School sports
Sports play an important role in building the character, behaviour and personality of students. Sports lay the pathway for students. Rugby is the most popular sport in most schools, but we cannot hide the fact that students participate in basketball, swimming, cricket, table tennis, lawn tennis, volleyball, football and netball. This week we are having the netball competition in Suva and the football competition in Ba. The Vodafone Deans finals will be played in Suva on Saturday. I salute the teachers and students for ensuring participation in these sporting events. Imagine the pressure they go through- sports and then the school curriculum. There is so much on the plate of these students and teachers. I am adamant that our teachers will help the Year 12 and 13 students in term three when they prepare to sit for the external exams. I thank our media stations for promoting these sporting personalities via their platforms. Year in year out, a host of names make media headlines and then travel overseas to play their trade. I plead with the sports teams to be fair with their coverage. I know we have a lot of rugby lovers, but we cannot deviate from the fact that minor sports like netball and football help mould students. Hence, there must be fair coverage from the Netball Centre and from Ba. To the parents, continue to support your children. Winning and losing should be the last thing on one’s mind. Participation is the key. Wishing students all the best! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Police action
Why is it, that when an illegal issue or a matter of a criminal nature is posted/highlighted on social media, the relevant authorities immediately crank into gear? (Ref: Kenyan’s vid clip) Then one or two weeks later, unfortunately, it’s all back to square one again. Aren’t they trained to be observant of such ‘happenings’ or do they need to be informed of such every time? I simply fail to understand. Subsequently, loitering is an ‘infectious virus’ nation-wide and requires to be urgently ‘vaccinated’. Sivia tiko na moce boko. Anthony Sahai Levuka, Ovalau
Report sparks alarm
With reference to the comments by Fiji Public Service Association on their deep concern over the findings in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report on the Ministry of Health’s failure to utilise over $12million for capital works in 2024, it is an extremely serious matter. We’ve witnessed time and again how investments in commercial projects can take shape immediately after funding is approved and here we are with the nation’s most critical infrastructure sitting on $12million in capital funding. It’s disappointing to note that the solution to the problems with our Health infrastructure is within reach but yet so far away in terms of practical implementation. It’s not a problem of scarcity of funding but the abundance of it and knowing what to do with it. The Minister of Health has mentioned strategies in place to ensure repairs are facilitated at a faster pace and we can only hope that implementations take shape immediately. Sailosi Naewe Dilkusha Rd, Nausori
Abandoned
Isa, it is indeed sad to witness the current predicament of our former prime minister and once-formidable military strongman, Voreqe Bainimarama. At his dwindling age, frequenting courtrooms to answer legal challenges must be both mentally and physically daunting. What is even more disheartening, is the conspicuous absence of those who once stood firmly by his side, his own Fiji First comrades who were once eager to show their public support during his earlier court appearances. Today, that loyalty seems to have evaporated. The public display has vanished, and so have the very people who once hailed him as their political messiah. It’s akin to rats abandoning a sinking ship! The fall from grace of a once-dominant leader like Voreqe Bainimarama is indeed a stark reminder of how temporary power and loyalty can be, particularly in politics. Anyway, I sincerely wish Voreqe the best of health. NISHANT SINGH Lautoka
The reason
Do you think the reason behind Fiji having so many constitutions in its short independent history is self interest. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
How many are there?
There are many hundreds of thousands of people in Fiji who still think that the 2013 Constitution was designed to keep FijiFirst in power into perpetuity. The reality as we all know is that FijiFirst lost the last election under the 2013 Constitution and electoral system. Many such people are in court at the moment arguing their case. So why would people still think that way? Perhaps the simple explanation why people still think that way is that they are all idiots? Jan Nissar Sydney, NSW, Australia
Google algorithm
Again it appears that Google has changed the algorithm for YouTube as it had done during May, 2024 Indian election. Indian channels do not appear frequently, other than USA’s. It is for this reason that like China, India will have its own YouTube like social media. The Modi Government has already developed “COMET” as its search engine. It is a foregone conclusion that RIC (Russia, India and China) will end Western countries dominance over this world. Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Weak leader?
