Exit strategy
The permanent secretary for Finance Ministry Shiri Gounder took the bull by the horn when he stated the sugar industry was no longer sustainable. Not many have the courage to admit that.
He has been very honest and forthright in saying that we are flogging a dead horse in trying to revive a dying sugar industry. For many years farmers have been led down the garden path with false hope and promise that things will turnaround.
The writing on the hall of its impending demise came when it was placed on life support.
Since then millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money in the form of subsidies and grants were pumped in to resuscitate the industry.
Some who heard the alarm bells tended to pussyfoot the issue as they lacked the gumption for a decisive way forward.
All the stakeholders closely associated with this industry knew that the chances of recovery from the intensive care unit was grim. And sooner or later the respirator has to be unplugged.
Yet their vested interest seem to have superseded what was good for the industry for a lot was at stake for them.
Perhaps they were intimidated by the fear of losing their employment, high paying positions and perks and political influence.
Even calls for restructuring the organisation by amalgamating the current operations into a single entity to cut costs and improve efficiency was ignored.
Had they been more proactive and concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of the farmers, experiments could have commenced five years ago as part of the exit strategy to test out the various interventions towards exploring the most feasible alternative livelihood options.
The transition should be implemented in a structured and phased manner. It’s never too late.
SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
Bitter truth!
Permanent secretary for Ministry of Finance Shiri Gounder did not mince his words when he addressed participants during the Dialogue Fiji National Budget Forum at Tanoa Skylodge.
His words sounded bitter, but he said what he had to say.
Mr Gounder shared that canefarmers around the country had been fooled with the possibility of reviving the sugar industry.
He added that taxpayers would ultimately pay billions of dollars in debts owed by FSC, which according to him, was operating as an insolvent entity.
The fact that FSC had its debt written off after being given $200m of taxpayer funds is a concern for taxpayers.
Sadly, FSC obtained a debt from FNPF which they could not repay, and the Government had to pay it off through taxpayers. In the in-depth column (FT: 13/07), Nacanieli Tuilevuka provided an insight into the challenges faced by farmers — losses arising from increase in costs for harvesting and transporting sugar cane to the Labasa mill.
The editor-in-chief belted the issue with a sound editorial titled “A sustainable future for sugar?”.
Thank you, Fred Wesley, for the wonderful editorial. Sadly, there has been a lot of talk on strategising the sugar industry, but on the ground little has been done to revive the dying industry.
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Government funds
Please look at the first few words from the FSC CEO in a question and answer session during the Dialogue Fiji-organised National Budget Forum in Nadi last week.
“FSC is not a recipient of government funds. FSC directly does not benefit from any of the government grants. The grants are all allocated for various purposes that are directed towards the growers. There is no direct financial assistance provided to FSC. This has been a long-time misconception, a misunderstanding that is in the public. FSC as a company does not receive any direct financial assistance. I want to make that very clear.”
Therein lies the problem of national delusion.
Sailosi Naewe Dilkusha Rd, Nausori
Expensive living
The cost of simply existing has become completely unsustainable. Sobo!
Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka
Sugar industry
The question is, how long will the farmers continue to be fooled?
Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Farmers fooled
The PS Finance Ministry Shiri Gounder is quoted saying “farmers are fooled with the possibility of reviving the sugar industry” at the National Budget forum in Nadi.
How many more people in Fiji are fooled in similar ways?
Narayan Reddy Lautoka
Three Lions
The Three Lions roared the loudest in Florida in their match against Norway with a hard fought 2-1 victory. The much awaited Harry Kane v Erling Haaland duel did not come to fruition as both were starved of quality balls in the penalty box. It was Norway which took the lead and went into full throttle, only to be doused off by Bellingham’s superb strike in added time of the first half. The number 10 banged another one in extra time to seal the deal for the Three Lions. The lions are marching on to Atlanta for the semi finals while team Norway is rowing their boat back home.
Arun Prasad Dilkusha, Nausori
Street talk
Sunday’s street talk topic (ST 12/07) — “What do you think of the call by the GCC for 40 per cent women in decision making roles” — left me once again despairing.
The persons asked were all in favour with no one questioning how roles awarded on the basis of gender, rather than merit would improve productivity in Fiji.
To have this call come from the GCC itself is the height of hypocrisy.
Has anyone looked at the gender composition of the GCC lately? As friend Wise would say, sobo!
Terry Hulme Australia
Budget forum
I believe permanent secretary of Finance Shiri Gounder was appointed in 2021 as permanent secretary for Economy. In 2025 he was reappointed as Finance Secretary.
It has taken Mr Gounder more than five years and after pouring millions of dollars, to say FSC is insolvent and farmers need to diversify into growing other crops.
I believe all those millions wasted would have helped replace the old machinery with a new mill.
