The history of Fiji’s mahogany is scarred by corruption, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
Speaking to members of the Fiji mahogany board of trust in Suva yesterday, he said the trust could not look ahead without acknowledging the history of the industry.
“As we all know, that history isn’t all pretty,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“It’s a long story marked by disappointment and scarred by corruption.
“With the money and machinery that has been poured into the industry over the decades, Fijian mahogany should be a highly demanded global commodity, but it isn’t. Not yet.”
He said that Government was still paying for many mis-steps made over the past few decades such as the collapse of the Fiji Hardwood Corporation.
“I know our landowners are keen to put those years of poor management behind them, as we all are.
“But if we don’t take on the lessons from that history we are doomed to repeat past mistakes – and it is Fijian landowners and Fijian taxpayers who will suffer for that short-sightedness.
“Let me begin by saying this: I believe in this industry.
“I believe we can continue down the new path your management is charting, a path that sets our landowners towards profits, self-sufficiency and sustainability.”
