NFU Growers Councillors question termination

[posted 18 Nov 2009, 1300]

National Farmers Union Growers Councillors have questioned the termination of their appointments by the interim government.

All 38 members of the Sugar Cane Growers Council received a letter from the Council’s acting chief executive Sundresh Chetty on 13th November notifying them of the termination.

Mr Chetty said he had been advised by the Registrar of Tribunal of government’s decision to terminate the services of the 38 Councillors.

In their letters replying to Mr Chetty, NFU Councillors questioned the authority under which he had signed the letters of termination.

“I view this as total breach of your terms and conditions whereby you are an employee of the organisation. The legitimate authority (for such decisions) lies with the Board of the Council by which you are employed,” said Cr. Pramod Kumar of the Drasa sector.

Cr. Kumar pointed out that the Sugar Industry Act had not been amended yet. “And the Registrar of the Tribunal does not have the powers to advise you of such a decision,” he said, pointing out that such sensitive issues should be dealt with by the right authorities.

Cr. Pramod said he was not accepting the termination “…and would like to remind you that since the Act has not been amended, everything remains the same and I remain an elected representative of the growers and would continue to provide service to the growers as they have contributed financially towards the running of the Council.”