Constitution
Selwa Nandan argues that former president Ratu Josefa Iloilo acted illegally in revoking the 1997 Constitution, which the Court of Appeal had upheld in 2009. He warns that recognising the 2013 Constitution would legitimise an illegal regime and set a dangerous precedent.
FT: What is your response to concerns about the legality of constitutional changes and the precedent it sets, as raised in this letter?
PM: There are indeed a lot of divergent views about the status of the 1997 and the 2013 Constitutions. Each one of us seems to have their own opinion, even for those in the legal profession. It is exactly for this reason that Cabinet endorsed the referral of questions relating to the interpretation and application of the Constitution to Fiji’s Supreme Court.
This referral is pursuant to section 91(5) of the 2013 Constitution. Together with the provisions of Rule 27 of the Supreme Court, Cabinet is asking the court to rule on the following constitutional questions:
1. Are the provisions of Chapter 11 and Part D of Chapter 12 of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji binding on the people of Fiji, the Parliament of Fiji and the Supreme Court with the effect that none of those provisions can ever be amended, regardless of the will of Parliament or of the people voting in referendum?
2. May the provisions referred to in (1) be amended following the enactment of a Bill in Parliament to do so, in terms thought fit by Parliament?
3. Is the approval of any amendment proposed in accordance with (2) effective only if approved by the people of Fiji at a referendum?
4. Is any special majority, and if so in what proportion, necessary for an enactment under (2) or approval by referendum under (3)?
5. Is the 1997 Constitution still valid and applicable?
All the papers and submission by the State and interveners were done this week, while the hearing of this very significant Supreme Court hearing will be held from August 18-22, with the handing down of their opinion scheduled for 5th September.
Short pigs’ tale
Moses Fong refers to an earlier satirical “short pigs’ tale” in The Fiji Times Opinion page, noting its nuanced parallels to real-life events. He humorously observes recent shifts in characters’ portrayals and says he is eagerly awaiting a sequel.
FT: Do you intend to respond to public commentary and satire about political behaviour, such as the one shared in this letter?
PM: Much as I would like to contribute to the public commentary on matters that are of interest to your readers, the demands of public office leave very little room for that to happen. I would like to add though, that I welcome the robust and healthy discussions and debate that we see and hear in our public forums, proof that our people are enjoying the many benefits that true democracy brings. We may not agree with all of you, but we certainly will ensure that you continue to enjoy your right to public commentary and express freely your views and opinions.
CID investigators visit Kaiyum
Rajend Naidu questions why CID investigators visited the hospitalised former attorney-general despite a medical report already being provided to the court, asking if Fiji is reverting to a police state.
FT: How do you respond to concerns about police actions towards former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while hospitalised?
PM: My understanding was that the police visit was part of the State’s submission for the bail hearing of Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
CID officers
Selwa Nandan questions the competence of CID officers visiting the former attorney-general in hospital to verify his medical condition. He argues such assessments should be done by a qualified senior medical doctor to provide the court with an independent, credible opinion.
FT: Should medical assessments in legal matters be conducted by qualified doctors rather than police officers, as suggested in this letter?
PM: Please refer to my response to a similar question above. Let me add and again this is from my understanding of what transpired, both the defence and prosecution teams presented medical assessments of qualified medical doctors before the trial judge, the Hon Chief Justice.
5. NFP member criticised
Rajend Naidu criticises NFP members in the Coalition Government, accusing them of serving self-interest and ignoring bad governance, and sarcastically suggests Pio Tikoduadua be rewarded with another 42-day overseas trip.
FT: How do you respond to criticism that the NFP members in Government are serving self-interest rather than the public good?
PM: I do not share the views expressed by your letter writer, and I have no doubt that the National Federation members of Cabinet will be more than happy to give you a response if you ask them.
Let love shine!
Rajend Naidu
Let love shine (FT 2/8). Is that for everybody including former adversaries like ex-A-G Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, as the biblical scripture extols?
FT: Does your call for “Let love shine” extend to political adversaries such as former A-G Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum?
PM: The ‘Let Love Shine’ doctrine is for all and sundry.
False prophecies
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa condemns recent false prophecies about disasters and the world’s end, stressing that only God knows the time of Jesus’ return and the Bible does not teach a secret rapture. He urges people to prepare spiritually by accepting Christ before it is too late.
