Cemetery full beyond capacity
Sadly, with immense regret, I repeat Enamanu Cemetery is full and bursting at its seams. I tried for six long years with the two governments and the mataqali Vunabaka of Nawaka to assist me through the office of the district officer Nadi, TLTB Namaka, Ministry of Lands office Lautoka, Nadi Town Council etc, without success. It seems no one in authority is paying any heed. My paper trail right up to a secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister exists. The people of Nadi are suffering in silence with almost nowhere today to bury their dead.
No one in authority cares. One sitting deputy prime minister has a file hand-delivered by me personally, almost two years ago. Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder. I am frustrated beyond all reasonable words and bottled-up personal frustration and anger. RONNIE CHANG Martintar, Nadi
Mana magic
If there is an unsung hero, a warrior that goes down, rises and keeps performing, showing great humbleness at the end, it has to be Sevuloni Mocenacagi. He captained the Fiji 7s team for the very first time at Singapore 7s 2025, gets yellow carded but returns to lead the team to victory. Mocenacagi has many bad memories including missing out on the Olympics but he never lost hope, kept coming back to play 7s for Fiji. His quiet nature and humbleness off the field befits a hero. He is never in the limelight, always behind the scenes. During the presentation after the final, he chose to remain at the back, keeping silent. Joka dina Mocenacagi and the boys. Filipe Sauturaga, that emotional scene set the stage and Vuiviwa Naduvalu made a key difference with his speed and sidesteps.
SHALWYN PRASAD Nabua, Suva
Lautoka market
I am writing to thank Geoffrey Chand who expressed dismay at the condition of the Lautoka City Municipal Market. Indeed, it is most disgusting to see market places from where we buy our food stuff kept so dirty and unattractive. Mr Chand has rightly pointed out the extent of neglect of facilities in the cities and towns around Fiji under the current administration. Being a resident of Nadi, I invite Mr Chand to visit Nadi market and the greater Nadi to know he is not alone. I have labelled Nadi as the dirtiest town in Fiji at various forums, including one where the Minister for Local Government and Urban Development was present. There is no visible change in the past six months. It feels like we’re barking at a wall — blind and deaf to everything we say. SUNIL KUMAR Nadi
Party name
I know that the name FijiFirst party (FFP) has been formally de-registered and I also know that a new proposed party named Fijians First Party is coming in as a substitute. May I share a few very troubling and stigmatic points here:
- If this is the same party that had tortured, paralysed and enslaved the whole Fijian citizens for the past 16 years before they were routed out in 2022, they should never be given back a near name such as “Fijians” because firstly, that name is directly intertwined with the whole indigenous Fijian community (iTaukei), the very community they had intentionally destroyed, its base foundation with its cultural and traditional coexistence.
- Since they never allowed the name Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL), the late Laisenia Qarase-led party, solely because of its native name, which had to be changed to Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA); these former dictatorial government people must be given back a dose of their own medicine by not being permitted a near name like “Fijians”.
- They must never also be allowed to reuse the Fiji government shield emblem that was used as the official symbol of the de-registered party name; because that is government property and must never be permitted to be used by any political party.
- Now, if this new proposed party is allowed to use that same government shield emblem, then to me the old dictatorial party is not at all “de-registered” and their architects would be laughing at all of us, just like our attempts now to undo their 2013 Constitution.
