THE Sugar Industry Tribunal is a statutory body established to oversee the administering of the Master Award, maintaining a register of growers and resolving disputes.
However, in recent years the tribunal’s efforts to maintain its position within the sugar industry have become increasingly difficult.
This was highlighted in the Sugar Industry Tribunal’s 2021 Annual Report that was recently scrutinised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic Affairs earlier this year when questions were raised about the organisation’s finances and operational efficiency.
Committee chairperson Sakiusa Tubuna presented the committee’s review of the tribunal’s finances of that year in Parliament this week and highlighted the need to strengthen institutional governance and resources.
The review
After undertaking consultations with the tribunal, industry institutions, stakeholder representatives and sugarcane growers and site visits, Mr Tubuna said the committee obtained firsthand accounts of challenges confronting the industry and evaluate the effectiveness of existing institutional arrangements.
“The committee acknowledges that during 2021, the tribunal continued to discharge a number of its statutory responsibilities,” he said.
“The tribunal oversaw matters associated with the commencement and conclusion of the crushing season, maintained records for 16,913 registered growers, processed grower registrations and transfers, administered registrations relating to ALTA-expired leases, resolved gang disputes, and continued to provide regulatory oversight of matters affecting the sugar industry.
“The committee also notes the Tribunal’s receipt of an unqualified audit opinion from the Office of the Auditor-General, reflecting compliance with applicable financial reporting requirements.”
He said the tribunal had made notable achievements in 2021 — there were several significant issues that required urgent attention.
Delayed reports
“The committee remains concerned by the continued delay in the submission of annual reports, with the 2021 Annual Report only submitted in December 2025, approximately four years after the reporting period,” Mr Tubuna said.
“Such delays diminish transparency, weaken accountability, and impede effective parliamentary oversight.
“The committee is also concerned that several matters previously highlighted during the review of the Tribunal’s 2016 to 2020 Annual Reports remain unresolved.
“These include the absence of a centralised industry information management system, continued reliance on an outdated Master Award, and broader institutional challenges affecting service delivery and stakeholder confidence.”
The Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office highlighted concerns over the SK Trust — a commercial building in Lautoka which the tribunal holds shares.
“The committee also notes concerns surrounding the outstanding receivable from the SK Trust and the need for greater transparency regarding the financial relationship between the tribunal and the trust.
“Furthermore, stakeholders repeatedly highlighted the need to modernise the legislative and regulatory framework governing the industry.
“The committee is of the view that a comprehensive review of the Master Award, the Sugar Industry Act and associated institutional arrangements is necessary to ensure that the sector is supported by a governance framework that is efficient, accountable and responsive to contemporary challenges.”
The next step
After the committee concluded its review, Mr Tubuna pointed out the need for greater transparency.
“As Fiji’s sugar industry continues to face declining cane production, labour shortages, increasing production costs, land tenure uncertainty, an ageing farming population and the need for greater innovation and diversification,” he said.
“The committee believes that effective, accessible and accountable dispute resolution and regulatory mechanisms remain essential to maintaining confidence, fairness and stability within the sector.”
“The recommendations contained in this report seek to strengthen governance, improve institutional performance, enhance stakeholder confidence and support the long-term sustainability and resilience of Fiji’s sugar industry.”
