Chaudhry Questions Parliament’s Review of Outdated Sugar Ministry Report

National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry has criticised Parliament’s decision to spend time and resources reviewing an outdated annual report of the Ministry of Sugar Industry.

The Standing Committee on Economic Affairs is currently considering the Ministry’s 2021–2022 Annual Report, which Chaudhry said has limited relevance to the current challenges facing Fiji’s sugar industry.

Chaudhry also questioned the committee’s decision to travel around the country to inspect projects referenced in the report.

“Just a waste of time and taxpayers’ funds,” he said.

He said sugar growers were facing pressing issues that required immediate attention, while farmers were also awaiting the report of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Sugar, which toured the cane belt in July during the harvest crisis.

Chaudhry questioned why the committee had yet to table its findings in Parliament.

“Three months later that Committee has still not tabled its report in Parliament. Are we expected to wait another five years for that report?” he asked.

Land-use policy concerns

Chaudhry also raised concerns over discussions surrounding the need for a national land-use policy.

He said the NFU had been advocating for such a policy for years, arguing that it would help maximise the use of agricultural land while providing greater security of tenure for cane farmers.He questioned the Government’s renewed interest in the issue, suggesting that the timing could be linked to the upcoming election rather than a genuine effort to address long-standing concerns.

Calls for accountability

Chaudhry called on Parliament and the Ministry of Finance to take firm action against Ministers and Government ministries that fail to table annual reports within the required timeframe.

He said delayed reports lose their relevance and limit effective parliamentary scrutiny of Government performance.

Chaudhry also criticised what he described as the use of taxpayers’ money for parliamentary sitting allowances and travel associated with reviewing outdated matters.

He said Parliament should instead focus its resources on addressing the immediate challenges confronting Fiji’s sugar industry and its growers.

The Standing Committee on Economic Affairs continues its consideration of the Ministry of Sugar Industry’s 2021–2022 Annual Report.