Singh confirms return to Sugar Ministry, awaits gazettal of appointment

Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs Charan Jeath Singh has confirmed he has been reappointed as Minister for Sugar and is awaiting the official gazettal of the appointment.

Mr Singh said he received an email from the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday informing him that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had reinstated him to the portfolio.

"I have been informed by the secretary of the Prime Minister. He had sent an email to me to say that I have got that position," Mr Singh said.

"Basically they have reinstated me, given the Sugar Ministry back to me."

He said while the appointment had been confirmed through the Prime Minister's Office, it would only become official once it was gazetted.

"From that letter it's confirmed that I am taking over that, but I just have to officially wait for the gazette. I believe it will be gazetted tomorrow," he said.

Mr Singh said he would continue to serve as Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Arts and Heritage alongside the Sugar portfolio, while responsibility for Public Enterprises had been transferred to Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica.

His return to the Sugar Ministry comes just months after the portfolio was reassigned during a Cabinet reshuffle, with the Prime Minister previously saying the ministry had been placed elsewhere temporarily because of the commercial and privatisation focus of the sugar industry.

Asked how he felt about the latest reshuffle and speculation surrounding his influence within the ruling People's Alliance, Mr Singh declined to comment.

"I'm not going to comment about funding or not funding. That's something that anybody does to support a party," he said.

Mr Singh said he remained committed to serving wherever he was assigned.

"Any job, whether I'm in Sugar or another portfolio, I have no issues. I can handle anything.

"I'm there as a minister, and I will make sure I do my responsibility."