The Special Committee on the Sugar Industry, chaired by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, will be in the Northern Division on Wednesday and Thursday for consultations with sugarcane farmers and visits to key sugar industry facilities.
The committee’s visit will provide farmers with an opportunity to raise concerns and make submissions on the challenges facing the industry and possible measures to secure its future.
The committee was established by Parliament to undertake a comprehensive review of Fiji’s sugar industry and provide recommendations for its transformation and long-term sustainability.
The other committee members are MP Biman Prasad, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka, MP Manoa Kamikamica, Minister for Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna, Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu, Policing Minister Ioane Naivalurua and Assistant Minister for the Office of the Prime Minister Sakiusa Tubuna.
Program
Wednesday, August 5
The committee will begin the day with a debrief at Hotel Takia in Labasa from 9am to 10.15am, followed by morning tea.
From 10.45am to 11.45am, the committee will hold a courtesy meeting with the Commissioner Northern.
After lunch, the delegation will travel to Seaqaqa, with the journey scheduled from 1.15pm to 2pm.
From 2pm to 4pm, the committee will hold a consultation with sugarcane farmers at Sanatan Hall, Seaqaqa, before returning to Labasa at about 4.30pm.
Thursday, August 6
The committee will hold a consultation with sugarcane farmers from the Labasa area from 10am to noon at the Vanua Levu Arya Samaj Hall in Namara.
This will be followed by a tour of the Labasa Sugar Mill from 12.10pm to 1pm.
Lunch will then be hosted by the Commissioner Northern from 1pm to 2pm, before the committee returns to the hotel for rest.
