NFP President Parmod Chand Accuses Mahendra Chaudhry of Political Deception

Fiji Labour Party Leader and National Farmers Union General Secretary Mahendra Chaudhry is a shameless politician with an unequaled track record for lying and stooping to gutter level in his quest for political support, said National Federation Party President Parmod Chand.

Mr. Chand has demanded that Chaudhry provide irrefutable evidence that both NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad, and the NFP promised a cane payment of $110 per tonne to cane growers during the 2022 general elections campaign.

This follows Chaudhry’s statement, in his capacity as NFU General Secretary, criticizing the announcement of the third cane payment of $12.23 per tonne and accusing Professor Prasad and NFP (along with People’s Alliance) of reneging on their pre-election promise of $110 per tonne.

Mr. Chand said it was clear that Chaudhry was hell-bent on trying to undermine the NFP leader in a bid to rescue his political fortunes.

“But this time, Chaudhry is doomed. Growers will not be fooled by his lies. Historically, every NFP leader has advanced the interests of growers. Professor Prasad has done the same, and his track record of protecting the interests of growers on the face of adversity from 2014 to 2022, when FijiFirst was in government, speaks for itself. Growers trust him.”

“It is the coalition government of Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka that is treating cane growers with honour and respect—not Mahendra Chaudhry, who has used growers as political pawns.”

“In the last two seasons, growers have been paid well above the guaranteed price of $85 per tonne implemented by the former government, which too reneged on that price and short-changed growers by almost $14 million. Where was Chaudhry then?”

“Where was Chaudhry in 2023 when growers received over $91 per tonne—well over the guaranteed price—and more than $105 per tonne in 2024—more than $20 above the guaranteed price?”

“The coalition government assures growers that after they receive their final payment for the 2024 harvest in October, they will yet again pocket well above $100 per tonne. We do not lie.”

“On the contrary, it is Mahendra Chaudhry who lied to the people of Fiji in 1999 to win the government—not NFP. It is Chaudhry and FLP who promised cane growers 99-year leases under ALTA but, after winning government, offered 30-year leases, which he had repeatedly criticized as a sell-out by the NFP.”

“It is Chaudhry and FLP who promised workers a minimum wage of $120 per week but, after winning government, said they had meant $120 per week for a family.”

“It was under Chaudhry, as Prime Minister and Sugar Minister, that growers received one of the lowest third cane payments of $8 per tonne in March 2000.”

“It was Chaudhry, as both Prime Minister and Sugar Minister, who said at the beginning of May 2000 that he was contractually bound not to authorize Fiji Sugar Corporation to compensate growers for 170,000 tonnes of unharvested cane from the 1999 season.”

“It took the then newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Sugar Cane Growers Council, Jagannath Sami, in January 2001, to negotiate with the FSC the payout of a $5 per tonne ex-gratia payment as compensation.”

“And in January 2007, as soon as Chaudhry joined the military regime after the coup of December 2006 led by Voreqe Bainimarama, Mr. Sami’s appointment was terminated by Decree No. 1 of 2007. He was forcibly removed from office and had to be hospitalized.”

“Following this, the NFU, under Chaudhry’s leadership, regained control of SCGC, and the regime’s Cabinet endorsed his proposal to defer SCGC elections indefinitely under the pretext of reforms.”

“The rest is history.”

“The onus is now on Chaudhry to provide irrefutable evidence, which we can already envisage is going to be futile—like milking a barren cow.”