Fiji Cane Growers Association
Encyclopedia
The Fiji Cane Growers Association (FCGA) is a cane farmers' union established in 1992 by supporters of the National Federation Party
(NFP).
After the 1987 military coup in Fiji
, most of the farmers' unions curtailed their activities, leaving the National Farmers Union
(NFU) as the only active farmers' union in the country. Consequently, when elections were held for the Sugar Cane Growers Council
in March 1992, the NFU won 33 of the 38 elected positions. It then came as no surprise when the NFP, which had decided to contest the May 1992 elections
, tried to shore up its support amongst cane farmers by setting up a rival union, the FGCA. This move paid dividends to the NFP as it won 14 of the 27 seats reserved for Indians in the House of Representatives
and its leader, Jai Ram Reddy
, became the Leader of the Opposition.
Although the FCGA has never won the majority of the seats in the Growers Council, it has been able to exercise control over the council with the help of independents and the 8 Government appointed Councillors. The Chief Executive of the Sugar Cane Growers Council, for twelve years until his dismissal by the army in December 2006 was Jagannath Sami
a former secretary of the FGCA.
National Federation Party (Fiji)
The National Federation Party is a Fijian political party founded by A.D. Patel in November 1968, as a merger of the Federation Party and the National Democratic Party...
(NFP).
After the 1987 military coup in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, most of the farmers' unions curtailed their activities, leaving the National Farmers Union
National Farmers Union (Fiji)
The National Farmers Union is one of Fiji's largest trade unions. It was launched in Labasa in July 1978 under the auspices of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, with Mahendra Chaudhry as its first General Secretary...
(NFU) as the only active farmers' union in the country. Consequently, when elections were held for the Sugar Cane Growers Council
Sugar Cane Growers Council (Fiji)
Sugar Cane Growers Council represents the sugar cane farmers with the sugar industry in Fiji. It is made up of 38 members elected by the farmers and eight members nominated by the Government. The Sugar Cane Growers Council election is held every three years. The Council has a Chief Executive, the...
in March 1992, the NFU won 33 of the 38 elected positions. It then came as no surprise when the NFP, which had decided to contest the May 1992 elections
Fiji election of 1992
General elections were held in Fiji between 23 and 30 May 1992. It was the first election held since two military coups in 1987 had severed Fiji's 113-year old constitutional links with the British Monarchy, and later Fijian Monarchy, and ushered in a republic.The 1992 elections were the first to...
, tried to shore up its support amongst cane farmers by setting up a rival union, the FGCA. This move paid dividends to the NFP as it won 14 of the 27 seats reserved for Indians in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives (Fiji)
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
and its leader, Jai Ram Reddy
Jai Ram Reddy
Jai Ram Reddy is an Indo-Fijian statesman, who has had a distinguished career in both the legislative and judicial branches of the Fijian government...
, became the Leader of the Opposition.
Although the FCGA has never won the majority of the seats in the Growers Council, it has been able to exercise control over the council with the help of independents and the 8 Government appointed Councillors. The Chief Executive of the Sugar Cane Growers Council, for twelve years until his dismissal by the army in December 2006 was Jagannath Sami
Jagannath Sami
Jagannath Sami has been a soccer player representing a premier district side in the Fiji Football Association competitions, a leader of the sugar mill workers, a leader of a farmers' union, a politician and Chief Executive Officer of the Sugar Cane Growers Council of Fiji but he is best known for...
a former secretary of the FGCA.