MSG baton passed to Fiji!
History repeats itself. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who was PM of Fiji in 1997, played an instrumental role in bringing Fiji into the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) in 1997. In 2025 as the PM, he accepted the role of chairmanship from the outgoing chairman, Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat. This means that Fiji has taken over the chairmanship of the MSG as hosts to the 23 Leaders’ Summit at the historic Great Council of Chiefs complex at Draiba in Suva. The greatness and humility of Mr Napat was revealed when he called the handover not merely a handover of a title but a reaffirmation of the solemn duty to the people, the culture, and the future. PM Rabuka described the handing over as an honour and privilege. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Ambulance on the highway
I always pull over to allow ambulances to overtake or pass me without restriction. All too often, however, I see ambulances with their lights flashing, indicating a degree of urgency, stuck in traffic that fails to pull over and allow the ambulance through. If traffic is not obliged to pull over, maybe the law should be changed to compel drivers to do so. I believe if drivers won’t afford ambulances and their patients voluntary consideration of those in a medical crisis, perhaps the law must do the job? What is law for private hospital ambulance here? NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
Our failing sugar industry
When an institution fails to deliver its primary output for years someone or some people must be held accountable. Just sweet talk does not suffice. Our FSC has been in the doldrums for years and its leaders have been defending the situation with much pride and fashion to date backed by some legislators. I believe it is time that some leaders are shown the door for good and new reliable and active personalities are brought in. It is time now that every institution is led by people with the relevant competencies required. Our forefathers had brought so much passion for our sugar industry but instead of four mills we have only three which would soon be reduced further if not taken care of now. All our FSC leaders must face the full force of the accountability process and sent on leave and even home. Can we have better people leading our sugar industry for which I am sure we have plenty qualified ones. But for goodness’ sake, the current ones must go please. They are incapable of handling the situation at hand. The same applies to other institutions as well which may include major departments and organisations as well. Dhirendra Prasad Lautoka
Keeping it simple!
Thank you honourable PM for giving the directive “Just fix e-Ticketing”. I really can’t understand why we have to get all fancy and modernise things when it’s working well and everyone is well versed with the previous operations. Not everyone is computer literate, not everyone has a fancy phone. If you want to modernise things remember always who will it affect and if they are ready for the change. I would like the honourable PM to follow through with bringing in another player into the market to ensure that people have choices and that the current player is challenged to offer the service quality required. Tai Smith Nasinu Secondary School Rd, Kinoya, Nasinu
PM and DPM
Reading about the security breach at the PM’s residence, I thought that the PM would interview and find out or help the young man for such desperate law breaking action. Learning that the young man ended up in court, kind of gave me the impression that the same attitude will be seen in this Friday’s announcement of the National Budget by the DPM and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad. Please, on behalf of the struggling Fijian population living under the poverty line, we all pray that God will bestow upon our DPM the heart of human kindness and wisdom, so that this year’s National Budget can be positively uplifting for all struggling Fijians. The media is full of reports on struggling families living in poverty and crying out that the cost of living is too high, that even the minimum wage of $5 an hour does not help. We all pray for taxes and the cost of living to be reduced and I believe that if struggling Fijians feel that our National Budget has lightened their burdens, this Coalition Government will be re-elected in the 2026 General Election. Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa Tacirua
Sale of glue
While it’s the mindset that needs a major change in many things and situations, I welcome the suggestion of the chief executive of the Consumer Council of Fiji on restrictions of the sale of glue to licensed retailers only, a ban on minors, with strict age verification and sale control, also regulating the distribution of needles through prescriptions. We have reached the stage where awareness and advice do not seem to work. Same in schools where by the only tactic used is calling for drug awareness, yet in a few days the same situation prevails. Very sad indeed. I request our government leaders to please consider these suggestions which will do a lot of good to many people and our nation. We have to take some strict measures to help combat this rot which is damaging for our younger ones. While on that, I believe this council came up with concerns on e-Ticketing changes and frustrations of the public. What are we waiting for? Kirti Patel Mohan Singh Pl, Lautoka
Loss to FSC
