Racagi’s tragic death
Cop killer on the loose!
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu means business. He has so much on his plate. From drugs to crime and then other social ills, all are directed to the men and women in blue uniform. It’s a pity, it’s saddening and disappointing that the Fiji Police Force lost 24-year-old Constable Peniasi Racagi, a young, energetic and passionate police officer. I urge Commissioner Tudravu and his team to hunt whoever is responsible for the loss of Racagi. Commissioner Tudravu assured the nation that justice would be coming and that whoever was responsible would face the full consequence of his/her unlawful act. In Bua, Racagi’s family continues to mourn for his death. I read Racagi’s background that was shared by Nacanieli Tuilevuka (FT: 25/02), and he sounded like a kind, generous, hardworking, dedicated and determined son and rugby player who was also part of the Devos rugby team. His family embedded values like humility, respect and faith in him and he stood by those principles. Many young people in his village looked up to him. He was a role model for them. His life came to an end. The perpetrator (s) must be arrested. Justice must prevail. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Notebooks and whistles
Are they still part of police uniform or they are regarded as outdated? If still used, then why it wasn’t used to call for assistance by the late officer (rip)? Are the NCOs still checking beats men and signing their notebooks in the beat area at intervals?If not, then why? We need answers! Pita Soroaqali Tavua
RIP Constable Peni
Post mortem examination results have confirmed that Lami-based Police Constable Peniasi Racagi’s tragic death was not accidental, but an act of foul play. This was a brutal killing and the nation deserves answers. While speculation continues, one thing is certain, those responsible must be hunted down, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I acknowledge the firm public statements made by the COMPOL and the Police Minister condemning this heinous crime and vowing swift action. Such resolve is expected when a member of the force is slain. However, this now raises a serious and uncomfortable question, will the same urgency, resources, and public outrage be displayed when an ordinary citizen is murdered? Or does the full machinery of the state only move at lightning speed when one of its own falls? The public is watching. Communities across the country are grappling with escalating violent crime, yet too many families are still waiting for justice in unresolved cases. Selective intensity erodes public trust. Justice must not depend on rank, uniform, or title. If law enforcement is truly committed to restoring confidence and maintaining order, then the same relentless determination being promised in this case must be applied across the board. And I do agree with Commissioner Tudravu that the police force is not yet ready to confront drug crimes with arms. Yes, please don’t weaponise them. Nishant Singh Lautoka
Declining intelligence
Educationists are not listening to researchers looking into the effects of screen time for learning. Research across 80 countries has shown that the basic intelligence (overall IQ) of generations has been decreasing over the last 15 years. Data shows that once digital technology is adopted widely in schools, performance goes down significantly. And the reason for this is that our brains are naturally programmed to learn from other humans, from face-to-face interaction. Screens disrupt the natural biological processes that occur when humans connect, namely deep understanding, memory and focus. Thus real learning is reduced. Now that we know all that, let’s get back to human education. Fergus Garrett Marist Brothers, Vatuwaqa, Suva
Supermarket issues
Supermarkets show price tags in various ways, including differences in paper size and quality, as well as font size and style. Some supermarkets maintain customer satisfaction by ensuring their price tagging meets acceptable standards, while others do not. A recurring issue is the absence of price tags altogether, requiring customers to ask staff for prices. This not only delays shopping but can negatively impact the business. It is essential for management, particularly floor managers, to prioritise customer needs and provide a smooth shopping experience. It is concerning that basic items often lack price tags. Additionally, some supermarket freezers are disorganised and overcrowded, making it difficult for customers to find what they want, and in some cases, the price tags do not match the items. This can lead to a less pleasant shopping experience. In this competitive market, every correct decision and timely action is crucial for the growth of your business. It is important to address the significance of maintaining your store in good condition and ensuring that customers feel welcome, as this is an ongoing responsibility for management. No one is without flaws, but continuous improvement is essential. Every supermarket I have visited has areas that could be better, and some have significant issues. The aim of this is to improve the customer-business relationship, which can be strengthened by addressing the issues I have pointed out. Suresh Chand Nadi
Corporal punishment