FT: What is your view on the role of Government and faith leaders in addressing false prophecies that may alarm the public?
PM: There is a clear separation of powers between Government and religion with Fiji being a secular state. It is for religious leaders to address this matter about true or false prophets. Government has no role to play in this, as it should be.
Probe of meth
Manoj Lal Patel praises police for probing the $2billion meth bust and urges them to “follow the money”, questioning how individuals on modest government salaries can own multimillion-dollar properties.
FT: What measures is your government taking to dismantle drug networks and investigate unexplained wealth among public servants?
PM: I have been taking questions about Government’s response to the drugs crisis every week and my answer is the same. Government alone cannot solve the problem. Our Counter Narcotic Strategy advocates for a “whole of nation approach”. This means that all of us have a role to play. Whether you are young or older, man or woman, boy or girl, working or unemployed or retiree, living inside or outside a town or city, on the mainland or maritime, upland or lowland, we all need to support Government’s strategy to eliminate the scourge of illicit drugs in our community.
Key features of the Counter Narcotic Strategy 2023 to 2028 include:
- Strengthening schools and community and village awareness and developing scholastic programs;
- Establishing rehabilitation centres and intervention programs to reduce the increasing numbers of HIV cases spreading through needle sharing and Chemsex;
- Reviewing key legislation to address illicit drug activities;
- Curbing hard drugs through robust investigation and prosecution and capacity building of investigators, prosecution and judges;
- Establishing a Special Narcotics Court (Drugs Treatment Court-Therapeutic Jurisprudence); and
- Establishing a Fiji Counter Narcotics Bureau through the Ministry of Policing
Support for Usamate
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, a FijiFirst supporter, welcomes Jone Usamate’s role in forming the proposed PeopleFirst party, saying it could attract ex-FijiFirst voters by keeping its strengths and fixing its flaws. He calls for God-centred leadership and believes the new party could move Fiji forward if its policies prove better than existing parties.
FT: What is your view on the formation of the proposed PeopleFirst party and its potential role in Fiji’s next election?
PM: Our laws do not limit the number of political parties that want to contest the general elections. As long as they meet the criteria set out in the Political Parties (Registration, Funding and Disclosures) Act of 2013 and the Electoral Act of 2014, these parties can participate. As your letter writer stated, “it is game on”.
VAT reductions
Kiran Khatri says VAT reductions have not lowered prices, citing Vodafone and Digicel for increasing data instead of cutting costs. She accuses some companies of undermining government efforts to reduce living costs and questions FCCC and CCoF monitoring, calling the $300million VAT gamble ineffective for consumers.
FT: How will Government ensure VAT reductions are passed on to consumers rather than absorbed by companies?
PM: The Coalition Government has listened to the cries of the public on this very matter. You will recall that in the 2025-2026 National Budget that Parliament passed in July, had provided for the formation of a joint enforcement taskforce whose main job will be the enforcement of the tax and duty reductions by the business community. The tax concessions in this budget amounts to over $500m and Government will want these tax and duty reductions to be passed onto consumers, to help ordinary Fijians. It is quite simply unjust and unethical for any business to pocket these reductions and deprive our people of the much-needed price relief. This taskforce comprises officers from the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Consumer Council, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and the Ministry of Finance. So, if your letter writer or any member of the public have any evidence of businesses not reducing prices, do report this to the joint taskforce.
Water distribution
Samu Silatolu questions progress on Fiji’s long-standing water distribution problems despite $20m allocated over three years and projects like the Viria Reservoir. He suggests seeking Israel’s expertise, stressing the need to address root causes to prevent rising costs and repeating decades of inaction.
FT: Will Government seek technical expertise from countries like Israel to fix Fiji’s long-standing water distribution problems?
PM: The Government of Fiji, through the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), recognises that water supply and distribution challenges must be addressed through sustained investment, modern technology, and strategic international partnerships. Over the past decade, WAF has collaborated with leading global water sector specialists, multinational banks and bilateral partners to modernise Fiji’s water infrastructure, reduce losses, and improve customer service delivery.
