Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama said the $85 million loan taken from the Exim Bank of India by the previous government to fix our sugar mills, went to waste.
While speaking to the cane farmers in Ba, Bainimarama said the government had to come to the rescue after 2006 to ensure that the mills are fixed and run more efficiently.
We have asked Bainimarama whether any further action will be taken on this issue.
It was earlier highlighted that a full investigation would be conducted.
Meanwhile Bainimarama has assured cane farmers that all efforts are underway to ensure that they have a secure livelihood and certainty when it comes to the renewal of cane farming leases.
More than 200,000 people in our country depend on the sugar industry and most of the cane farming land is leased Itaukei land.
Bainimarama said as Chairman of Itaukei Land Trust Board, he has directed the TLTB and the Lands Department that lessees must be told five years in advance regarding all leases that are expiring and whether the leases will be extended or not renewed.
He said to ensure the renewal of leases, $9 million is also spent every year to assist those farmers whose leases have expired or are expiring.
He said the government pays a top up of 4 percent above the 6 percent paid to the TLTB to provide an incentive to the landowners to renew the leases.
Bainimarama said it was a sad situation after the 1987 coups when the leases were not being renewed.
He said he witnessed many things when he used to travel around the country.
