Fiji Labour Party

15/06/2026

Fiji Labour Party statement on fuel prices

The Fiji Labour Party condemns the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) for its blatant double standard in the way it applies fuel pricing rules.

When global fuel prices were rising sharply earlier this year, the FCCC conveniently changed its standard practice of using the one month lag to set the domestic fuel price. Instead, it extended the pricing window by 20 days to phase in the sharp increases.

Now that global oil prices have fallen following the reported agreement between the United States and Iran, the same Commission has reverted to a rigid position. It is insisting that Fiji’s fuel pricing system operates with a two-month lag and that consumers should not expect any immediate relief.

This selective approach raises a serious question: who is the FCCC actually protecting? They should be protecting the consumer. However, they are chopping and changing the rules to soften the blow for fuel companies and to avoid a political backlash, entirely against the best interests of the consumer.

This pattern has become predictable. Prices go up quickly when it suits the suppliers, but they come down slowly, if at all, when global costs ease.

Fijians have seen this happen repeatedly. Bus fares, electricity tariffs, and the price of goods increase almost immediately when fuel costs rise. Yet when those costs fall, there is no automatic or meaningful downward adjustment.

The system appears designed to protect fuel companies and their margins while ordinary households continue to carry the burden long after the original price shock.

The Fiji Labour Party demands that the FCCC explain why it was willing to bend its rules when prices were rising but refuses to apply the same methodology now that they are falling. The current fuel pricing mechanism lacks transparency and fairness and must be reviewed urgently.

Mahendra Chaudhry
Leader, Fiji Labour Party

14/06/2026

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12/06/2026

Of cuddles and hugs ...
Time for a little relaxation after two days of hectic meetings in Lautoka and Nadi. And what could be more relaxing than the warmth of tiny tots. NFU Leader Mahendra Chaudhry chills out with little Rivansh Kisun and his sister Rivisha after the meeting at Votualevu yesterday.
Farmers here reaffirmed their decision not to harvest until they get $60pt Delivery Price for the season.

12/06/2026

Revised FSC $47pt Delivery Price rejected
Growers being intimidated by Police

Cane farmers have rejected the revised delivery price of $47pt announced yesterday by FSC.

Farmers at Nawaicoba and Vatualevu in Nadi stood resolutely for a revised delivery price of $60 pt. They will not accept anything less.

“This is an insult. They need to treat us farmers with more respect,” a farmer told an NFU pocket meeting at Nawaicoba this morning.

Similar rejection is coming from farmers in Labasa, Ba and Lautoka. With cost of delivery at $60pt or more for those further away from the mills, growers say they are simply not able to fork out any more money from their pockets.

“It is now clear that unless FSC and the government meet the demands of the growers and come up with a satisfactory delivery payment, they will not harvest ,” said NFU leader Mahendra Chaudhry.

The revised $47pt Delivery Price includes $12.56pt top up by government.

Meanwhile, NFU has denounced reports by growers of intimidation by Police officers.

Farmers in the Nadi area say four police officers in plain clothes are going around intimidating and harassing them for their refusal to harvest.

“NFU will lodge a formal complaint on this with the Commissioner of Police,” Mr Chaudhry said.

Jai Kisan, Jai Jawan!

Pic 1. With farmers at Nawaicoba
2. At Votualevu

12/06/2026

Rabuka takes a joy ride to Gold Coast while country is in a mess

It is highly insensitive of Prime Minister Rabuka to take off on a freebie on the Fiji Airways inaugural flight to the Gold Coast with the country in a critical mess.

Our people are facing enormous hardship caused by the escalating price of fuel. There is a crisis in the sugar industry with cane farmers refusing to harvest unless the Forecast and Delivery Price for the season is increased. The start of crush is being indefinitely deferred as a result.

Fijians are struggling with higher electricity bills, rising transport costs, and increasing prices across the board.

While ordinary families are feeling the pressure, the Prime Minister is taking advantage of a free trip on a new international route. This is not responsible leadership.

The Prime Minister should be at home providing leadership and direction at this critical juncture.

Just last week he was publicly calling for austerity all around with tighter government spending. He even floated the idea of cutting the size of the civil service.

This sounds like hollow rhetoric if he can just hop on a plane and take off for a joyride. Such frivolous actions create the perception of a Prime Minister who couldn’t care less about the state of the nation and is just out to have a good time.

He needs to lead by example.

11/06/2026

It is time now to negotiate: Chaudhry tells Sugar Minister

Cane farmers from the Lautoka Mill Area today voted to stand firm in their decision not to harvest until the Cane Forecast/ Delivery Price for 2026 is revised and their other demands met.

Farmers’ representatives from Lautoka, Nadi and Sigatoka voted unanimously in support of the decision at a National Farmers Union meeting at the Girmit Centre in Lautoka this morning.

Growers have already seen success for their stand with FSC deferring indefinitely the start of crush at the Lautoka Mill which was to have started rolling on Wednesday this week. No doubt similar deferments will be announced for Labasa and Rarawai next week unless an agreement is reached before then.

“Farmers are standing firm in their resolve. It is now time for FSC and the government to come to the negotiating table so that the 2026 harvest can begin,” said NFU general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry.

Farmers are demanding, among other things, an increase in the Delivery Payment to $59.56pt, based on a revised Forecast Price of $85 pt (current guaranteed minimum price) along with a $7.56pt top up by the government.

The Sugar Cane Growers Council (SCGC) has already taken heed of the demands. In a statement today the Council said it is “actively pursuing” an increase in the 2026 delivery payment with FSC, the Sugar Ministry and other stakeholders.

“This matter is of significant and urgent importance, particularly in light of the substantial increase in fuel prices that has directly impacted harvesting, transportation and other field operation costs,” said SCGC chief executive officer Vimal Dutt.

Meanwhile, Mr Chaudhry has responded to an attack on him by Sugar Minister Tomasi Tunabuna (FT 11/6) for ‘misleading farmers’, calling him “a drowning politician clutching at straws”.

Undeterred, Mr Chaudhry rebuked the Minister for wasting time on personal attacks when a crisis is facing the industry. He should be responding to grievances raised by cane farmers on the 2026 harvest programme.

“The Minister is hiding behind the age-old tactic of mud-raking. With the onset of crushing already delayed by the refusal of growers to harvest unless their demands are met, Minister Tunabuna should be working to address their grievances so that the mills can start rolling.

He should be averting a crisis in the industry, not prolonging it. He recently visited all three mill areas – Ba, Lautoka and Labasa – trying to talk farmers into harvesting without any success.

“It’s time now to negotiate, Minister."

You are new to the Sugar industry and merely mouthing disinformation and lies generated by NFU’s detractors, and we know who they are. Instead, you should take a lesson from what happened in the campaign for a just Master Award in 1989/1990.

No amount of government propaganda including personal attacks and assaults on Mr Chaudhry at the time, failed to resolve the growers’ resolve not to harvest until the offending clauses of the Master Award were changed. The burnt cane clause in particular would have financially crippled the farmers.

Today growers are facing a similar issue. If they harvest under current conditions with a very low Delivery Payment and high fuel costs, they will be incurring huge losses. It is financially not viable for them to cut cane unless their conditions are met.

Mr Chaudhry told the Minister to worry about the current crisis in the sugar industry instead of trying to spread disinformation.

10/06/2026

Chaudhry challenges Biman at Dialogue 2026 panel session

10/06/2026

09/06/2026

2026 Cane Harvest

Crushing at the Lautoka Mill was scheduled to start today but has now been deferred indefinitely. This is good news for growers who want their grievances addressed before the start of the 2026 crushing season. Growers must stay united.