Strong finish!
The historic first Women in Media (WiM) conference ended on a high note at the Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH) in Suva. A strong call was made for regional collaboration, inclusive partnerships, and sustainable funding support for women-led media initiatives. It was pleasing to note the power-packed panellists from femLINK Pacific, Balance of Power, the Fiji Disability Forum and The Asia Foundation which highlighted the importance of inclusive storytelling and grassroots advocacy. Female journalists are making a mark in the media industry. They are into sports, opinion pieces and on the field looking for news and taking pictures. Without their creativity and innovation, the media industry will suffer. I’m not undermining my male counterparts but simply stressing the important roles female journalists play. I plead with the Online Safety Commission to ensure female journalists are protected from online bullying. The perpetrators must be taken to task. To the media organisations, thank you for allowing the female journalists to attend the historic conference, one that has set the platform for a bigger and better conference the following year. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Road drainage system
Improper waste disposal and littering have triggered blocked drainage systems (FT 17/6/25). This practice has been a norm for quite a while and I agree with the FRA findings. Where trash bins and the likes are not made available, certain people took the wrong options, whenever they saw fit. However, I believe that the FRA has to be responsible for a “consistent” maintenance program, that practically addresses the issue. It is easier to build, but almost impossible to maintain. Furthermore, this is also an environmental abuse aspect and the responsible ministry is a partaker. The subject clearly highlights the lack of environmental care that Fiji has come to, in my opinion. Such waste disposal practice really needs immediate attention, for effective road drainage is essential for preventing pavement damage, erosion and flooding. Samu Silatolu Nakasi
What kind of partner?
The recent visit to our shores by the Australian PM as reported by the media (FT 14/06) might be seen in some quarters as successful personal diplomacy by Hon. Anthony Albanese. Fiji’s PM was in Nadi to meet him and there was a ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour for the Australian PM. PM Albanese reiterated his country’s commitments to Fiji and the Pacific, and is quoted as saying: “Prime Minister Rabuka and I discussed the significant impact of climate change internationally and particularly in the Pacific region, and Australia’s important COP31 bid in partnership with the Pacific” (FT 14/06, pg 4). I wish to draw readers attention to the Pacific Elders Voice (PEV) strongly worded statement regarding the Australian government’s very recent decision to approve the continuation of the Woodside Northwest Shelf Extension gas project until 2070. As noted by analysts’ emissions from Woodside’s Burrup Hub expansion would be greater than the combined emissions from all of Australia’s coal power stations each year. This decision to significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions has come a few weeks ahead of the UNFCCC decision regarding the Australian proposal to host COP 31 jointly with Pacific Forum member states. I believe the Australian government has a rather contradictory and hypocritical stance regarding the existential threat posed by climate change to Pacific states, especially Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands. Far from making efforts to keep within the 1.5 C degree limit agreed to in Paris in 2015, it has acted like President Trump’s United States without withdrawing from the Paris Agreement altogether. PEV has stated: “As a member of the Forum, Australia’s actions are in sharp contradiction to its platitudes around caring for the Pacific ‘family.’ The Woodside project is a demonstration of Australia’s glaring disconnect between rhetoric and action……and that Australia is not being a trustworthy Forum partner in tackling the Pacific’s number one security threat – climate change and sea level rise.…. the efforts by Australia in securing the support of Pacific Island Countries to cohost UNFCCC COP31 seriously compromises the security of our Pacific communities and grossly undermines the spirit of partnership and trust in our Pacific family. …PEV believes the COP is a forum to discuss solutions to combat climate change and assess the progress of commitments made, and encourages the international communities to do the right thing. Our hosting should be consistent with our desires and commitments to move forward not slide back.” Professor Vijay Naidu Suva
Red zone
When and where does an area be regarded as a red zone in regards to criminal activity? There’s no safe place nowadays and police should send out warnings so that each and everyone should take responsibility of themselves and their families. What we have witnessed nowadays is that when police concentrate on a specific area, criminals operate from the green zone or other areas. So the big question is, do we still have green zones nowadays? Or is it all amber? Pita Soroaqali Rakiraki
Confused Fijian
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa writing on “Fiji and the 2013 Constitution” (FT26/5) that all Fiji born citizens called Fijians should be maintained. This clarifies that we all are Fijians. We always hear the inspiring message echoed by an old Indo-Fijian lady: “I am Phijian”. Fiji is for Fijians as God blessed us all. Onward march together. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Cultural act
