Motion for Debate 2 – Response

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Prime Minister, and Minister for Civil Service, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics to move –

“That in addition to the resolution of Parliament on Thursday, 18 July 2025, that Parliament approves for the following Members to be included in the Special Committee on Sugar Industry:

(a) Hon. Tomasi Tunabuna, Minister for Agriculture, Waterways, and Sugar Industry; and

(b) Hon. Sakiusa Tubuna, Assistant Minister for Office of the Prime Minister.”

Salutations

  • Honorable Speaker Sir,
  • Honorable Ministers and Assistant Ministers,
  • Honorable Leader of Opposition,
  • Honorable Members of Parliament, and
  • Ladies & Gentlemen

Ni sa bula vina’a and a very good afternoon to you all.

Response:

  1. Honourable Speaker Sir, this motion is both practical and necessary. It strengthens the Committee’s ability to deliver on its mandate at a time when the sugar industry requires coordinated leadership, technical depth, and whole-of-government alignment.
  2. The challenges before us such as declining production, climate vulnerability, inefficiencies in milling, land tenure complexities, and rural economic pressures—are multi-dimensional. They cannot be addressed through fragmented approaches.
  3. Strengthening the Committee’s composition ensures:
  4. Direct sector leadership and accountability;
  5. Improved policy coordination across Government;
  • Enhanced technical oversight and implementation focus; and
  1. Stronger linkage between Parliament, the Executive, and industry stakeholders

Justification for Inclusion – Honourable Tomasi Tunabuna

  1. Honourable Speaker Sir, the inclusion of the Honourable Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry is both strategic and indispensable.
  2. The sugar industry sits at the intersection of:
  3. Agriculture and land productivity;
  4. Water management and irrigation systems;
  • Climate resilience and disaster risk; and
  1. Rural livelihoods and economic development.
  2. Honourable Tunabuna brings:
  3. Sectoral Leadership: Direct responsibility for the policy direction, performance, and reform of the sugar industry.
  4. Technical and Operational Insight: Deep understanding of agricultural systems, cane production cycles, and farmer challenges.
  5. Implementation Authority: Ability to translate Committee recommendations into actionable Government interventions.
  6. Stakeholder Engagement: Established engagement with growers, millers, cooperatives, and rural communities.
  7. His inclusion ensures that the Committee is not only deliberative, but also implementation-driven, bridging policy with on-the-ground realities.

Justification for Inclusion – Honourable Sakiusa Tubuna

  1. Honourable Speaker Sir, the inclusion of the Honourable Assistant Minister for the Office of the Prime Minister adds a critical layer of strategic coordination and governance oversight.
  2. The sugar industry is not solely an agricultural issue—it is a national development priority, linked to:
  3. Rural poverty reduction;
  4. Economic diversification;
  5. Export earnings; and
  6. Social stability in the Western and Northern Divisions.
  7. Honourable Tubuna contributes:
  8. Whole-of-Government Coordination: Ensuring alignment across Ministries including Finance, Infrastructure, Trade, and Rural Development;
  9. Policy Integration: Linking sugar sector reforms to the National Development Plan 2025–2029 and Vision 2050;
  • Strategic Oversight: Supporting evidence-based decision-making and performance monitoring; and
  1. Institutional Linkages: Strengthening coordination between Parliament, Cabinet, and implementing agencies.
  2. His role ensures that the work of the Committee is strategically anchored, coherent, and aligned with broader Government priorities.

Strengthening Governance and Delivery

  1. Honourable Speaker Sir, the inclusion of these Members transforms the Committee from a review mechanism into a strategic platform for reform and delivery.
  2. It ensures policy coherence across sectors, faster translation of recommendations into action, improved accountability in implementation and enhanced engagement with stakeholders across the value chain.
  3. This is consistent with Government’s commitment to people-centred development, rural economic transformation, evidence-based policymaking and stronger institutional coordination.

Alignment to National Development Priorities

  1. Honourable Speaker Sir, this strengthened Committee directly supports Government priorities to:
  2. Revitalise the sugar industry as a key agricultural and export sector;
  3. Improve rural incomes and livelihoods;
  • Promote climate-smart agriculture and resilience;
  1. Enable value addition and diversification (including ethanol, co-generation, and agro-processing); and
  2. Ensure sustainable land use and equitable benefit-sharing.

Conclusion

  1. Honourable Speaker Sir, this motion is not merely about expanding membership—it is about enhancing capability, strengthening coordination, and accelerating reform in one of Fiji’s most important sectors.
  2. By including Honourable Tunabuna and Honourable Tubuna, we are ensuring that this Committee is technically informed, strategically aligned and operationally effective.
  3. This is a measured and forward-looking step to ensure that the work of this Committee delivers real outcomes for our cane growers, our rural communities, and our national economy.
  4. I therefore urge Honourable Members to support this motion in the spirit of collective responsibility and national interest.
  5. Thank you, Honourable Speaker Sir
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