Parveen Kumar, the Deputy Leader of Opposition, has criticized the Coalition Government for its failure to follow through on its pledge to construct a new sugar mill in Rakiraki, labeling the promise as “misleading.” Fiji Sugar Corporation chairman Nitya Reddy recently stated that they are still in the process of due diligence and will make an announcement in six months.
Kumar asserted that the commitment to rebuild the Rakiraki sugar mill made during the 2022 elections appears to be mere political rhetoric aimed at securing votes, lacking genuine intent. He described the promise to revitalize the Penang mill as a betrayal of both the Rakiraki community and the broader sugar industry.
He added that the Coalition Government had made grand assurances to restore the mill, despite being fully aware that the underlying issues causing its closure, such as decreasing sugar production and high operational costs, remain unchanged. Reddy emphasized that instead of pursuing concrete solutions, the government has opted to mislead farmers with empty promises.
Kumar concluded by stating that the Coalition Government’s unfulfilled commitments are undermining trust and jeopardizing the future of the sugar industry.
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