Deputy Leader of Opposition, Parveen Kumar, has criticized the Coalition Government for its failure to commit to the construction of a new sugar mill in Rakiraki, labeling their election pledge as “misleading.” Fiji Sugar Corporation chairman Nitya Reddy recently indicated that they are still conducting due diligence before making any announcements in the coming six months.
Kumar stated, “The promise to rebuild the Rakiraki sugar mill made during the 2022 elections has proven to be nothing more than empty rhetoric designed to win votes without any genuine intention.” He described the commitment to overhaul the Penang mill as a betrayal to both the Rakiraki community and the broader sugar industry.
He emphasized that the Coalition Government made lofty promises to revive the mill, despite knowing that the underlying reasons for its closure—declining sugar production and high operational costs—remained unchanged. Reddy added that instead of pursuing practical solutions, the government has opted to mislead farmers with hollow statements.
Kumar further noted that the Coalition Government’s unfulfilled promises are eroding trust and threatening the future sustainability of the sugar industry.
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