SUGAR Minister Charan Jeath Singh is unfazed by threats by National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry, saying only the Prime Minister could remove him.
Mr Singh said the head of government understood and valued his contribution to the sugar industry.
He said Mr Chaudhry joined the Bainimarama government in 2006 and was instrumental in the removal of the Qarase government.
“Then he joined the Bainimarama government as the minister for sugar and finance.
“In two years he was sacked by Bainimarama. He thinks Mr Rabuka will sack me. No. Mr Rabuka knows my potential as a businessman and as a cane farmer.”
The minister said he remained an influential figure in the sugar industry.
“I am one of the biggest cane farmers in Labasa, and I will be harvesting around 5000 tonnes of cane on my own.”
Mr Singh also defended efforts to maintain operations of the old mills, which was also criticised by Mr Chaudhry.
“He attacked the sugar industry, he attacked the staff of the sugar mills, saying our mills are not working well.
“Our own general manager has said our mills are over 150 years old.
” Of course, these are machines which have to undergo routine maintenance which the staff are also trying to do.
“There are also a lot of professionals who have migrated overseas.
“The machines are old and obviously they will have teething problems.”
Earlier this month, the NFU general secretary called out the FSC and the Government over the running of the Lautoka sugar mill which experienced delays due to a boiler leak last week.
