Singh eyes another term as People’s Alliance candidate

Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs Charan Jeath Singh says he hopes to contest the next General Election under the People’s Alliance (PA) Party.

Mr Singh said he had applied for a PAP election ticket after being approached by the party about his political future.

“The PAP office contacted me to ask whether I would be interested in remaining with the party and contesting under its banner,” he said.

“So I applied with PAP and once my interest is endorsed, I will contest the election again.”

Mr Singh made the comments amid criticism directed at him over issues in the sugar industry.

Chaudhry criticism

Former prime minister Mahendra Pal Chaudhry recently criticised Mr Singh on social media, accusing him of failing to address the issue of stand-over sugarcane in the Western Division.

Mr Singh said he had not received any formal correspondence from Mr Chaudhry on the matter.

He said at the time the comments were made, he was still the substantive minister responsible for the sugar industry following the Cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Singh said the issue of stand-over cane had already been addressed under the Master Award and urged that the matter be viewed in that context.

He also referred to Mr Chaudhry’s time in government, saying growers had previously been advised to adhere to the Master Award when compensation was sought.

Mr Singh said the criticism was politically motivated ahead of the election.

Labasa mill performance

Mr Singh also confirmed that the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s Labasa mill recorded the strongest performance among the country’s three mills during the current crushing season.

He said about 11,000 tonnes of stand-over cane remained on farms in Vanua Levu, while the Labasa mill crushed about 583,000 tonnes this season.

Although the target of 600,000 tonnes was not reached, he said the total crushed was higher than last year’s 575,000 tonnes.