Sugar Minister yellow-carded

Fiji's Sugar Minister, Charan Jeath Singh, has been issued a yellow card for disorderly conduct during a parliamentary session, marking a significant disciplinary action within the legislature. Speaker of Parliament Filimone Jitoko delivered the ruling after reviewing Hansard records and video footage of the incident.

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listen to me

The controversy stemmed from debates over a $2 million allocation for multi-ethnic grants to community-based organizations. During discussions on the 2025-2026 financial year budget, opposition MP Premila Kumar questioned the distribution and use of these funds. According to the Speaker, Minister Singh failed to provide a direct answer, instead referencing the previous government's actions and responding in a "very loud and aggressive tone" when prompted.

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Singh’s use of expressions including you listen to me and listen, ‘yar’, particularly when delivered in what he considered a patronising and condescending manner, amounted to unparliamentary language.

While Singh initially apologized after the Speaker's intervention, a second heated exchange occurred later with opposition MP Alvick Maharaj. Maharaj sought clarification on the same budget allocation and raised a separate issue concerning a crematorium upgrade. The Speaker recounted that Singh responded with what he described as a "diatribe about different religions and religious practices," accusing Maharaj of causing religious division.

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Singh accused Maharaj of causing religious division in the country, while arguing that his ministry was working to promote social cohesion.

Maharaj reacted strongly to the accusation, leading to a point of order. Speaker Jitoko determined that Singh's use of phrases like "you listen to me" and "listen, ‘yar’," delivered in a "patronizing and condescending manner," constituted unparliamentary language under Standing Order 75. Consequently, Singh was ordered to withdraw from Parliament for up to 90 minutes. Maharaj was also found guilty of disorderly conduct for his shouting response and was directed to submit a letter of apology to the Speaker.

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Maharaj then exploded, shouting in objection to the accusation.