The Finance Secretary, FSC executives and senior Sugar Ministry staff should go to Mauritius and study their sugar industry. They maintain their profitability using co-products and bio-products. (Google for all details).
Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Not a Tier 1 nation
I am not sure why everyone is disappointed with the rugby results in England and Wales. The results were to be expected. Fiji is not a Tier 1 rugby nation. You can pretend all you want.
What is disappointing, and everyone is pretending here as well, is when will Fiji Rugby be made a diversified and inclusive sport and not the exclusive bastion of one ethnic group. When will Fiji Rugby shed its apartheid policies?
Why is everyone silent about that, except me? Is that because of tradition and culture?
Jan Nissar Lautoka
Fiji’s rugby
Within the past 10 years, Fiji’s national rugby team was constantly improving that it won praises from across the rugby world.
The players were described as aggressive defenders with hard and blockbuster running capabilities.
Its World Rugby ranking was consistent, apart from defeating top Tier 1 teams such as Australia, Wales, England and France. Was it about the coaches or the quality of players?
However, after the two recent nations championship games, it seemed the old “nemesis” of Fiji’s national team has again reappeared, in my view.
The loss of concentration and the lazy laid-back attitude. The deficit from 15 against Wales to 65 against England, reflected it all.
The England game was a total whitewash, compared with both 2023 and 2025 matches. And I believe, it clearly identified the difference in the “coaching levels” of today’s modern rugby game.
How the game is being read, strategised and reinforced accordingly, in alignment with the available players, in my opinion. Especially at Tier 1 level. What exactly was broken? Is it going to quickly recover and re-establish itself?
Samu Silatolu Nakasi, Nausori
Bring Mick back
I just want to comment on the Flying Fijian’s performance against England, which was unbelievably shocking in today’s professional rugby era.
Mick Byrne will be laughing after being unjustifiably removed.
One wonders about the new direction by the FRU, where Mick Byrne has no place and the new coach’s new philosophy (as he mentioned).
After all, the product that matters for Fiji rugby fans and the nation. How about bringing Mick (an international rugby coach) back after proving himself with the Drua and also with the Fiji teams’ success?
He once assembled almost the same Fiji team members last year in a week in Australia and almost beat the Wallabies.
Maika Tabukovu Cunningham, Suva
National rugby shame
It is indeed a national rugby shame of monumental proportions.
How and why did things go so wrong so quickly with Mick Byrne’s unceremonious exit?
Was there gross underlying interference?
The truth needs to come out as soon as practically possible.
This 8-73 nightmare and walloping by England cannot and will not go away.
In my honest opinion, as a betrayed senior pensioner, it is time. Heads must roll. I make no apologies.
This massive embarrassing loss is so shamefully disgusting, to say the least.
Sa lutusobu dina na druka tamera oqo. E dua na madua levu. E bale veicei, au taro?
Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Rugby coach
Why have a coach when players are assembled as a team just a week before a Test match?
Sukha Singh Labasa
Love and endurance
Some call it love. Some call it hate. Some feel betrayed. Some have given up and are searching for a new favourite.
The performance of our Flying Fijians is deeply rooted in our identity and hearts but the humiliating defeat to England appears to have triggered the worst of love for our favourite team.
Let’s forget that all loyalty relations are founded on endurance and our favourite team deserves continued support, but for now, some serious and urgent soul searching is required.
Let us remain hopeful that between now and the World Cup 2027, only the best are selected based on performance, commitment and attitude. Even more important, our team deserves warm-up matches prior to international Test matches. Let’s stay loyal to our favourite team as they take on Scotland in Edinburgh.
Floyd Robinson Micronesia
Four giants, two matches, one dream
FOOTBALL fans around the globe are counting down to what promises to be two unforgettable FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals. On Wednesday, football lovers will witness a thrilling clash between Kylian Mbappé’s France and the youthful brilliance of Lamine Yamal’s Spain. Twenty-four hours later, the spotlight shifts to Lionel Messi’s Argentina taking on Harry Kane’s determined England in another blockbuster encounter. 14/07/2026, 09:44 The Fiji Times https://edition.fijitimes.com.fj/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=e4fad093-33c6-4e8c-8f9d-b19c68c8b31a 1/2 It is difficult to imagine a more exciting semi-final lineup. Four football giants, blessed with world-class talent, rich history and passionate supporters, will battle for just two places in the final. Every pass, every tackle and every goal could become part of World Cup folklore. For millions of supporters, these are not just football matches, they are moments of drama, pride, tears and dreams. Fans will be glued to their television screens as legends seek to cement their legacy and young stars strive to announce their arrival on the biggest stage of all. These are truly matches that no football fan should miss.
INDAR DEO BISUN SAKOCA HEIGHTS, TAMAVUA