Key Recent and Ongoing programs and partnerships include:
1. Asian Development Bank (ADB)–Funded Performance-Based Contract with Miya (PBC 056/24) – The ADB-funded Performance-Based Contract with Miya SARL, a Spain based company aims to significantly reduce non-revenue water (NRW) percentage from 47 per cent to 20 per cent in the Suva–Nausori water supply system. Miya, a global leader in NRW management, will be implementing advanced leak detection, pressure optimisation, and network rehabilitation strategies to improve water pressure stability, extend the lifespan of existing infrastructure, and save millions of litres of treated water daily. The contract was signed on 3 December 2024, with work commencing on 20 January 2025, and technical experts mobilised in March 2025 to conduct field investigations and review WAF’s systems, including Gentrack (customer billing), SCADA (network monitoring), and Enlighten (GIS platform). As of August 2025, joint field tests with WAF’s NRW team have identified and addressed leakages, and staff have received targeted training on hydraulic modelling using EPA, SWMM and NRW calculations following IWA standards. Preparations are also underway to finalise a contract with Baseform for leakage management software, develop a customer meter survey application, and procure leak detection equipment, 30,000 customer meters, and flow meters to support hydraulic modelling, field tests, and accurate NRW calculations. These works are targeted to run a full-fledged structured NRW reduction program and have immediate gains.
2. Viria Water Supply Scheme- The Viria Water Supply Scheme, a $270million project which have been completed recently, increases water production for the greater Suva–Nausori corridor by 40 million litres per day, ensuring that supply meets projected demand. It comprises a new intake at the Waimanu River, a modern treatment plant, storage reservoir and transmission mains feeding directly into the urban distribution network. Since its completion in December 2023, the project has eliminated 44 intermittent supply areas, reduced daily water carting from 15 trucks to 3 trucks now, extended services to six new areas, and now provides a continuous 24/7 water supply to approximately 150,000 people. Additionally, the Viria supply will be connected to Suva through the ongoing Elevated Princess Rd Upgrade Project, further reducing water carting costs and improving distribution reliability into the Tamavua system which is affected during the adverse weather conditions due to the water quality and capacity limitations from the Tamavua WTP.
3. European Investment Bank (EIB)–Funded Partnership with SUEZ Consulting
WAF’s partnership with SUEZ Consulting, supported by the European Investment Bank, focuses on building technical capacity among staff. This includes training in water and wastewater treatment, NRW reduction, operations and maintenance, compliance, leadership, and governance. The program aims to strengthen WAF’s technical expertise, improve operational efficiency, and ensure sustainable management of Fiji’s water infrastructure.
4. Caledonienne des Eaux and SUEZ- Through this commercial partnership, WAF is modernising water treatment infrastructure by constructing modular treatment plants to address the water treatment plant capacity limitations, enhance water production & quality and implementing SCADA-based automation to enhance treatment plant operations and water quality monitoring, enable remote operational control, and increase operational resilience. Completed projects include Nabouwalu, Savusavu, Namau, Waiwai, Vunidawa, Balevuto, and Deuba Packaged Water Treatment Plants. Additionally, under 2025-2026 Financial year government funding, SUEZ is awared the contract to construct a 20 ML treatment plant at Tamavua, which will increase water production capacity from 60 ML/d to 75 ML/d, reducing disruptions and improving water supply reliability in the Tamavua–Lami corridor.
5. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) NRW Reduction Technical Cooperation Programme – Western Division- The JICA NRW Reduction Programme targets high leakage areas in Nadi and Lautoka by replacing aged mains, upgrading service connections, and implementing district metering areas (DMAs). Launched in February 2023, the program strengthens WAF’s capacity in leak detection, pressure management, pipe installation, and revenue collection. Technical experts provide on-the-job training and support pilot initiatives in Votualevu and Northern DMAs, while selected WAF staff have also received training in Japan. The program aims to sustainably reduce NRW and ensure that water demand in Fiji’s tourism corridor is met reliably over the long term.
6. System Automation and SCADA Expansion- WAF is progressively rolling out SCADA and remote monitoring systems across treatment plants, reservoirs, and pump stations. This provides real-time data for faster incident response, optimised production, and improved operational efficiency. Technical expertise and contracts are outsourced internationally through formal tendering processes.
