The war of words continues as National Federation Party’s General Secretary, Kamal Iyer says Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry has been caught with his pants down after Chaudhry today released a statement explaining the confusion over the final cane payment for the 2024 crop.
Chaudhry says his earlier statement on the issue was understandable given the ambiguity of the announcement made by the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.
Chaudhry explained that there was no deliberate or intentional attempt to lie or to mislead the farmers or the nation.
He says the Rabuka had said in a newspaper on October 9th that a further top-up of $8.27 would be added to the final cane payment before Diwali, bringing the fourth payment to $9.47 per tonne.
Chaudhry says the confusion came from the wording “…in the final cane payment due before Diwali for the 2024 crop of $8.27…” which made it seem like the total final payment was $8.27.
Chaudhry says they have calculated it to mean that if the fourth payment is $9.47 a tonne, the top up would come to $1.20 a tonne.
He adds that the official final cane payment should have been announced by the Sugar Industry Tribunal after verifying all costs, but the Prime Minister announced it first, causing the misunderstanding.
The Tribunal made the official declaration today.
NFP General Secretary, Kamal Iyer says Chaudhry finds himself entangled in his own web of lies, deceit and treachery by trying in vain to extricate himself from the diabolical lies he spewed regarding the top-up amount by government of the final cane payment.
He says the FLP leader also claimed that the Prime Minister wasn’t receiving the right advice and stated that it was premature to say he breached the Code of Conduct of the Political Parties Act because this was not a campaign period.
Iyer says Chaudhry, in conformity to his reputation of being a habitual liar, blames Rabuka’s announcement, partially quoting a newspaper’s online report.
He says this is the sign of a desperate politician who is both clutching to straws and at the same time behaving like a cornered rat.
