Weed tops drug-related cases!
Speaking during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT), Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu revealed that Fiji recorded more than 2400 drug-related cases in just 12 months, with the majority involving marijuana and several Fijians using methamphetamine. The nation must note that from May 2024 to May 2025, out of the 2446 illicit drug cases reported to police, 2,098 involved marijuana, 343 methamphetamine, and five cocaine. During the same period 50 juveniles below the age of 18 were involved, and three of these juveniles were found with methamphetamine. The rise in drug cases is worrying and the police force needs to strategise and partner with the community to address the problem on our plates. The drugs industry is a lucrative industry. It is shining because of its ability to generate quick cash, but if the penalties are hard, then people would be deterred from buying and selling drugs. Controlling drug abuse is beyond the control of the police force. Greater policies and actions are needed. As I conclude, I salute the Commissioner of Police, Rusiate Tudravu, for his powerful address to his senior staff. I understood his frustrations amidst the rising pressure on Fiji’s police force to perform! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Australian tour
PM SLR, has led a high delegation team of senior Cabinet ministers and military leaders to Australia “as part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening the renewed and elevated Vuvale Partnership between Fiji and Australia”. (FT 02/07) Whilst in the “Land Down Under”, they will “undertake high-level engagements and will focus on enhancing border and ports capabilities, deepening security cooperation and reinforcing regional solidarity to support a safe resilient Blue Pacific”. Since the previous FFP Government’s reign and since the current 3-legged stool government rose to power approximately three years ago, every second day in various media forums, we get to hear and read about “Vuvale this and Vuvale that” but in reality, Fiji citizens need to fork out hundreds of dollars and fill out ‘dozens’ of forms, to apply for a Visitors Visa, to visit Australia. What type of a “Vuvale” is that, huh? Subsequently, aren’t they bored of talking about border and ports capabilities, security cooperation and reinforcing regional solidarity almost on a daily/weekly basis? Sounds like a broken record. Monotonously annoying and tedious indeed. Cut-out all the b#ll$h*t and just get to the point that we’re in Australia to watch the Fiji-Wallabies rugby test match and will submit our allowance claims upon our return, if it wasn’t pre-paid prior to the ‘tour’. Keda sa kida. Anthony Sahai Levuka, Ovalau
COI farce
Due to greed, some people being over smart and aggrieved over minor issues, the Fiji Government has just completed a very expensive exercise to the detriment of its citizens and the loss of taxpayers’ monies for 600 plus pages of hearsay which reeks of colonialism. You have the two main characters being foreigners, supported by a team of locals, all legally astute, yet lacking the basic understanding of the laws they espouse, to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that their findings were actually true. Fiji has had great intelligent men and women. And one of its most learned ones, Graham Leung, who had the legal expertise and qualifications which 99 per cent of our lawyers have never achieved, is one of Fiji’s greatest losses due to this inquiry. If the Fiji Government had spent money on a Commission of Inquiry on the 14 years of corruption by the Fiji First government, we the people would gladly accept the expenses incurred. And yet, Fiji never seems to learn but continues to reference weapons in the sense that we have again shot ourselves in the foot in this instance. All for a small, smart and aggrieved person, a multitude of intelligent, hardworking and patriotic people will suffer innuendos for the next year or so. But then again, this can only happen in Fiji. EPELI RABUA Suva
Health plan
Government’s future health plan costing billions of dollars is presently just that, a plan. My concern is not the plan but how fast our leading mainstream media fall victim to such propaganda especially coming from politicians whose term in Parliament is near expiry and may not be renewed. Any plan announced stretching beyond their Parliament term is just a whiff of air as it’s the people, the voters who will end up high and dry if there is change in government and the proposed infrastructure does not materialize. So my suggestion is that the media should dig deeper into the budget proposals and tell the people what concrete plans they could verify, if there is cash flow, how will it affect other sectors of the economy and so on. Just printing what they pick up from the Ministers speech and putting them as headlines is not responsible reporting. Ministers must be quizzed beyond what they say. Many readers would have noticed that the BBC has a Verify channel so if Israel says that they dropped a bomb on Iran, BBC uses their own methods to verify and report what they independently find. Not only that, when people want to enter Parliament and become Ministers, they must prepare and qualify themselves for the roles they aspire for and hit the rubber running when opportunity presents. Halfway into the tenureship and announcing plans beyond their terms is rubbish. Ajai Kumar Nadi
Relief from VAT