I beg the authorities to cancel that proposed new party name since psychologically it is very much manipulative “age piche” and “liu muri” since in reality their hidden aspiration had been and still is “Fijians Last”. MELI BOGILEKA Natabua, Lautoka
University saga
It has now become inexcusable that the situation at the University of the South Pacific (USP) remains unresolved to this day, threatening the outcome of high-level students at USP. Here is where I say that education becomes a threat to itself and where a school dropout who is successfully living life is far better off than a PhD or degree holder. Here is where education becomes a shame and an embarrassment and where it lacks to see truth and transparency and instead chooses to partake of the basest of human instincts, where education is supposed to have the effect to elevate the educated! So the question at large that remains is — who is responsible for resolving this issue and see to the accreditation of students who have been unfairly affected? We are into a new year! And students are paying for both their studies and for the lack of good governance at USP and with those in charge of ensuring this does not happen. Which educated person or committee or organisation or department of government is going to resolve this ridiculous saga! NOLEEN BILLINGS Savusavu
Electoral review
Mr Fatiaki, in my opinion, generally dissected both the former and current electoral models and defined their bases. Even considering provisions from the 1997 Constitution for it encouraged familiarity between the electorates and the representatives. Is that not democratically ideal? Previously, all were operating hand-in-hand, in my view, until the FFP “bulldozed” the current one, into where it is now. And it came into being only, after the 2013 Constitution’s enactment to law. If the electoral review has to be by the “will” of the Fiji people, so is the 2013 Constitution. Where do we start? SAMU SILATOLU Nakasi, Nausori
Girmit Day
Ravneel Sharma is spot on in pointing out that to mark Girmit Day “with fanfare and festivities is to risk diminishing the struggles and sacrifices” of the Girmitiya (FT 7/4). It has been turned into a bread and circus thing by the political elite in today’s Fiji. That’s not honouring the Girmitiyas with the dignity they deserve. It’s a disgrace. RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Cheapest electricity
The EFL board should use the FSC steam generators to produce the cheapest electricity. It can be done but why they don’t want to do it is the question. To do this the FSC has to install a bagasse drier and a standby steam generator (boiler). SUKHA SINGH Labasa
Acts of desecration
For 1000 years, Hindus survived brutal invasions and later British propaganda and conversions. If anyone thinks that committing acts of desecration or sacrilege will make us roll over, you haven’t read history. RAKESH CHAND SHARMA Nadi
Jumping the gun
Isn’t the chair of the review committee jumping the gun by giving a running commentary on what he thinks is wrong with the current electoral laws and who is responsible for it. He may be a former chief justice but he lacks common sense that he should remain independent and conduct the review in an unbiased manner. He has shot himself in the foot by his daily diatribes reported in the daily newspapers. I believe he is not suitable for the position and must recuse himself from his appointment for openly displaying his prejudice. AJAI KUMAR Nadi
Hospital charges
Tukai Lagonilakeba writes a very interesting letter in The Fiji Times asking PSH Hospitals to provide free X-rays, CT scans, blood tests and even life-saving complex surgeries apart from charging the $7.50 GP consultation fees to patients and making comparisons of the free service offered by Aspen Lautoka and Aspen Ba hospitals. I wish to make a few points to clear his doubts. PSH Hospitals has gone one step further and are now conducting free GP consultations for senior citizens above the age of 65 years as part of their corporate social responsibility. Furthermore, the hospital is in the final stages of getting approval for the registration of PSH Foundation which will assist needy patients with free services including open-heart surgeries and other complex procedures. All these updates have been highlighted in The Fiji Times recently and I have been closely following them. As for the Aspen part that Mr Lagonilakeba has highlighted, let me remind him that nothing comes for free in this world. Someone pays for it! In Aspen’s case it is the taxpayers of Fiji who are contributing to the $12million funding per month the hospital is getting from the Fiji Government to keep the two hospitals running. Vinaka. SALMAN ALI Votualevu, Nadi
EFTPOS services
It has been over 60 years for the bank from India to be operating in Fiji yet it has not been able to facilitate its loyal business customers with EFTPOS machine services of their own. Their bank cards can be used in any other bank’s machine but what about other bank’s card. We are losing customers, who opt for card payments as rightly so, it’s safer to go cashless where possible. Our numerous emails regarding EFTPOS machines to this bank have not had any reply or even a courtesy acknowledgement. Other banks are readily providing EFTPOS machines but a business account has to be maintained with them first. Hope this bank can introduce this machine soon for us small businesses who find it hard to operate accounts with multiple banks. JOYTI LAL Makoi, Nasinu
Time to raise our standards
Over the weekend, I attended a thrilling Drua game at the HFC Bank Stadium. While the atmosphere and support for our team were commendable, I couldn’t ignore a glaring issue that left a sour taste — the shocking state of the men’s washroom facilities. All the locks on the toilet doors were broken. There was no soap dispenser, no hand dryer, and not even paper towels available. In a time where hygiene is not just important but essential, how is this being overlooked? Is the Fiji Sports Council lacking the funds to maintain basic standards? Or is this simply a case of poor management and oversight? Either way, it’s unacceptable. We are hosting Super Rugby games that attract overseas visitors, and we’re also pushing to bring the sevens series tournament to Fiji. But how can we expect to be taken seriously on the international stage when we can’t meet the most basic facility standards? Someone is clearly asleep at the wheel. It’s time to wake up and take action — before we embarrass ourselves any further. RAHUL KRISHNA Auckland, NZ
