Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama lambasted National Federation Party member of Parliament Pio Tikoduadua after he asked the PM a supplementary question on Monday.
Mr Tikoduadua questioned Mr Bainimarama about the state of mill efficiency, combined with frequent breakdowns particularly in Lautoka and Rarawai, responsible for the high average total cane to total sugar (TCTS) of 11.8 recorded by the Fiji Sugar Corporation until August 10, 2020.
In response, Mr Bainimarama said the mill breakdown had nothing to do with TCTS. He said some of the issues that were raised were exaggerations and false.
“Rarawai mill is down due to cracks in one of the shafts, the new one is being fabricated while the existing one is repaired,” he said.
“It is expected that mill should restart and farmers are assured that no cane farm will be left out for harvesting and the crush rate is far better than last year.”
Mr Bainimarama claimed that Mr Tikoduadua had been going around telling people that there was nothing to show for the so-called Bainimarama boom.
“Let me tell him, to get his head out of the sand, so that he can see what is happening around him.
“Do not forget that twice, I sacked you from my office and I got you back. I got you back, that is the Bainimarama boom.
“Remember when everyone was trying to get road into their farm, you got yours free; that is the Bainimarama boom.
“The Bainimarama boom, let me very quickly tell him, Mr Speaker, is the free school fees.
“I am sure you all have benefited from the free school fees. I am sure you all benefit from the free bus fare, the pension, subsidised bus fare for the elderly. I am sure you all benefit from these. That is the boom that you have been harping about.
“Remember the free milk, oh, I am sorry, I forgot; in Kadavu, they do not like free milk because the six and seven-year-olds are still breastfeeding.”