However; WAF may also explore future collaboration with Israel to leverage their expertise in water management, desalination, leak reduction, and advanced SCADA systems, with the aim of further strengthening network integration, conventional water treatment plant and distribution system automation, operational optimisation, and resilience.
WAF continues to implement these improvement programs while pursuing new international collaborations to integrate global best practices.
This coordinated approach ensures that infrastructure investments, operational upgrades, and technological enhancements are aligned to deliver sustainable, reliable, and safe water services for all Fijians.”
$150m in surplus tax revenue
Donald Singh says Deputy PM Biman Prasad’s announcement of $150m in surplus tax revenue is positive but questions Premila Kumar’s vague claims of “gaps” in the tax system. He urges her to provide specific examples so the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and Prof Prasad can address them.
FT: Do you agree with Premila Kumar’s comments about gaps in Fiji’s tax collection system, and if so, what steps is your government taking to address them?
PM: For FY2024–2025, Government’s tax revenue exceeded the budget by $185.6m (5.6 per cent), reaching $3.5billion compared to the forecast of $3.3b. This is almost a 12 per cent growth in tax collections compared to $3.1b collected in FY2023-2024 and a 24 per cent growth compared with pre-COVID tax collections.
This was the highest tax collection in Fiji’s history and reflects the strong business and economic activity we are seeing, the positive revenue impact of various tax policy reforms undertaken by the Coalition Government and strengthened tax compliance by FRCS.
FRCS has also recently launched a Compliance Improvement Strategy (CIS) 2025–2028, a strategic commitment to fostering a fairer, more inclusive, and transparent tax system for all Fijians to close the tax gaps.
The strategy identifies four key areas for strengthening compliance: Registration, Filing, Accurate Reporting, and Payment.
Additionally, it outlines 11 priority compliance segments that require tailored interventions. These efforts are underpinned by investments in technology, strategic partnerships, and data analytics.
A joint multi-agency Tax Compliance Taskforce (FICAC, the Fiji Police Force, and the DPP) has been formed to combat serious tax crime and strengthen tax integrity.
The taskforce targets high-risk taxpayers, investigates serious fraud, and recommends legal and policy reforms. Key focus areas include undeclared income, false invoicing, shell companies, asset concealment, and money laundering.
Tabuya’s appointment
Selwa Nandan welcomes Lynda Tabuya’s appointment as Minister for Information but questions her standing as a role model following past controversy. While respecting her private life, Nandan says public figures must maintain high standards, noting respect is hard to regain. She hopes Tabuya uses this second chance to become a better minister and individual
FT: What is your response to public concerns about Minister Lynda Tabuya’s role as a leader and role model following past controversies?
PM: Hon Tabuya is the new Minister for Information for that is one area that the Coalition Government needs a lot of help in, and a portfolio that she is very capable of handling. What has happened, has happened, she has apologised and has learnt from it, and it is time to look forward and get her back working as a Cabinet minister.
Closure of hospital pharmacies
Arun Prasad of Nausori criticises the closure of hospital pharmacies in Ba and Lautoka, saying it forces thousands of patients to travel downtown for medication, causing inconvenience and added costs. He blames Aspen Medical and a binding agreement with the previous government, arguing patients’ needs have been ignored. Prasad stresses that all hospitals and health centres should have on-site pharmacies for convenience, comparing it to locating a bus stand next to a market.
FT: Will Government intervene to ensure hospital pharmacies remain operational for patient convenience and health?
PM: Government pharmacies are still dispensing drugs and medicines in the two Aspen managed hospitals in Lautoka and Ba in the Western Division.
The only thing that has changed is that these pharmacies are no longer operating in the two-hospital premises. Dispensing of drugs and medicine was not covered in the hospital management agreement Aspen signed with the previous government.
For outpatients needing prescribed medicine at Aspen Lautoka Hospital, they will now be served at the Lautoka Health Clinic at Vidilo House. For those in Ba Aspen, a mobile dispensary is available to serve them at Ba Hospital.
Outpatient department patients in both hospitals can also source their medicines from other government health centres and hospitals in the Western Division. In addition, patients who are registered under the government’s Free Medicine Process (FMP) can access free medicine from private pharmacies that are members of the government’s FMP.