There is no Fiji without the sugar industry, said the Fiji Sugar Corporation chairman, Nitya Reddy, while speaking yesterday at the opening of the Sugar Milling Staff Officers Association (SMSOA) sports day in Lautoka.
He said the sugar industry had proven its resilience over and over again in all adversities.
“We are a team of conquerors and have battled multiple floods, hurricanes, severe ravages of droughts and diseases, low prices, production and losses and most recently, the unprecedented crippling effects of the COVID crisis,” he said.
“Despite what our critics and naysayers may wish, let me assure you that we are here to stay, and so are all of you.
“Those who are predicting the end of our industry will be proved wrong.
“The simple truth is that there is no Fiji without our industry and no industry without our dedicated team of 2000 employees. Whatever our differences, we have stood shoulder to shoulder with each other, whatever the occasion and whoever our foe.
“We are defined by our loyalty to each other and to our industry, which still is very much our national lifeline.”
