$200 grant RAJEND NAIDU SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA KIRTI Patel is right in pointing out “there was a time when no funding was provided to the school students and bus fares and yet we see many people from that era in successful positions” (FT31/1). There was also a time when there was no old people’s home, children’s home, half-way homes, and indeed social welfare assistance. People managed to cope with their needs on their resources and through the traditional network of support systems. It is a sociological fact that Fiji has undergone profound social change with many emerging social needs accompanying the change. It is the government’s responsibility to meet these emerging needs of the people. If not what is it there for — to serve their own interest? I am sure Kirti has noticed the change in contemporary Fiji society. Some — especially the well heeled — tend to be blissfully ignorant of the change and stigmatise the poor in our midst as dependent on government handouts.
War against drugs DINESH KUMAR BA IT is encouraging to note that provinces and districts across Fiji are taking greater responsibility in the fight against illicit drugs (FT 31/01). Chiefs and headmen in Tailevu and Macuata have introduced stricter measures within their villages to protect their communities from the harmful effects of drugs. Similarly, the chiefs of Vuda have imposed a 251-day ban on alcohol and kava consumption. Such decisive leadership sets a strong example, and other provinces should unite in this collective effort to safeguard Fiji’s future.
Bula FC faces tough battle! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM NADAWA, NASINU I BELIEVE it’s wrong to judge the performance of the Extra Bula FC team based on the two matches that the Stephane Auvray-coached side has played. The Bula FC dominated the Vanuatu FC side but was unlucky and conceded a last-minute equaliser. The side played well against top NZ side, Auckland FC, and lost by a goal. Today, the boys face a rejuvenated Solomon Kings who drew 0-0 against Tahiti FC and beat PNG Hekari 1-0. The Solomon Kings are ranked third with four points while the Bula FC is ranked fifth with one point. The way the boys played against Auckland was top draw. Fans and football lovers admired the side’s resilience and determination. The side needs to keep playing the way they played against Auckland. The boys need to have a positive attitude and believe in themselves and their teammates. A win against the Solomon Kings will lift spirits and momentum, heading into round four. Scoring is an issue, while we have conceded soft goals. If these are addressed, the Bula FC will be strong contenders. Fans need to back the Bula FC. After all, it’s just the boys first season!
Why shield them? NISHANT SINGH LAUTOKA THE Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection has firmly opposed calls to reveal the coup felons, claiming that doing so would “reopen old wounds” and derail the nation’s healing process (fbc. com). Seriously? Toppling democratically elected governments under the guise of “protecting indigenous supremacy” has become a recurring national pastime in Fiji and one that has delivered nothing but economic stagnation, social division, and lasting trauma. Just look at where the country stands today. The economic reality is grim, no matter how deceptively rosy the Coalition Government tries to paint it. Madam Sashi Kiran, the public has every right to know who the key conspirators were, who orchestrated the coups, who financed them, and who willingly supported the dismantling of democracy during those dark chapters of our history. Many of these individuals are not only walking free after evading justice, but some were handsomely rewarded with ministerial portfolios, diplomatic postings, and a few selected to be part of the nation’s decision-making process. So is it really “healing” to protect the identities of people who inflicted immense harm, fear, and suffering particularly on vulnerable citizens particularly the vulagi community, who bore the brunt of every coup? Why the secrecy? Why the deliberate shielding of individuals who committed acts of treason against the state? And more importantly, none of Fiji’s coups benefitted the ordinary iTaukei. Not one. There was no newfound sovereignty, no upliftment, no empowerment. Instead, 75 per cent of the native population continue to endure entrenched poverty despite being proudly branded as “landowners”. “Rich but still broke”, like they have always been. If this nation is truly serious about healing, then the truth is the starting point. Keeping the identity of coup perpetrators under wraps is not reconciliation. It is complicity and outright unacceptable in an autonomous nation, Sashi Kiran. Just remember your boss “Stee” had also become prime minister through the barrel of the gun back in 1987. There was nothing democratic about it. So if you are to continue with the rather useless and lethargic TRC process in 2026, I suggest you expose those coup culprits now!
Matua program DONALD SINGH NAUSORI MASTER Rajnesh Lingam has covered the Matua program a few times in these pages. Seriously, if it weren’t for Lingam’s letters, a lot of us wouldn’t be aware of the significant number of relatively older people returning to complete high school. Vinaka Master. The Fiji Times would do well to put out a supplement for this noble program sometime in the future.
Get the king not the pawn SHANIA REDDY LAUTOKA IT has become painfully obvious at this point that our dear minister is playing “ringmaster” in these drug-related issues. The death penalty for drug offenders? If this is justice for a lesser crime than what about justice for rape offenders? Murders? Premeditated crimes? Are justice for these victims not considered? Lives have been lost, dignity has been striped off of these victims … does this not merit enough to be considered more heinous than drug offences. People are justifying this so-called death penalty because it is ruining the lives of youths and children in communities. But fail to see that victims of drugs have a choice to take part in drugs, the victims of rape and murder had no such choice. So instead of justifying death of a human, how about taking responsibility and safeguarding our young from drugs. And to our dear minister, it is obvious that drug offenders are blooming in Fiji because the whole system is corrupt, from the traffickers to the executive officers to the ministry incharge. Beating the drum of death penalty might have distracted the public enough to earn you clean slate but I guess we have become educated and aware of the happenings in our nation. The death penalty for drug offenders is not justified and will never be justified, neither does Chapter 2 — Bill of Rights in our Constitution warrant death penalty. Every human, whether victim or offender has the right to life. The proper way of deference would be harsher fines, longer life sentences and no grant of immunity. The ministry and justice system has been playing the game of hanging the pawn (the traffickers and such offenders of drugs) to divert the attention of the people, allowing the king to walk free (the importers and kingpins). But truth be told, people of Fiji are no longer in the dark, they know better than to follow your direction dear minister, if you truly care for your people, aim for the king not the pawn.
Missing exhibit SELWA NANDAN LAUTOKA CAN the Commissioner of Police explain how 55 marijuana plants disappeared from police custody? Because as a consequence of the missing exhibit, a person charged for cultivating the illicit drug was acquitted by the court. Disturbingly this has happened time and again in the past and despite assurances, it continues unabated. It is not known whether any investigation is being pursued into the matter. Such sloppiness will only erode public trust in the law enforcement agency. It could also fuel speculation of complicitness. I wonder what would be the excuse this time.
China’s generosity SAMU SILATOLU NAKASI THE Fiji President’s new vehicle seemed to be a “gesture of kindness” for a developing island state. And it is meant, in my view, to be at the President’s executive level. However, wouldn’t it be so much more than a gift, if the same “donor” upgraded Fiji’s transportation system? To be meant for the Fiji people’s level. The vehicle, in my view, will only be beneficial for the current President and his immediate successors, whilst “hard infrastructure”, is for the public’s generational investment. It is one of the physical backbone of economic growth and social integration. Maybe, I think, it is too much to enquire and too risky to do. Complacency is much better, because the government’s “elite” gained more, in such a system.
