The National Federation Party has demanded evidence from Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry that Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad had promised sugarcane growers a payment of $110 per tonne.

NFP president Parmod Chand called out the former prime minister labelling Mr Chaudhry a “shameless politician” while denying that NFP had made such a promise during the 2022 general elections campaign.

Mr Chand said it was clear Mr Chaudhry was hell-bent on trying to undermine the NFP leader in a bid to rescue his political fortunes.

“But this time Chaudhry is doomed. Growers will not be fooled by his lies,” said Mr Chand in a statement.

“Historically, every NFP leader has advanced the interests of growers.

“Professor Prasad has done the same and his track record of protecting the interests of growers on the face of adversity from 2014 to 2022 when the FijiFirst was in government speaks for itself.

“Growers trust him.”

Mr Chand said it was the FLP leader who had made promises that were not met.

“It is Chaudhry and FLP who promised workers a minimum wage of $120 per week, but after winning government, said they had meant $120 per week for a family.

“It is under Chaudhry as PM and sugar minister that growers received one of the lowest third cane payments of $8 per tonne in March 2000.

“It is Chaudhry who as both PM and sugar minister said at the beginning of May 2000 that he was contractually bound not to authorise Fiji Sugar Corporation to compensate growers for 170,000 tonnes of unharvested cane from the 1999 season.”

Responding to Mr Chand’s claims, Mr Chaudhry said NFP leaders had lost credibility with voters.

“Cane farmers themselves are proof that the NFP and its leader Biman Prasad had promised a $110 guaranteed cane price during the campaign leading up to the 2022 general elections,” said Mr Chaudhry.

“Hundreds of farmers cannot be lying.”

He added Mr Chand was in no position to throw stones at others.