Israeli PM Netanyahu called PM Albanese “a weak politician”. I don’t think he is. He certainly isn’t a political leader with a fascist bent. Home Affairs and Immigration minister Tony Burke couldn’t have been more succinct when he pointed out “Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry (read deliberately starve)”. What PM Albanese did by recognising Palestinian state takes guts. No amount of tantrum from Netanyahu can take that away from the Australian PM. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Investment in Fiji
At the groundbreaking of the Koro Development Project (FT 18/8/25), our PM said it sends a message to the world of Fiji’s readiness in investments, innovation and inclusive prosperity. What a monumental scene. However, in a panorama view, Fiji has always been the leading investment hub in the Pacific, in my opinion. I believe the Fiji Investment’s (FCIL) failure to provide proper “screening” of potential investors, reflects the undermining of iTaukei land and resource owners’ inclusive prosperity. Fiji is a sovereign independent country and whoever proposes to invest in its domain, has to comply accordingly. Samu Silatolu Nakasi
Stereotyping, diaspora
Rugby truth for ‘Mickey’!
I have some news for the self-styled “Mickey Mouse” mouthpiece who seems intent on making a career out of belittling people and sporting codes. His latest rant accusing Fiji rugby of being an apartheid outfit is not only factually wrong, it reeks of ignorance and carries more than a whiff of racism. The truth is simple: Indo-Fijians have played vital roles in our rugby story. My own cousin, Spike Padarath, proudly represented Lomaiviti Rugby Club in Suva competitions. Dr Anand Gopalan, an accomplished player who later became a highly capable referee, is another example. These are not footnotes. They’re living proof that Fiji rugby was once the exclusionary caricature he paints. But not anymore. And let’s not forget history. My late father returned from New Zealand eager to play. But at that time, it was the apartheid-era structure of two rival associations, not rugby itself, that barred him. To twist that painful reality into a slur against Fiji rugby today is dishonest, divisive and an insult to those who’ve lived through it. So before you continue peddling your half-truths and racial stereotyping, you should do what any genuine academic ought to do: research, reflect and respect the facts, “Mickey”! Oh, that’s right, you just enjoy taking the “mickey” out of everything in your glass half empty world. Colin Deoki Australia
Indian diaspora
India has the largest diaspora (35 millions) across the globe. I believe, thanks to the British greed for colonies and territories to the far flung corners of the world. India provided cheap labour for colonial development. Thus, thousands were packed like sardines in sail boats (later steam engine ships) and shipped to Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad, South Africa etc. The journey from Calcutta to colonial destinations was often treacherous, long and many lost their lives on the high seas. Illiterate Indentured labourers had no idea where they were going and signed the “Girmit” (agreement) without understanding it. The five-year contract was stretched to 10 or more years. Some preferred to return home to India but many opted to remain in the colonies to avoid poverty back home. However, they were treated very cruelly by the colonial masters. And the colonies had thriving sugarcane plantations, coconut plantations and cocoa plantations. Infrastructures were developed on Indian labour. Indian educational institutions produce millions of doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and the like who have migrated to the United States of America, Canada, Germany, France, United Kingdom, the Middle East, Russia etc. Some 20 million OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) card holders are found today. The educated and hard working Indians have made these countries prosperous. Some top positions in these countries are being held by people of Indian origins. Silicone Valley of the USA is full of Indian engineers (40 per cent) and this is not a small figure. Top CEO positions in American companies are being held by people of Indian origin: Sundar Pichai of Google, Satya Nadella CEO Microsoft, Shantnu Narayan CEO of ADOBE systems, Ajay Banga, President World Bank etc….the list can go on! However, it is important to note that the benefit from the diaspora flows both ways: their skills help the adopted country to grow and India benefits through massive remittances ($135billion) per annum. This staggering sum is bigger than the GDP of some smaller countries. That is the power of the diaspora. The diaspora acts as a massive soft power for India. Indian films from Bollywood are popular across the world. Indian songs, dances, Indian dressings and cuisine can be found in any part of the world. They are law abiding, progressive and productive people. As a result racial discrimination has taken place in these foreign countries. But the diaspora maintains its connection with the motherland. That is why the Indian festivals are celebrated across the globe The current Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has always endeavoured to meet the diaspora community whenever he travels. Thus Indian values, culture and heritage remain intact. Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva