SINGH OUTLINES PLANS
NEWLY ELECTED MINISTER FOR SUGAR AND MULTI-ETHNIC AFFAIRS, CHARAN JEATH SINGH SAYS: ‘I want to bring back the multi-ethnic scholarship so that our students can reach and complete respective degrees at three universities in Fiji and even abroad.’ ‘We will seriously look at building a new mill in Rakiraki and improve on railway lines throughout the cane belt areas so that we can cart more.’
Newly elected Minister for Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Charan Jeath Singh would bring back the Multi-Ethnic Scholarship. Originally from Labasa, the businessman and former Labasa mayor and pilot said: “I want to bring back the multi-ethnic scholarship so that our students can reach and complete respective degrees at three universities in Fiji and even abroad.
“Also we would hold advisory council elections at the earliest so that people’s voices are heard right from the grassroots and upward.”
It was clarified that the Ministry of Multi
Ethnic Affairs will cater for Fijians other than iTaukei, who will be catered for under the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs.
Major changes to the sugar industry
After meeting his office staff, a visit to the Fiji Sugar Corporation headquarters is next.
This would be followed by a visit to the research centre to see plans of increasing sugar production capacity and the best variety of sugarcane that they can grow in different parts of Fiji.
“I understand several studies have been done and reports made on the state of affairs of each mill by the Indian Government-sponsored experts,” Mr Singh said.
“I need to get hold of them, study and
then decide on my next steps to take in regards to increasing the efficiency of each sugar mill.”
New mill planned for Rakiraki
After visiting the three sugar mills, Mr Singh, who is also a sugarcane farmer, would look into introducing a fourth mill in Fiji.
“We will seriously look at building a new mill in Rakiraki and improve on railway lines throughout the cane belt areas so that we can cart more cane through the railway system hence easing the road traffic on our roads for the motorists,” Mr Singh said.
“I am not a stranger and newcomer to the sugar industry as I have two sugarcane farms next to the Labasa Airport.”
He said he produced about 700 tonnes of sugarcane in the last crushing season.
“I know the hardships farmers, lorry drivers, tractor drivers, harvesting gangs and labourers go through and I shall look into their problems and try to solve them as we go along,” he said.
Growers’ Council election
A Sugar Cane Growers Council election will be scheduled soon, Mr Singh said.
“We want farmers’ voices to be heard properly through their elected representatives and this is why we will hold a growers council election soon,” he said.
He would also reinstate sugarcane bodies that used to look after the FSC.
“Our Government would like to relook at the minimum price to be increased and that figure will be discussed at our cabinet meeting in due course,” he said.
Feasibility studies on two factories will be conducted soon
Mr Singh revealed that he would soon set up teams to conduct feasibility studies on Fiji’s first sugar refinery factory and ethanol factory.
“I would like to see ways at how we can supplement and provide value added to our product in Fiji,” Mr Singh said.
“Ethanol factory would be seen as a substitute for petrol.”
He said these two projects would create more job opportunities.