Mamdani’s win in New York EDWARD BLAKELOCK ADMIRALS CIRCLE, PACIFIC HARBOUR
MAMDANI’S recent win, in New York’s mayoral election, may not really augur well, for the American nation. All will not be, unfortunately, what it appears to be. Other deeper reasons, purportedly, will be pursued, undoubtedly! His left – wing election campaign, against President Trump and Israel, may put him on the opposite lane, and the wrong side of mayoral trail!
Thank you Sky RONNIE CHANG MARTINTAR, NADI
CREDIT must be given when it is due and needs to be given. During the week my Sky TV showed me “NO SIG- NAL” across the TV screen. As a member of the “old school, at an advanced 73 and counting; and not savvy to smart TV, I pondered for a day how to “fix” this sudden loss of TV signal. Our university grand daughter was not home to attend to this inconvenience. I called Sky TV customer service on 7003123, an extremely polite male iTaukei voice, patiently guided me, step by step for about 8 minutes and 14 seconds, how to restart and scan systems. (So much for being a younger senior citizen, and betrayed Pre 2011 FNPF pensioner, through an infamous Fiji Fiji government and Bainimarama decree; still seeking justice. This suffering continues totally unabated. Older citizens denied FNPF core business to care for the elderly. The Fund has truly become untrustworthy to many of us — a dying breed of women and men. The fund buckled under a decree — unbecoming of the country and South Pacific’s greatest financial institution. The world watches in silence. Help has been totally elusive). Long story short, both audio and video, were restored to my glee. LOL. Sa qase tikomai e so. Vinaka vakalevu saka na turaga mai na tabana ni cakacaka na Digicel Sky TV. Vinaka vakalevu na veivukei.
Walking the careful path! COLIN DEOKI AUSTRALIA ONE only has to read the Letters to the Editor section on any given day to realise that Fijians are a passionate people who have high expectations of their parliamentarians. When children fall by the wayside and hurt, their families hurt. When systems fail, people feel it like a wound in their own heart. So when people demand better from their leaders, it isn’t because they’re complainers. It’s because they love this nation passionately and fiercely. They expect more because they believe Fiji deserves leadership that can do better. Take the Colonial War Memorial Hospital which is supposed to be a proud part of Fiji’s healthcare system. For decades, CWM has delivered life, comforted the suffering, and stood firm through cyclones, epidemics and national emergencies. But today, that very heart is weakening and going into cardiac arrest. Infrastructure is aged and cracking. Resources are stretched beyond breaking point. Medical staff, the everyday heroes, give everything they have, yet still feel it’s not enough. Then there’s the drug plague that’s quietly destroying the country using people from within. Methamphetamine and other hard drugs are creeping into communities from greedy money hungry vultures who’ve become like traitors against the national cause and turning bright futures into terrifying shadows. Families are being ripped apart and robbed of dignity and decency. Parents are losing sleep and many are losing hope. A child lost to addiction is not just one family’s tragedy. It’s a national heartbreak. So why is change taking so long? Why aren’t things moving forward faster? Because democracy, for all its strength, for all its virtues, moves slowly. It’s about dotting the “I’s” and crossing the “t’s”. Because accountability in a democracy demands it and depends upon it. Democracy walks the careful path. Dictatorship sprints, but often runs over its people. So yes, progress feels slow. Yes, people get frustrated and even start to lose hope. But remember, your voice remains your greatest hope and your greatest power to holding your leaders to account. You must never stop voicing your thoughts and opinions and your fears, hopes and aspirations. “Protect our children.” “Strengthen our hospitals.” “Put the people first.” Because Government is not some distant foreign giant in Suva. Government is the extension of you. It’s your machinery to getting things done for the good of the country. And here’s the hope people must hold onto: When people unite, they’re unstoppable. When you speak, you’re being heard. When you care, change becomes inevitable. This moment in Fiji’s journey calls for courage. Stand together for your families, for your youth, for your healers, for your homeland. Build a Fiji where hospitals heal with dignity, where communities are safe from drugs and where every child can dream freely beneath the same sun. Build a stronger Fiji together. Because this is your island home. Your beloved country. A nation worth standing up and worth fighting for, what’s just and what’s right. Because you’re worth it!
No one above the law LUKE KULANIKORO SAVUSAVU
DEWAN Chand states the above in his letter to the editor on November 1, 2025. Yet the Fiji First Party members are still in Parliament, despite their party being deregistered, and dissolved by Fiji’s High Court. I feel this is contrary to section 63 — (1) subsection (g) of the Constitution. I believe, maybe some people are above the law! And also believe the survival of the Government matters more.
