Sugar problems were neglected: Vaniqi

Problems faced by the Sugar industry today could have been solved 20 years ago if past governments were not negligent says Permanent Secretary for Sugar Manasa Vaniqi.

Vaniqi told FBC News that negligence has resulted in the current government shouldering extra expenses and a huge debt.

He says the problems in the sugar industry are not new.

Vaniqi says cane planting programs were a failure and is attributed to the work of dirty politicians and racism.

This also led to the non renewal of agricultural land leases to farmers.

He says the sugar industry is now faced with a bigger problem of trying to upgrade the sugar mill while having big debts to pay.

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama had earlier stated, government will ensure the Sugar industry is revived as there is no other industry that can replace sugar.

source: radiofiji