NFP Leader calls for the resignation of FSC CEO while Graham Clark says they do not respond to third party comments

NFP Leader calls for the resignation of FSC CEO while Graham Clark says they do not respond to third party comments

By Dhanjay Deo
Friday 10/07/2020
NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad

The National Federation Party says Fiji Sugar Corporation’s CEO Graham Clark must take full responsibility for the colossal failure of FSC and resign immediately while FSC’s CEO, Graham Clark says the FSC does not respond to third party comments.

NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad says Clark, who has been FSC CEO for over three years, has presided over the demise of FSC, the deteriorating state of the sugar mills resulting in the Corporation being technically insolvent.

He says the painful reality of this disastrous performance of FSC under Clark is the suffering of cane growers, cane-cutters, lorry operators, mill workers and their families.

Prasad says Clark has enjoyed hefty salary, perks and privileges for far too long.

He adds that the beginning of the 2020 harvesting and crushing season has been one of the worst in recent history of the sugar industry due to lack of preparedness of Lautoka and Rarawai mills.

Prasad says this is due to the shutdown of the Lautoka Mill that has failed to start on the scheduled crushing date and FSC’s decision to continue harvesting operations in the Lautoka Mill area and for the cane to be transported to Rarawai Mill in Ba.

He says because of the inability of the Rarawai Mill to operate at its maximum capacity, cane growers in the Western Division cane belt areas from Rakiraki to Sigatoka are suffering and incurring huge losses due to loss of tonnage as harvested cane either dries up in the fields or on lorries and rail carts.

Prasad says the growers are incurring losses in trying to maintain the basic needs of idle cane cutters who either earn no income due to lack of harvesting or significantly reduced wages because of reduced or intermittent harvesting quota by FSC.

When contacted, FSC’s CEO Graham Clark says the Lautoka Mill started crushing as planned this morning and continues to crush, slowly building capacity.

He adds that Rarawai Mill is settled well and crushing above both last year levels and weekly budget and no cane from Lautoka is being transferred at present.

We have also sent questions to the Permanent Secretary for Sugar, Yogesh Karan.


FEATURE NEWS
HK 7s: Fiji to play France at 6.23 tonight in 2nd semi final
The Fiji Airways National Men’s 7s team is through to the semi finals of the HSBC Hong Kong 7s after edging Spain 31-28 in extra time from a Iowane ...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
HK 7s: Fijiana outclassed 26-17 by Canada
The Fiji Airways Fijiana side were outclassed 26-17 by Canada in their quarter final match in the HSBC Hong Kong 7s this evening. While the ...
5 hours ago

Death toll rises to 694 after 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Thailand
Rescue workers in Myanmar and Thailand are scrambling to find survivors one day after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the centre of Myanmar as death ...
9 hours ago

HK 7s: Fijiana to play Canada in first quarter final at 9.01 tonight
The Fiji Airways Fijiana side has clinched the last cup quarter final spot after defeating Great Britain 24-5 in their last pool game at the Hong ...
10 hours ago

Labasa lawyer Ami Kohli appointed as Electoral Commission member
Labasa lawyer, Ami Kohli has been appointed as a member of the Electoral Commission. The Constitutional Offices Commission says this appointment ...
11 hours ago

Corrections Commissioner suspended by COC
The Commissioner of Fiji Corrections Service, Doctor Jalesi Nakarawa has been suspended by the Constitutional Offices Commission following several ...
11 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Reverend Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Watch the General Secretary of Fiji Evangelical Fellowship, Reverend Simione Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
31 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and William Parkinson
Chairman of Communications Fiji Limited, parent company of FM96, LegendFM, VitiFM, Navtarang, Radio Sargam, fijivillage and PNGFM, William Parkinson ...
32 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and Adi Tulia Nacola
The candid interview focuses on Nacola, coming from a chiefly family and being a daughter of a Minister who was ousted in the 1987 military coup, her ...
32 days ago

TOP