Transcript
BIMAN PRASAD: The issue of the FSC management and the performance of Mr Abdul Khan both as chairman and chief executive of the corporation leaves much to be desired. We believe that he should not have left the corporation without a proper investigation into the affairs of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, because under his leadership the corporation's financial status has gone from bad to worse and basically the Fiji Sugar Corporation was technically insolvent.
JAMIE TAHANA: How much of that is to do with Mr Khan, though, and how much of that is to do with the plummeting sugar price worldwide?
BP: Well the issue of the level of sugar cane production and sugar production is very clear from the fact that in 2006 Fiji produced close to 3 million tonnes of sugar cane, and since then under the government of Mr Bainimarama the performance of the industry has continued to decline and with that the peformance of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, which was led by Mr Khan over the last several years.
JT: But what caused that decline in the sugar industry since 2006? What has done that and how can that be drawn to Mr Khan?
BP: Well the performance of the mills and the losses that farmers continue to make as a result of poor performance of the mills has a direct impact on how farmers perceive the industry as a whole, and the incentive for the farmers over the last several years, not only in terms of price but in terms of support to the sugar industry has continued to decline. Indeed, after the military coup in 2006, the sugar industry lost millions of dollars of funds from the European Union which was very, very critical for the readjustment of the industry. The situation that we are in today is a direct result of the military coup and the mismanagement of the whole industry.
JT: You're calling for Mr Khan to stay on despite him saying he's stepping down for health reasons.
BP: Well we're not calling for him to stay on, we're just saying that he should not be allowed to leave just like that without being held accountable for the mess that we see within the Fiji Sugar Corporation now, and as I said, there have been many allegations with respect to the salaries, and the perks, and the management of the Fiji Sugar Corporation itself that need to be investigated.
JT: So what specific allegations are being levelled towards Mr Khan?
BP: Well some of the allegations that have been levelled against Mr Khan, especially about his salary, perks and privileges, appointments that were made within the industry, and the procurement some of the mill equipment from India. So these are very serious questions that remain unanswered and only an independent inquiry would clear all those allegations.
