FIJI Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry believes Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh is the wrong choice for the job.
Mr Chaudhry said despite being a plantation owner, the minister lacked the hands-on experience necessary to understand the needs of real farmers.
“He’s a plantation owner, not a farmer, and he should not be in charge of the sugar industry,” he said.
Mr Chaudhry’s comments come in reaction to the low cane production and the aging workforce.
“How can a man who doesn’t even touch the soil understand the struggles of those who do?” Mr Chaudhry said, adding that without a minister who truly understood farming, the industry’s future was in peril.
“The Government needs to appoint someone who has a real connection with the land, someone who’s been in the trenches with the farmers.”
In response, Mr Singh said his record spoke for itself, unlike Mr Chaudhry who was an absolute failure.
“By the way how many farmers were there in Tabia — didn’t see more than two,” he said, referring to a recent meeting the FLP leader had with farmers.
“Those who attended, I am told, only grow 50 tonnes of cane per annum.
“These farmers should exit cane farming.”