From all reports, there is groundswell support in Fiji for bringing back corporal punishment in schools. There are already reports of children being assaulted by teachers and it appears people want to legalise this type of assault. Fijians do seem oblivious to most things. Introducing corporal punishment will then complete taking the country back to the good old days. The Government has already done an excellent job of successfully moving the country back in the last three years. What this vulagi will never be able to understand is why the blessed people of Fiji want to go backwards so enthusiastically when the rest of the world is moving forward. It must have to do with tradition and culture, or is it the Third World mind-set … or both? Jan Nissar Sydney, Australia
Sevens rugby
With all due respect to the Fiji Rugby Union, Fiji 7s is the heartbeat of our nation and while it’s great to see the Fijian Drua having their own dedicated training facilities, our Fiji national rugby sevens team is still training at Albert Park. Are there any plans in place for a proper high-performance training ground or academy for Fiji 7s to ensure we remain aligned with achieving greatness today and for generations to come? Pranav Nidhikaushal Chand J.P Maharaj St, Nakasi
Due diligence
Last Saturday’s edition of The Fiji Times had an article about Suva City Council being ordered to pay over $132,000 in compensation to a person injured in the Suva market. This incident happened in 2021. Last Saturday morning I visited the fish market and noticed very less walking space given to shoppers as vendors put up their produce and catch on the walkway. More concerning is the way tarpaulins are tied with some very low head spaces. You have to bow quite low in some of them with accidents bound to happen now that the court has set a precedence.It should be a wake-up call for SCC to be vigilant regarding its leased spaces to vendors and ensuring safety for all. Vikel V Lal Makoi St 2, Nasinu
Nabua centre
Suva City Council should open an office in Nabua town. Think about it. Asish Vinay Prasad Park Rd, Raiwasa, Suva
Pensioners’ money
FNPF saga
I read Ronnie Chang’s letter (FT 25/02) with a mixture of sorrow, frustration and righteous indignation. At the heart of this issue are elderly Fijians — men and women who worked for decades, trusted the system and now face the twilight of their lives burdened by uncertainty over their own hard-earned savings. These aren’t abstract policy debates. These are human lives, lives that have been forced to adapt and adjust because of the lack of financial resources they’d hoped would be there to help them navigate their twilight years. The reduction of FNPF pensions under the administration of Voreqe Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was not a minor adjustment. It was a life-altering blow. Many seniors were left scrambling, downsizing, sacrificing and surviving from hand to mouth when they should’ve been resting in dignity they so richly deserve. What compounds the injustice is the sense that some within the Coalition Government and the executive leadership of FNPF are quietly hoping this problem will simply fade away — that time will do what courage has not. It will not. Justice delayed does not dissolve. It accumulates. It lingers. It becomes a millstone around the neck of those who have the authority to act but choose not to. Restorative justice is not complicated. It requires acknowledgement. It requires accountability. And it requires restitution. Anything less is avoidance dressed up as administration. Scripture offers a standard that transcends politics. In Leviticus 19:32 we read: “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.” Standing up for the elderly is not symbolic. It’s measurable. It’s visible. It’s demonstrated in policy, in action and in moral courage and compassion. There’s also a deeper truth embedded in that verse: respect for the elderly is inseparable from reverence for God. A nation that honours its elders honours the very foundation upon which it stands. A nation that diminishes them undermines itself. One cannot speak of national renewal, stability or blessing while elderly citizens, some now in their final years, are still waiting for justice over money that was rightfully theirs. Perhaps the turbulence Fiji is experiencing in various sectors is not unrelated to unresolved moral debt. A society cannot ignore injustice toward its seniors and expect harmony and peace elsewhere. These seniors don’t have the luxury of time. Every year that passes reduces the number who will live to see restitution. Delay, in this context, is not neutral. It’s consequential. The call is simple: Stand up. Deliver a just and transparent resolution. Restore what was taken. Allow those who built this nation to finish their journey with dignity and grace rather than anxiety and depression. History will remember who acted and who hesitated. But so will Almighty God. Colin Deoki Australia
Suffering senior pensioners
My heart goes out to Ronnie Chang and his fellow pensioners for the suffering they have long endured since their FNPF pension was, in the words of a former DPM, “illegally” reduced in 2011 by the Bainimarama-Khaiyum dictatorship (‘Suffering senior pensioners’ FT 25/2). That now the Rabuka gang in Government — the gang who promised change — claim belatedly they can do nothing about the theft of the pensioners’ money because of constitutional constraints is an awful travesty of justice. It’s a crying shame on the Fijian State for inflicting this further injustice on its senior citizens. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