Thank you DPM and Minister of Finance for the removal of VAT on personal imports valued up to $500. The exemption is a big relief to the poor and marginalised members of our community. It will surely bring smiles on their faces. SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
My response
Yeah! I agree with Avenai Serutabua, provided this budget reduces the 75 per cent of iTaukei people living below poverty line to 30 per cent and the 2026 budget further reducing it to 10 per cent by November/December elections. The same for the Fijians of Indian descent (whatever poverty rate) who are living below the poverty line. Please note, the speed by which the road markings are fading away on Fiji’s roads, I believe, so is the popularity of this Coalition Government with all the socio-economic problems facing Fiji as reflected daily in The Fiji Times. Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Heart of character
If integrity is the heart of character, I wonder why some influential people are disputing the COI report and are strongly defending themselves and their associates named in the report? AREKI DAWAI Suva
Light on FRA
Geoffrey Chand’s LTE (FT 3/07) on the lack of working streetlights in Lautoka highlights a long standing issue for residents. LCC and the FRA both cop a wack from Geoffrey but the companies doing the maintenance work never seem to get a mention. FRA tenders out the work, four local companies got the jobs last time the FRA told us, back in 2017! Power Electrics, Pacific Electrics, Engineer Procure Construct and Tanoa Electric Works. FRA reckon they have a direct light report phone number, Ph 5720. It would be interesting to see if anyone has been successful with that. Terry Hulme
Eastwood, NSW, Australia
EFL tariff
EFL is seeking an increase in tariff with the EFL board chair professing the rise in cost of living and comparing it to other nations, claiming we are one of the cheapest. That still does not justify the huge profit announced by EFL on a yearly basis and bonuses for employees. I think EFL is doing well, regardless. Now that solar energy projects are underway, the cost of operation will surely decrease. It is ironic that EFL is claiming for an increase but denying IPPs any increase in tariffs over the past years. Edward Kumar Lautoka
Respect and boxing
Restore respect!
I write this open letter to all parents, all school committees, all religious and NGO organisations, the Ministry of Education and the community at large. The situation in our classrooms have deteriorated to an extent that the teachers have become a frightened lot. This is simply the absorption of western liberal ideas based on wokeism culture through the movies and other communication platforms. The situation is getting from bad to worse and we have to swing into action poste haste. Parents have to start teaching traditional ideas of respect in the family, respect for elders, respect for the family priest and respect for teachers. The western liberal concept promotes the idea that teachers have to earn their respect and it is not given. This attitude has led to the chaos that we see in our classrooms today. In Hindu families, children used to be taught respect for teachers through guru mantra: “Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru devo Maheshwara, Guru sakashat Param Brahma, tasmai Shri Guruwe Namaha”. In the above mantra, the yogi appeals to the Hindu Trinity- (Brahma, force of creation), Vishnu (force of preservation) and devo Maheshwara (force of transformation). It acknowledges the lessons learned through life experience and honours both human guru and spiritual guru, including the guru within. The idea is to concentrate attention on one thought and still the mind in meditation. The collapse of the traditional family structure has led to the deterioration of the cultural values system. Morality has been thrown out of the window. Pre-marital sex, multiple sex partners committing adultery and promiscuity in general is responsible for the situation we are in today. The society is destroyed and decay is obvious: drugs, prostitution, teenage pregnancies, HIV Aids, mental problems, high divorce rates etc., to name just a few! I earnestly appeal to all organisations to bring back sanity through respect for traditional value systems by making God the central focus of our lives! Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
Amateur boxing
It was my first time at an event but the tri-nation amateur boxing organised at the national gymnasium was a spectacle. Watching our youths, both males and females, compete against Samoa and Australia, some with a lot of techniques while others with power and speed, going toe to toe showcasing the local talents. The crowd behind us let them know who they were supporting. The entertainment during the break was well organised and the Samoans joined in freely with the typical Polynesian dance moves. I enjoyed my weekend. This was way better than spending my money at the showcase on the opposite side of the road (Vodafone Arena). One thing caught my eye though, was the lack of sponsors. Some of these youths come from humble backgrounds and would surely need a sponsor or two. The sharing of the gloves and headgear was unhygienic. With sponsors, I guess this could improve. I call upon the business community to support our local youths and advertise for the future of the sport. Who knows; some of these young boys and girls would represent Fiji at the Olympics and imagine the local businesses being advertised as their sponsors. Thank you Fiji Amateur Boxing and the local gyms for involving these youths and keeping some of them off the streets. Thank you Jonathan (my son) for shouting. Looking forward to seeing you in the ring. Edward Kumar Lautoka
