The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Parveen Kumar, has criticized the Coalition Government for failing to deliver on its promise to construct a new sugar mill in Rakiraki, labeling it a “misleading election promise.” Fiji Sugar Corporation chairman Nitya Reddy recently indicated that due diligence is still underway and that an announcement regarding the mill’s future will be made in six months.
Kumar remarked, “The pledge to rebuild the Rakiraki sugar mill made during the 2022 elections has proven to be nothing more than empty rhetoric aimed at securing votes without genuine intent.” He added that the promised reconstruction of the Penang mill represents a betrayal to both the residents of Rakiraki and the broader sugar industry.
He emphasized that the Coalition Government had made significant assurances regarding bringing back the mill, despite being aware that the issues leading to its closure—declining sugar production and rising operational costs—have not changed. Reddy pointed out that instead of pursuing practical solutions, the government has opted to mislead farmers with empty promises.
Kumar concluded that the Coalition Government’s unfulfilled promises are undermining trust and jeopardizing the future of the sugar industry.
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