The Fiji Times » Opinion

Editorial comment – Cut the misinformation

THERE have outlandish suggestions to beat COVID-19, and much talk about the negative impact of vaccines. They are challenging scenarios that have flooded the internet space over recent months. In fact health specialists suggest there has been so much misinformation about health in general, vaccines, and medicine to treat illnesses, that it is a major...

The University of Papua New Guinea – Reflections after a decade

THIS year, 2021, marks 10 years since I started teaching at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). Regardless of what kind of state it is in today, UPNG’s history and continuity fascinates me. As a student of politics, I look to the institutions of PNG when trying to understand the process of nation-building. National...

Letters to the Editor – March 1, 2021

Poor discipline IF the number of yellow cards dished out on day one of the Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s is an indicator of discipline, then without a doubt the statistics are shocking and indicate a serious issue. Media reports highlight that of the 99 games, 58 yellow cards with nine red cards were recorded. This...

Editorial comment – When discipline matters

National 7s coach Gareth Baber saw red on Saturday. In fact, who wouldn’t in the wake of the indiscipline shown on the field at the annual Nawaka 7s tournament at Prince Charles Park in Nadi. It marred an otherwise important tournament for the sport. It forced Baber to urge club coaches to take responsibility in...

Fiji and PNG – No room to move on COVID-19

Neither Fiji nor Papua New Guinea, the two economic giants of the Pacific, has been able to increase spending to respond to the health or the economic fall out of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. In both countries, after adjusting for inflation, spending in 2021 will be about the same as it was in 2019....

The unsung heroes

Bula readers! This week I wanted to focus on people in the community who are down to earth, humble and hardworking citizens of this country, plus they really are essential in keeping our nation going during these hard times with their selfless acts of charity. Last weekend, I was lucky enough to be invited to...

Darknet: Cyberattackers marketplace

With cyberattacks increasingly threatening businesses through ransomware attacks and data theft, executives need new tools, techniques, and approaches to protect their organisations. Unfortunately, criminal innovation often outpaces their defensive efforts. Wide-scale cyberattacks are becoming more common, too. Cyberattackers always seem to be one or two steps ahead of the defenders. Are they more technically adept,...

Is the freeze on rent fair and justified

At the outset it is imperative to state that the key objectives of the Commerce Commission Act as stipulated under Section 2 (1) (d) inter alia includes: (a) to promote the interests of the consumers and (b) to ensure equitable returns for businesses with fair and reasonable prices charged to consumers. This is further amplified...

Sugar-coating no more: The blame game is running out

The modus operandi of the FijiFirst government is abundantly clear. First, spew fire and brimstone both in and outside Parliament in an attempt to sugar-coat the truth. Certainly not the Kit Kats the Prime Minister was seen handing out this week to students. Second, play the blame game. Blame climate change for the declining sugar...

Why are we poor – Rampant poverty takes it toll on thousands

There is a lot of talk about the rampant poverty in Fiji. More than 250,000 live below poverty level — about 28 per cent of the population. Thousands do not have a penny in their FNPF, hundreds of families do not eat three meals a day. Kids as young as six have to help their...

Fiji’s perilous debt sink-hole

FOR the first time in Fiji’s history our national debt level is approaching the level of our GDP. It is time to ask where the borrowed billions are going. It had become quite clear, even before the COVID pandemic struck, that Government finances were in a precarious state, business confidence had fallen to record lows...

Power Plants of the Pacific

Fiji is such a blessed land overflowing with pure nature foods, foods that are of the highest mineral rich oxygenated life force and electric alkaline properties for heightened health. The underlying secret to real true health and longevity is right here, within Fiji’s wild flora. The native cuisine that is in abundance in these...

Letters to the Editor – Saturday, February 27, 2021

Making a move Rakesh Kumar’s article titled “Making a move for the better” (FT 26/02) was quite inspirational and motivational as our secondary school students eye tertiary studies. In the article, Rakesh ran the story of 19-year-old Emele Vakavuvu who had to make a difficult, but important decision to step out of her comfort zone...

Letters to the Editor – February 26, 2020

Nawaka 7s tournament The Police Blues side, which had current and former 7s players such as Keponi Paul, Suliano Volivoli, Rusiate Nasove, Terio Tamani, Samisoni Viriviri, Rusiate Matai and Waisea Nacuqu, once again dominated the second leg of the FRU Super 7s Series after belting Police White which had the services of Joe Talacolo, Apisalome...

Editorial comment – Staying grounded

The announcement that a 30-year-old man is our latest border quarantine case of COVID-19 should bring us back down to earth in as far as the global pandemic is concerned. For many Fijians, every time we get a confirmed case, there will be a touch of concern raised. In fact we cannot afford to be...

Living in hardship – No poverty reduction in Fiji over the past 6 years

THE Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBS) released its preliminary report on the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) on February 8. The survey is based on a representative sample of 6000 households and was conducted from February 2019 to February 2020. Thus, the 2019-2020 HIES report provides a snapshot of poverty before the impact...

Letters to the Editor – February 25, 2021

Girl power I compliment the efforts of our sports team, in particular Luke Nacei, for the inspirational and powerful write-up titled “Girl power” (FT 24/02) on Nasikawa Vision College principal Mahezabeen Khan, who has broken barriers and accomplished a major achievement as she became a level three rugby league coach. I saw madam Mahezabeen’s photo...

Editorial comment – Leptospirosis warning

The revelation that Fiji has recorded 10 suspected leptospirosis deaths is a major concern. According to Ministry of Health statistics, most of the dead are young men. “What we tend to say is that it is common in young men,” Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said. “It’s usually the young men who are going out...

Impacts of COVID-19 – The special challenges facing Pacific Parliaments and audit institutions

APART from the millions of lives lost, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a devastating impact on the global economy, with serious consequences on national economies, businesses, communities and individuals. The global pandemic has forced numerous governments to activate emergency response mechanisms, testing the resilience of governance systems. Pacific Island populations have remained relatively unscathed...

Letters to the Editor – February 24, 2021

War on drugs In yesterday’s The Fiji Times (23/02) we read that in 2020 the police seized marijuana plants worth “$321 million”. We also read how the number of drug-related prosecutions in the Fiji courts had steadily increased from 148 in 2009 to 1926 in 2019. Something’s not working in our so-called “war on drugs.”...

Editorial comment – Let’s consider our role

The revelation that the Fiji Police Force has discovered illicit drugs more lethal than methamphetamine being produced locally is a major concern. In fact it must initiate discussion at all levels of society. Any suggestion that this is produced locally will prick at the very heart of society, and draw fear and concern. Where are...

The 2021 Madang roads ruling

THE National Court of Papua New Guinea made a landmark court decision on Saturday, January 30, 2021, by ordering the Madang Provincial Government, the District Development Authority, and the Urban Local-level Government to fix the roads in Madang Town. The orders prescribed the specific financial contributions and administrative responsibilities of each level of government, including...

Opinion

Letters to the Editor – March 02, 2021