Fiji Airways flying high
I warmly congratulate Fiji Airways for achieving a historic milestone by winning the APEX World Class Airline for 2026 Award- the most prestigious recognition in global aviation that places the airline among the top 10 airlines in the world. It’s a proud moment for Fijians that Fiji Airways, being the national carrier of Fiji, became the smallest airline by fleet size ever to earn this honour. Furthermore, Fiji Airways was the only airline in Oceania to be recognised. This shows that Fiji Airways has the capacity to compete against the heavyweights and airline giants who have extensive resources and vast fleet sizes. However, the journey has not been easy for Fiji Airways managing director and CEO Andre Viljoen and his team who had to punch far above its weight to compete and grow. Thumbs up to the dedicated and committed team at Fiji Airways. I went over their website and I commend them for the dedication. Indeed, the journey to world class proves that a small airline from a small island nation can soar with the very best. The APEX World Class Award is based on factors such as global passenger feedback, excellence across safety, sustainability, well-being, service, and customer experience, and the national airline’s success is a result and product of a relentless, end-to-end transformation of people, products, and service. I agree with Fiji Airways that this recognition required one of the most extensive transformation efforts in the airline’s history. Job well done, Fiji Airways! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Road safety
It is to be noted that our roads are the veins of our nation and connects people to services and each other. Unfortunately, these roads often become scenes of tragic road crashes which causes death and injury. We cannot afford to normalise road deaths and become numb to the headlines. Commuting safely is the responsibility shared by all stakeholders. Let us be united in our mission to reduce the loss of life and injury on our roads as commuting safety is not an option but a necessity nowadays. Param Singh Navua
Entitled arrogance
The unpaid bill for travel to and from the Promised Land on Fiji Airways by “pilgrims” in October, 2023, I believe, is another example of entitled arrogance. There are many such examples which occur daily in every aspect of life in Fiji. The reality is, entitled arrogance will get those involved exactly nowhere. Jan Nissar Sydney, NSW, Australia
National carrier
As the caring voice for the silent majority, for a better Martintar and Nadi, I have become troubled with the harsh tone of criticisms labelled against our national carrier, airport authorities and some of our political leaders. Such sentiments do not augur well for our peace and stability. Such verbal expressions, in my humble view, need to be toned down, immediately. Like thousands of others, I have also seen and experienced much hardship during Fiji’s man-made political upheavals since 1987. This is so unnecessary. It only serves the self-centred selected few. The majority suffer. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Thanks for the memories!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Tessa Mackenzie’s reminiscences of her early experiences living in Fiji (FT 13/9). My memories of Nausori go back to 1970 and Tessa’s account brought many memories back. I look forward to reading her next installment. Terry Hulme Eastwood, NSW, Australia
Immunity clause
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 elections. Now on to the Fiji supreme law- its Constitution. After gaining independence in 1970 and since its first coup in 1987, Fiji has had four constitutions. Except for the first constitution in 1970, all other constitutions has had compulsory Military Immunity clause, even if the 2013 Constitution is changed or amended, this clause is vehemently supposed to remain by those in power. With all coups carried out by the military of Fiji, this clause is definitely an inviting green light to current and future members of the military force which despite taking part in many peacekeeping missions abroad remains stigmatised by its frequent military coups. It is high time this clause is booted out once and for all so coup perpetrators can be prosecuted and sentenced accordingly. Wouldn’t this be an attribute of true democracy? Vikel V Lal Makoi, Nasinu
University campus, finance
Abandoned and unsafe structure
The failure of the Fiji National University’s (FNU) $30 million Labasa Campus project is more than just an embarrassing blot on the nation’s development record. It is a painful reminder of how poor governance, weak oversight, and lack of accountability can crush the dreams of thousands of young people and rob communities of opportunities that were rightfully theirs. When the project was announced in 2013 under the Government’s “Look North Policy,” it carried the hopes of Vanua Levu. For too long, students in the North have been disadvantaged, forced to either travel to Suva and Lautoka for tertiary education or, worse, give up further study altogether. A proper university campus in Labasa promised to be a turning point, a hub of higher learning, research, and employment that would uplift the region socially and economically. Instead, more than a decade later, the project has collapsed. The half-built structure at Naiyaca was declared structurally unsafe and demolished in 2025 after three engineering reports confirmed serious defects. What remains today is not a campus, but a cautionary tale of waste and mismanagement. The financial losses are staggering. According to FNU’s own disclosures, $7.6 million of taxpayer-funded capital costs has been written off, along with $2.3 million from FNU’s own internal resources. A further $4.3 million of “work-in-progress” remains on the books with no campus to show for it. This means more than $30 million of public investment has been squandered without delivering a single lecture theatre, library, or student service to the people of the North. But the bigger loss is not financial; it is human. Every year since 2013, northern students have missed out on opportunities to pursue tertiary studies close to home. Many have struggled with the financial burden of moving to Suva or Lautoka. Others have simply abandoned higher education because the cost was too high. Behind every wasted dollar is a wasted dream. The 2024 KPMG audit uncovered a catalogue of governance failures: no proper business case, poor documentation, weak oversight, irregularities in tendering, and flawed project management. The project was paused in 2019 with no meaningful progress, yet no lessons were learned. How could a public project of such importance be handled with such negligence? More importantly, why has no one been held accountable? Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro confirmed that a complaint was filed with FICAC in July 2024, but since then the public has heard nothing. Are we to believe that a decade-long, multimillion-dollar failure can simply vanish into silence? If taxpayer money can be wasted at this scale without consequences, what message does that send to the people, and to the young students whose futures have been compromised? FNU now promises a new beginning, with a redesigned campus to open by 2027. While this may sound encouraging, the people of Vanua Levu have every right to be skeptical. What assurance do we have that this new project will not repeat the failures of the past? Will tender processes be open and transparent? Will there be independent monitoring of progress? Will regular updates be provided to the public? These must not be optional — they must be non-negotiable. The collapse of the Naiyaca project should also serve as a wake-up call for how public projects are managed in Fiji. Taxpayer-funded initiatives, particularly in education, must be anchored in transparency, accountability, and proper oversight from day one. The FNU Labasa Campus was not a “natural disaster”, it was a man-made disaster, created by weak systems and poor decision-making. To prevent this from happening again, we need stronger checks and balances in how projects are approved, monitored, and delivered.
The people of the North deserve more than excuses and political promises. They deserve a fully functioning university campus, built to standard, delivered on time, and designed to serve the next generation. They also deserve to see those responsible for the failures face justice. Anything less would be an insult to the sacrifices families have made in pursuit of education. At the heart of this issue is fairness. Why should young people in Suva and Lautoka enjoy access to modern campuses while their peers in Labasa are left behind? Why should taxpayers foot the bill for failure without accountability? And why should the dreams of northern students be treated as expendable?
The FNU Labasa Campus project is not just about bricks and mortar, it is about dignity, equality, and opportunity. For too long, Vanua Levu has been asked to wait while others move forward. It is time to deliver what was promised. Fiji cannot afford another wasted decade. The North cannot afford another broken promise. And the students of Labasa cannot afford to have their futures stolen again. Indar Deo Bisun Sakoca Heights Tamavua