Kumuls too strong for Bati! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM NADAWA, NASINU
THE Papua New Guinea Kumuls thrashed the Fiji Bati 50-18 in front of a huge crowd at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday evening to claim their third straight Pacific Bowl title, beating the Bati in all three finals since 2023. What disappointed me was the performance of our NRL stars who were a shadow of what we see when they play for their NRL clubs! It looks like that playing for the Fiji Bati is a formality for some of them. The hosts looked unstoppable as they took a 30-6 deserving and commanding lead at the break. Led by Lachlan Lam, Edwin Ipape, my man-of-the-match, and Nene Macdonald, the Kumuls ran in eight tries. I was impressed with the superb performances put in by veteran Nixon Putt and team captain Rhyse Martin. On the other hand, the loss of Bati skipper Tui Kamikamica because of a head injury was a setback as the Bati lacked an inspirational leader who could direct play. Fiji National Rugby League needs to seriously look at the formation of the Bati and assist head coach Wise Kativerata. After watching the Bati get demolished at the hands of the Kumuls, I’m wondering what will happen to us when we face neighbours, Mate Ma’a Tonga and Toa Samoa, who thrashed Tonga 34-6!
Source for needs PRAMEETA CHAND SUVA
BE it shelter, clothing or feed it is every humans essential need
Without which one life cannot live To maintain care from top to feet
One must have the initiative to have a stable source of feed
To fulfill these daily requirements one can’t live a life of fantasy or enticement
Compared to past and present financial security is needed for fulfillment
All needs differ from habitual and circumstantial deeds Irrespective of one’s race, religion, gender or creed
One cannot without these three essentials live
The lead earners ought to be powerful planners
For upcoming followers source of survival to be revival
From beginning to ending sourcing and saving has to be rightfully responsible
Only then can life and needs be ongoing and less depending For
Peace all these elements are provided by nature
Without financial security daily basis essentials you cannot gather
The sooner the realization the better the enhancement furthers Irrespective of relation or gender no two are bound to be seeking same
Somewhere along the line there’s bound to be a change
One has to be considerate of one’s quality, quantity, circumstantial requirement
Only then as required will there be an obligation of positive fulfillment.
Thank you JAN NISSAR SYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA
I AM glad that Dan Urai was impressed with the service by Qantas on the Sydney to Bali leg of his flight. With an Australian at the helm of Fiji Airways now, there will be improvements in Fiji Airways as well. I have always said, what will Fiji and Fijians do without the assistance of Australia and Australians. From direct budget support by the hundreds of millions each year, unlimited aid in health, education and the like, hundreds of millions in remittances each year, not to mention all the tens of thousands of Fijian workers in Australia. Glad to know that Dan Urai appreciates Australians. I got that right, didn’t I Dan? Thank you. There do not appear to be many others in Fiji who show this sort of appreciation. They all seem to be oblivious.
Fiji v England LUKE KULANIKORO SAVUSAVU
COME on boys, you can do it one more time! Go Fiji, go! All the best and wish you well guys.
Overseas trips RAJEND NAIDU SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
THE news that the PM and several ministers spent $64k on trips abroad on Fiji Independence Day reminds me of the letter in the Vanuatu Daily Post (30/9/25) by Sam William Jacob who referred to “kleptocratic leadership” in the Vanuatu context “who enrich themselves and enjoy a pleasant life at the expense of the people”. I believe many Fijians can relate to that in the Fiji context.
Fiji Day KIRAN KHATRI SAMABULA, SUVA
SEVEN people from the Government, including the Prime Minister, went overseas to celebrate Fiji Day. Isn’t Fiji the best place to celebrate Fiji Day? Is the free celebration with local Fijians not up to standard for those high positions that they have to spend taxpayer funds to travel overseas to celebrate with foreigners?
COI issue LUKE KULANIKORO SAVUSAVU
I THOUGHT the COI was about the former FICAC boss. As it is, we got two DPMs in the mix. Another plot, or is it a rot at the top? Maybe it’s a tangle somewhere. Who knows!
Parliament puzzle ROHITESH CHAND KALOKALO CRESCENT, MAKOI
THESE days, Parliament sessions are quite interesting, not because of the debates but to see who is sitting where, as chamber layouts keep changing. For those who are not interested in politics, even they are taking time out to access parliament live sessions to enjoy the puzzle. And what further becomes fascinating is to find out where the missing person is – it is like a treasure hunt game.
