20 May 2009

Fiji regime yet to react to EC sugar aid cut

3:27 pm on 20 May 2009

Fiji's interim regime is yet to comment on the withdrawal of sugar aid from the European Union.

The European Commission has cancelled Fiji's 2009 sugar allocation, a move that will cost the country more than 32 million US dollars.

In a statement, the EC says it has taken the decision to cancel the allocation in the absence of any indication that a legitimate government will be in place in 2009.

The move is expected to hit the sugar industry hard and result in job losses.

The military-led government's spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni, says he is unable to make a statement on the issue.