Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has criticised Charan Jeath Singh, saying the Public Enterprise and Multi-Ethnic Affairs Minister needs to speak “with respect and greater sensibility” when addressing farmers and community organisations.
Mr Chaudhry said two recent public statements made by the minister had drawn widespread criticism — telling small cane farmers to “shape up or ship out” and advising temple authorities to spend money on “buying cameras, not grog”.
Both stories were published in The Fiji Times last week.
“The statements are insensitive and smack of an unacceptable display of arrogance,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“The minister is being paid by the taxpayer to serve the people — not to rebuke them so rudely.”
He said cane farmers had made immense sacrifices for Fiji over generations and were being unfairly blamed for problems within the sugar industry.
“Cane farmers have done a lot for this country. They are hardworking people, and much of their current plight has been caused by the minister’s own gross incompetence and failure to address chronic issues facing the sugar industry,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“It is the minister who should be ‘shipped out’ — and thankfully that is what the Prime Minister has done.”
On temple break-ins, Mr Chaudhry said security concerns had existed for years and accused the minister of failing to act.
“I have myself suggested that temple authorities invest in security cameras, but the minister was downright rude in the way he spoke,” he said. “
If he was genuinely concerned, he would have called a meeting of religious organisations to discuss solutions. His ministry has done nothing.”
Mr Chaudhry also questioned the minister’s inaction on recommendations made by race relations consultants appointed in 2024, saying a report intended to provide a permanent framework for multi-ethnic affairs had never been implemented.
“That report was largely funded by the New Zealand government,” he said. “It is now likely collecting dust on ministry shelves — money wasted and an opportunity lost.”
