Deputy Leader of Opposition, Parveen Kumar, has criticized the Coalition Government for its failure to follow through on its commitment to construct a new sugar mill in Rakiraki, labeling the government’s election promises as “misleading.”
Fiji Sugar Corporation chairman Nitya Reddy recently stated that the company is still conducting due diligence and will make an announcement in six months regarding the mill.
Kumar expressed that the pledge to rebuild the Rakiraki sugar mill, made during the 2022 elections, has turned out to be merely an empty promise aimed at gaining votes without genuine intent. He described the failure to rebuild the Penang mill as a betrayal to both the people of Rakiraki and the broader sugar industry.
He pointed out that the Coalition Government made grand promises about reviving the mill, despite being aware that the issues leading to its closure—declining sugar production and high operational costs—remained unresolved. Reddy added that instead of addressing practical solutions, the government has misled farmers with hollow statements.
Kumar concluded by stating that the government’s failure to deliver on its promises is eroding trust and threatening the future of the sugar industry.
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