered or changing their records.

He says some of the politicians have been pushing for elections in relation to the Cane Growers Council.

Bainimarama says that instead they will expand the membership of the Council.

Bainimarama says that he will be increasing the membership of the

Council by ensuring that each district will be represented on the Council.

He says this expanded Council will be required by law to consult all the growers through their sectors and districts on a regular basis.

Bainimarama highlights that one of the requirements that they want to put in the amendment to the bill is that the Cane Growers Council must go out and consult all the growers on a regular basis.

He says the other significant aspect of the Bill that they are going to change is to remove the section on industrial disputes.

Bainimarama says since 1984, a provision was put in place to treat farmers like employees by bringing them under an industrial dispute mechanism.

He says this provision was carried though in the Bill but he will take it out which if people decide not to plant or harvest their cane,that will be their choice.

Bainimarama says some politicians are claiming that the Tribunal is not independent but that is not true and the tribunal is appointed by the Chief Justice.

Bainimarama says some people are also claiming that the current Master Award will be changed as soon as the bills become law.

He says it will not and the current Master Award will continue, however, in any further negotiations regarding the Master Award, the Growers Council must have an input.

Bainimarama says as Chair of the TLTB, he have directed the TLTB and also the Lands Department to ensure that for all leases that are expiring, the lessee must be told five years in advance whether the lease is to be extended or not renewed.

He says no longer will people be in danger of finding out just before the lease expires that they have to leave.

Bainimarama also announced that the TLTB has set aside half a million dollars to be matched by the Government with another half million dollars to assist tenants who are disadvantaged, are behind in their rent and are facing financial hardship.

He says this includes the elderly without pensions and who are ill, tenants of all ages with a chronic illness, those who have lost their jobs or those with disabilities.

Bainimarama says there is specific assistance for elderly cane farming tenants above the age of 60 with no other source of income other than cane proceeds.

He says they will pay their leases for them.

Bainimarama says the i-Taukei lands Board has also agreed to set aside another million dollars to assist those people who hold leases and who have been affected by Cyclone Winston.

He says this will go towards the payment of their leases and more details on this will be released in the next few weeks.

Bainimarama says the Government will provide replanting assistance to those farmers who have been affected by Cyclone Winston.

He says the Government has allocated $11‑million to the replanting effort and cyclone victims will be given first priority.

He says that upon finalization of the total hectares damaged, they estimated that about $2000 a hectare will be given to each recipient.

Bainimarama says that based on current figures, they are looking at about $9‑million being given to cane farmers who have been affected by Cyclone Winston.

Bainimarama told the cane farmers that they are currently assessing whether the Penang Mill should be rebuilt as a syrup mill or the full sugar mill that it was before the cyclone.

He says the work will commence immediately when the assessment is completed.