I always wondered why during presentation and receiving of a whale’s tooth (tabua) in a ceremony, one had to kiss it. My point is what is the significance and purpose behind this act? I saw the second receiver do this act in a ceremony but the other day I saw a first receiver do it before the second receiver followed suit. Which one is correct and what is the purpose behind this act? Really confused! Pita Soroaqali Rakiraki
Stop departure
If senior officials are implicated in a conflict of interest and the Government is withholding the COI report, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) should issue a departure prohibition order immediately. Jaheed Buksh Korolevu, Sigatoka
COI report
The radio interview which Commissioner Justice Ashton-Lewis participated in has drawn many comments which attempt to condemn the credibility of the whole inquiry process. My question is would the CoI report be more credible if the interview had not happened? My understanding is that the process of court prosecution would still need to be fulfilled if the recommendations were to be actioned. So why the commotion? Just asking. EMOSI BALEI Suva
Drug sellers
The drug sellers in aluminium foil are boldly coming up to people who go to buy bread early in the morning at a popular bread shop near the famous old corner shop. Without any fear I was asked yesterday morning, at 5am, if I was interested in buying some, showing me the contents inside the aluminium foil and the clear white plastic. The Lautoka Police Station is about 50 metres away but these drug pushers are not afraid. Narayan Reddy Lautoka
Be wary
We are informed by The Fiji Times that former FICAC commissioner Barbara Malimali has broken her silence to warn us “The fish that is Fiji is rotting” (FT 19/6). But who is responsible for this? It surely has not resulted from outsiders “calling the shots on how we govern”, is it? I believe the intelligent Fijian public have a good grasp on how we have got our beloved country in the mess it is in currently. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Public release
Some figures from the Kai-Bai period are urging for the release of the COI report. Would they care to share if such a report was possible during the Kai-Bai period? Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Geopolitics and patrols
Geopolitics and diplomacy
The world is cruising through some very hard times. It is tottering on the verge of a nuclear war. The situation clearly seems to have gone out of control. The Ukraine and Russian war has lingered on for over three years and President Donald Trump’s assertion that he would stop the war on the first day in office! Has it happened? Certainly not. It has fallen flat on its face. Clear failure of diplomacy Israel attacked Iran some five days ago. It unleashed a barrage of ballistic missiles against Iran causing immense damage to its nuclear infrastructure, oil installations, gas installations and military installations. Twenty top Iranian military leaders have been eliminated. Tehran, the capital of Iran is under severe attack. Iran has retaliated against Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel. There is no sign of slowing down as the USA has threatened Iran by taking its aircraft carriers closer to Israel. Russia, China, North Korea and Pakistan have thrown their weight with Iran. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, visited Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus and spoke to the Indian community there. He also visited the Green Line separating North and South Cyprus. In 1974 Turkey annexed Northern Cyprus and continues to do so. In the south is Greek Cyprus. Thus this visit makes a big diplomatic statement. The G7 Summit is being held in Alberta, Canada. Prime Minister Modi has been invited to attend this summit as well. He has struck a good rapport with the new Canadian Prime Minister and struck some deals. However, US President Donald Trump left the summit suddenly to attend some other business. Modi also spoke to the Indian community in Canada. This was a super hit meeting. The mere thought of such a tumultuous world sends shivers down our spine. Astrological predictions are that Iran will become the centre of World War III (Nuclear war)! Not a pretty picture at all. Let us all pray for world peace. Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
Police patrols
Children doing drugs at Robinson Rd, a group of four men assaulting another man in the middle of a street in central Suva, students involved in brawls at the main Suva bus-stand, complaints of anti-social behaviour by drunks, druggies in residential areas, aggravated home robberies, public bus-stops and signposts being vandalised etc. Each time something of this nature occurs, the police top brass famous line is “beef up patrols during weekends, specifically targeting those loitering and drinking in public”. Why only on weekends, these incidents can occur at any time on any given day of the week! In the area I live there are multiple known hot-spots, glue sniffers and drunks roaming about the streets shouting out swear words, brawling especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings. This is known to the police but there are never any foot patrols in the said area. Do we ever see these supposed beefed up patrols? Actually wait, yes, I did. Six, six police officers all standing in a row like nincompoops dilly-dallying outside the entrance to MacDonald’s last week in broad daylight. Way to go! Foot patrols are the very basic of effective policing. It’s time to walk the talk. Be proactive and not reactive for the safety and security of law-abiding people. Sanya Catherine Gain Lami
