5 Dec 2005

Concern that legal action could affect loan to help Fiji's sugar industry

7:22 am on 5 December 2005

The reform of Fiji's ailing sugar industry through a 52-million US dollar loan from India could be affected if a Labour Party senator goes ahead with legal action against the government of India.

Senator Anand Singh has told Fiji TV that the prime minister's allegations made under parliamentary privilege that senior Labour MPs have tried to obtain a commission from the 52-million dollar loan are false.

Anand Singh says it was he who brokered the deal between Fiji's sugar industry stakeholders and the Indian Sugar Technology Mission using his time and money to travel to India to do so back in 2003.

Senator Singh says both the Indian and the Fiji governments know of his work but he has been sidelined and is seeking an explanation from the Indian government.

Senator Singh says he deserves to be paid for his work and if necessary he will take legal action against the Indian government.