OPPOSITION Leader Inia Seruiratu has criticised the prime ministerial decision to place the Sugar Ministry under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Under the Prime Minister’s reshuffle of Cabinet ministers this week, Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna has taken on the Sugar Industry portfolio from Charan Jeath Singh, who is now Minister for Public Enterprises, Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts.
“This decision raises serious concerns,” Mr Seruiratu said.
“For decades, sugar was recognised as a stand alone ministerial portfolio for good reason.
“The sugar industry is not just another agricultural sector. It is a strategic national industry that sustains the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Fijians, including cane farmers, lorry drivers, mill workers, landowners and entire rural communities across the sugar belt.”
Mr Seruiratu said placing the responsibility for sugar alongside the broader agriculture portfolio sends a worrying signal at a time when the industry is already under severe pressure.
“The challenges facing sugar such as declining productivity, rising costs, farmer exits, mill inefficiencies and the absence of meaningful long-term reforms require dedicated leadership, focused attention and sector-specific expertise, not divided oversight.”
Mr Seruiratu expressed his deep concern that the Prime Minister continues to preside over a weak Cabinet, with ministers who lack the experience and technical competence required to manage a sector as complex and fragile as the sugar industry.
“Sugar cannot be treated as an afterthought nor can its future be entrusted to indecision or political convenience.”
Mr Seruiratu said this weak and indecisive leadership had already shown real consequences.
“It was the Prime Minister himself who moved the motion to establish the Special Committee on Sugar and secured Parliament’s approval for it to report back by the November sitting.
“That deadline has come and gone. No report has been tabled. No explanation has been provided to Parliament or to the people of Fiji.
“The failure to table the special committee’s report reflects a lack of political will and a lack of genuine interest by the Prime Minister in the survival of this vital industry.
“The farmers and workers deserve answers, not silence.”
Mr Seruiratu said if the Government is serious about the future of the industry, it must demonstrate leadership, honour parliamentary mandates and place the industry where it belongs, “at the centre of national economic planning, not as a secondary responsibility within an already demanding portfolio”.
The Opposition Leader said he would continue to demand accountability, transparency and urgent action in Parliament and in the public interest on behalf of every Fijian whose livelihood depends on the sugar industry.
Farmers back change
SUGARCANE farmers have welcomed the announcement of Tomasi Tunabuna as the new Minister for Sugar.
Mr Tunabuna is also the Minister for Agriculture.
The decision was made by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during a Cabinet reshuffle and will become effective on January 19 next year.
Former sugar minister Charan Jeath Singh has been named Minister for Public Enterprises, Multi- Ethnic, Culture, Heritage and Arts.
In an interview yesterday, Ba farmer Arvind Singh claimed the former sugar minister had made many trips overseas.
“We want to know what he has achieved,” Mr Singh said.
“His last visit was to Bangladesh and what was the purpose? What is he getting for the farmers from Bangladesh? “He said he would do this and do that, but nothing has happened since he was sugar minister.”
Mr Singh said many Ba farmers welcomed the announcement of the changes made by the Prime Minister.
“We want the new minister to listen to the farmers and listen to our grievances.
“Also to have dialogue with farmers so that he can understand where the problem is and how we can improve the sugar industry together.”
Mr Singh said although the Rarawai mill was operational, cane supply was still low because of the rainy weather.
