Toso Viti, toso !
Canada will be playing Tonga on Sunday at 10.35am to find out who will be number three in the Pacific Nations Cup 2025. The final between Japan and Fiji will kick off at 1.35pm on Sunday. Fiji rugby fans who watched the Flying Fijians defeat Canada 63-10 in the second semi-final, have high hopes that our boys will do the same to Japan in the final. Japan gave Tonga a hiding 62-24 in the first semi final and they have the confidence of beating our Flying Fijians. Our Flying Fijians and Japan are both great teams and a joy to watch and the team that makes less mistakes will win the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup. Fijians will be cheering Toso Viti toso, and go Flying Fijians go. Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa Tacirua
Mock Youth Parliament!
The contributions made by Fiji’s youths during the 2025 Fiji Youth Parliament were impressive. These youths, from various parts of Fiji, got a hands-on glimpse into Fiji’s parliamentary life as they learnt procedures, engaged in debates, and raised issues that affect them and those around them. I’m thankful that we had such a high-empowered and enriching program that allowed our next generation of leaders to voice their concerns, represent their communities and practise the mechanics of governance. These youths had the golden opportunity to speak publicly and make contributions towards policy development. Issues such as drug abuse, healthcare, education, poverty, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, housing, agriculture and other social and economic ills were at the forefront of their robust discussions. I am confident that the sessions equipped the participants with real-world skills, confidence, passion, patriotism, and network that will fuel leadership and foster an engaged and informed citizenry. Thus, this year’s Fiji Youth Parliament assisted in broadening the involvement of youths to strengthen democracy. A great initiative towards empowering the youths! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Duty of care
The unfortunate case of a child who died after the school gate fell on her (FT16/9), touches the hearts of many as we sympathise with the family. OHS regulations are in force and teachers should take responsibility for the safety of the children under their care. The school managements should also ensure the same. The Education Minister’s messages on maintenance regularly will remain paramount for children to be educated in a safe learning environment. Safety first as duty of care is everyone’s responsibility. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Weak road laws
Fiji’s steady display of poor driving standards; non-deterrent Land Transport Authority penalties; drivers with continued multiple Traffic Infringements allowed to keep driving; recent multiple road deaths, confirm our systems are weak and feeble. I have repeatedly stated in these columns, “three strikes and out”. Unless LTA and the Fiji Police show “no mercy”, Fiji will be subjected to many more road fatalities. There is the general tendency to show some forms of leniency to repeat offending drivers who are sole bread winners. Such poor standard drivers take full advantage of LTA’s leniency, in my view. Bad drivers do not belong behind any steering wheel. They are a menace to all members of the travelling public. Along the Queens Highway we often see bad driving practices especially amongst both light and heavy PSV drivers. Some “G” registration drivers fall short too. Greater physical presence of law enforcement officers is a “must” to curb any semblance of reckless driving. Fines must double with each TIN. Three strikes must mean automatic licence suspension for a minimum of three months. “No ifs; No buts.” Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
‘We’ve got no money!’