According to FSC chairman Nitya Reddy under the previous board, FSC disposed of nine properties for $250million during 2019/2020, whereas they were actually worth $258million (FT 24/6). If his assertion is correct, then isn’t that tantamount to a case of abuse of office for causing a loss to FSC. If that is so then shouldn’t the previous board be held liable? By the way, what is happening to other cases involving huge losses to FSC which the minister and chairman have been highlighting in the media. SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
National budget
The national budget is to be delivered within the next 24 hours, and the nation anticipates improvements in the well-being of society. Jaheed Buksh Korolevu, Sigatoka
Super Friday
The timing of the SUV can only mean one thing. We are in a strong financial position and ready for an excellent budget. June is the only month this year which has a Black Friday but this Friday is going to be a super one. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
War expenses
What if all the funds expended on the manufacture of weapons and arms in the world were re-directed to making the world a better place to live in? Reminds me of John Lennon’s song titled Imagine. “Nothing to kill or die for… Imagine all the people livin’ life in peace”. Wonderful world, beautiful people! Just saying. Emosi Balei Suva
Saliva testing
Has it been legalised or was there any amendments done to the LTA Act to accommodate this machine to be used on motorists? I believe that any apparatus that has to be used by LTA or police for that matter has to be within the perimeter of legal authority. No more, no less! Pita Soroaqali Rakiraki
Right time
The time is always right to do what is right – Martin Luther King Jr (FT 25/6). For PM Rabuka, we are “Not there yet”. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
SUV and spending
Presidential SUV
Does the Chief Justice really need a luxury SUV to get around? My answer is a resounding “No!”. What he needs in fact is a safe, functional vehicle, not a status symbol with leather seats and a government-paid fuel bill. In a poverty stricken and coup riddled country where thousands of famished Fijians can’t even afford bus fares, the idea that a public servant must ride around in a luxury SUV is not just absurd, it’s outright offensive. And why are we playing dress-up as a rich, developed nation that can comfortably afford such extravagances? Just like the Mariana Trench, Fiji is deep in economic shambles and drowning in a sea of debt. Hospitals are crumbling, schools are underfunded, the drug pandemic is soaring, wages are stagnant and ordinary families are barely scraping by. Yet here we are, blowing taxpayer dollars on fancy vehicles for officials who seem more concerned with prestige than public service. Fiji doesn’t need more tinted windows and leather seats in government convoys. It needs honesty, humility, and leadership that reflects the actual state of the nation. Again, we are not a wealthy country as more than 75 per cent of the indigenous population continue to dwell in wretched poverty. Go figure. Until our leaders start living in the same reality as the rest of us, don’t expect the situation to improve in our “narco” island nation. Nishant Singh Lautoka
Narube’s views!
Savenaca Narube, the former Governor of Reserve Bank of Fiji and the leader of the Fiji Unity party has been branded as the pontificating king. He has been constantly harping on transparency, accountability, good governance, decisive action on the cost of living etc. At every turn Mr Narube does not fail to attack the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad. Some of his repetitive comments are becoming ludicrous. He seems to harbour some deep dislike for the Prime Minister and his government. Well, it is his fundamental right to speak out on issues such as the sky-rocketing cost of living affecting ordinary Fijians. He asserts that ordinary Fijians are at a breaking point because of the poor fiscal choices made by the government. This is far from the truth. For a small economy like ours, burdened by the debt of the previous regime, has made things difficult for the Coalition Government. At least he acknowledges that the price fluctuations are governed by global issues beyond our control. He concedes that the conflict in the Middle East has increased the price of petroleum which has a flow on effect on the consumer items
His attack on health and education spending is grossly unfair. The Government in the last two budgets (he calls it timid) has done so much to ameliorate the conditions of our sick people and school children. He claims that the Government is indulging in giveaways to soften the effect of high cost of living. Well, it is the responsibility of the government to do so. Mr Narube’s suggestion to cut back on the number of ministries and extravagant spending is well justified. He gets full credit for this observation. Further, he has suggested that he wants real reforms and no political gimmicks. However, he makes no real suggestions for real reforms. His call to boost agricultural production, call for national economic reset is perhaps too late. Mr Narube also moans about the poor performance of the sugar industry but makes no alternative suggestions. In my view, the Sugar Minister, Charan Jeath Singh has done much to uplift the sugar industry. However, there are international issues beyond his control. I have full confidence in Professor Biman C. Prasad to deliver a very balanced budget on Friday, June 27, 2025. Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