Special Administrator Adish Naidu says “we’ve got no money” to address issues faced by the rubbish dump located along the Queens Rd (FT 16/9). That’s understandable. We knew that as kids “no money, no funny”. Perhaps Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad would have had the money to give them if PM Rabuka was not taking a 17-member contingent to Israel to open the Fiji Embassy in disputed Jerusalem? Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Abuse on social media
Shameful to see iTaukei men and women verbally abusing each other on social media which is a serious and growing problem. It seems that society has normalised abusive behaviour. The iTaukei profanity words used by these social media users would make Satan feel embarrassed and ashamed. Yet, they still call themselves Christians. The words “humility” and “respect” may be do not exist in their vocabulary. Isa! Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka
Little too much
Murders, accident fatalities, robberies and narcotic officers caught in possession of hard drugs is just way too much for our under resourced police force to handle within a week. Imagine within a week! And we are just into the middle of the month. Vakadomobula! Pita Soroaqali Rakiraki
Rabuka backs Lynda’s trip
PM Rabuka backs Tabuya’s overseas Trips (FT 15/9). He says
it was essential for Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya to accompany him to Israel to provide a “women’s perspective”. PM Rabuka couldn’t have chosen a better woman even if he tried. Did he try? Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Year of the underdogs
In terms of the Skipper Cup Competition, is 2025 the year of the underdogs? Ba defied all odds to deliver Nadi a painful loss at Prince Charles Park, right in front of their ardent rugby fans. Based on previous experience, gurus would have easily written off the men from Ba. Their ability to hold their defensive lines against a stubborn Nadi side is credit to their self-belief and determination. Meanwhile, in another major upset, Malolo snatched two crucial points to defeat a highly fancied Nadroga team. I am looking forward to Ba and Malolo this weekend as both will want to continue with their successful efforts from last week. For now, I am tipping the 2025 Skipper Cup Competition as one of surprises where the underdogs will emerge as formidable teams. Floyd Robinson Micronesia
Questionable decision
As a nation that has sent thousands of our women and men for peace-keeping duties for UNIFIL, I am most respectfully dumb-struck that our friendly island nation will abstain for a vote on 2-state solution for Israel and Palestine. This is most saddening. The Palestinians deserve to remain on their own pieces of real estate, now perfectly reduced to rubble. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Empathy, NCDs and laws
Empathy please
I wish to express my condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the tragic accident in Tailevu as reported in The Fiji Times (15/09/25, P2). Losing a family member so suddenly is devastating, and grief often speaks louder than reason in such moments. However, I was disturbed by the words of a victim’s family member who, upon seeing the injured passengers with oxygen masks, declared: “I wanted to rip those masks off their faces to make them feel even a fraction of the pain they’ve caused”. I believe this is not an expression of grief but of hatred directed at people who, though injured, were also victims of the same crash. Even in sorrow, we must resist the temptation to dehumanise others who suffer alongside us. To wish further harm on injured survivors, I believe, is selfish and an example of emotional blindness. It disregards the fact that no one involved expected or deserved to be in that situation. The pain of losing a loved one is real, but it should never become justification for cruelty toward others who are also clinging to life. Our nation needs empathy, accountability, and safer roads. Sunil Kumar
Nadi Back Rd, Nadi
A tough journey
While it is easy to acknowledge the challenge in combatting non communicable diseases like diabetes, change is perhaps the most difficult thing to overcome and perhaps this is where we need to invest more of our efforts.
For example, how do we get our children to reduce consumption of processed foods like noodles, canned fish and canned corn beef. These foods are cheap, easily available and can be stored for longer periods compared with fresh fruits and vegetables. How do we get our children to acquire a liking for bele, bhaji, coboi, drau ni moli, kumala leaves, young pumpkin leaves, and young leaves of dalo ni tana? By the time a child in the cities and urban area reaches the age of 10, he or she would have already acquired a liking for noodles and canned food. Whatever one’s views, it all begins at home. The sooner parents and guardians are committed to being part of a journey involving changing diets, the better it is. Having said that, things are easier said than done because processed food appears more affordable for large families especially at a time when the cost of groceries appears to have increased significantly. Floyd Robinson Micronesia
Conflicting laws
In his article “S20 0f the Political Parties Act is unconstitutional” (FT 13/9) Nilesh Lal coherently points out the apparent contradiction between section 63 of the 2013 Constitution and section 20 of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures Act 2013) pertaining to the vacation of seat in Parliament. He also explained the inherent implications of the inconsistent provisions. Obviously it seems the anomaly was overlooked during the drafting of the Act. I believe section 2 of the 2013 Constitution provides the solution for this conundrum as reproduced below:
2.— (1) This Constitution is the supreme law of the State.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, any law inconsistent with this Constitution is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency. Hence the Constitution overrides other laws and should prevail. SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
