Bitter Resurrection Sunday for kids!
With a heavy heart, I read (FT: 06/04) of the misery faced by Eneriko Qoro, Kelera Ramoce, Amelia Droka and Adrea Seru as they lost their father and sole breadwinner Gaberieli Walu, after losing their mother Alesia Makavu last year. I feel the pain these four kids are going through as they became orphans on Resurrection Sunday when their dad drowned in the Ba River while collecting mussels. Tragedy struck the family and while Christians were celebrating the rise of Jesus Christ, the four kids and their family members were grieving the departure of a loved one for eternity. Now the four kids will be left in the shelter and care of loved ones, and I can only hope and pray that they will be looked after well and taken care of. Destiny is such. Let’s take care of each other and our loved ones, for we do not know what’s instore for us next. Parents play a vital role in the upbringing of a child and without them sometimes children miss out on essentials and basic values that are needed to be good people. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Need more gyms
I raised the issue of the lack of gym facilities in Fiji, especially in the Suva-Nausori corridor, given the huge population in these areas, but the issue still remains. While there are gyms in the Suva area, it is inconvenient to those living in the Nakasi and Nausori areas, with the closest gym being at FNU Valelevu campus. I write directly to the Government to assist young entrepreneurs with loans or grants so that more affordable and quality gyms can be opened. We are in this massive fight against NCDs, with Fiji being one of the highest ranked in the world, in terms of NCD cases and gym facilities would definitely allow people to work on their fitness journey. Raynav Chand JP Maharaj Street, Nakasi
‘Clean’ energy!
I read with interest the letter titled “Renewable energy” by Manoa Kaleca (04/04/26), advocating electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines and biomass so that Fiji may remain “clean” and less dependent on oil. A noble vision indeed. However, one cannot help but admire the remarkable timing of these environmental awakenings. We are now enthusiastically encouraged to shift everyone toward electric vehicles, reduce petrol use, and think of the planet — all while major industrial players continue to require enormous amounts of energy to keep their operations running. Take Flour Mills of Fiji, for example. Their reported collaboration with a Chinese vehicle supplier to introduce electric vehicles is, from a business standpoint, a very smart move. It creates the image of environmental leadership and forward thinking. Yet one might also wonder, rather cheekily, whether encouraging the public to move away from fuel consumption conveniently leaves more of that precious resource available for large-scale industrial use. Perhaps that is just coincidence! Meanwhile, the letter also warns of geopolitical tensions such as the conflict involving the Houthis and the Middle East. Indeed, global instability does remind small island nations like ours to think carefully about energy security. But before we all rush to plug our cars into extension cords and congratulate ourselves for saving the planet, it may also be worth asking a simple question: who truly benefits most from the new “clean energy” narrative? Sometimes the cleanest ideas can also be the most convenient ones. Peceli Alistir Waitolu, Naitasiri
Trade and productivity
Referring to iTaukei only being identified as “Fijian” Samu Silatolu says (LTE 07/04), “hasn’t this been the case long before the issue arose?” Mr Silatolu needs to read about Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew (1959 -1990). When Lee Kuan Yew declared Singapore’s independence in 1965, its GDP per Capita was $500. By 1990, GDP per Capita rose to $12,000. At the time of independence, PM Lee had said that he wouldn’t like to have a Singapore dominated by Chinese people or else they will forever be tangled with racism, religion, culture, traditions etc. There was a large percentage of Hindus, Muslims and other races of people as well. Mr Lee promoted racial harmony, multiculturalism, meritocracy etc. The “Founding Father of Singapore” not only transformed a small “outpost” that was largely forgotten by the world into one of the least corrupt and wealthiest countries in Asia. (I am not touching his iron- fist rule). The Modi government is pushing a massive Rs 90,000 crore ($F2.43billion) infrastructure project on India’s Great Nicobar Island (near Thailand), designed to transform it into a “Singapore-style” transhipment and trade hub. Singapore businessmen are investing in the project. (Google for details). Wouldn’t Mr Silatolu like Fiji to become a shipping and trade hub between New Zealand, Australia, South Asia and USA, Canada and South America. It is claimed that 75 per cent of those living below the poverty line are iTaukei people. We need trade and productivity. We have to think big! Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Fijian name
I thought I was the most passionate about my name, until I read a Facebook post by Sikeli Wise on the subject. Sikeli dived deep. Donald Singh Nausori
Trump in trouble
If you don’t believe in failed politicians, you haven’t met Donald Trump. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Rogue leaders
I refer to Rajend Naidu’s LTE Monday, 06/04 on rogue world leaders answering to God for the way they exercised their power and committed crimes against humanity. I wish to ask Rajend Naidu to explicitly state if this statement includes Australian leaders and Defence Force troops joining USA beginning March 2003 Iraq war until their hasty withdrawal in 2021 from Afghanistan. Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Keep faith
When they say: “Don’t mix politics with religion”, this is exactly what they mean! This is a classic example of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The truth hurts! NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
Coffee shop
The Botanical Garden coffee shop has finally opened after nine long years. It was started by one of the special administrators nine years ago and as municipal and general elections are around the corner, I believe the current administrators have taken the glory of opening the coffee shop. Too many things to show the people but nothing done by these special administrator’s team. Joseph chand Lautoka
Follies laid bare
Drs Tui Rakuita and Sevania Sakai serve a dainty dish (FT 28/3) not entirely new, but generous, fresh, and cogent for citizens high and low, irrespective of ethnicity, age, and gender. In their own words, their argument boils down to this: if progress (change/betterment) is to be made it will require an “audacity to question our deeper held beliefs by holding them up to public scrutiny”. “Only by posing uncomfortable questions to current norms … do we get an insight into the workings of power in our society”. Only by posing questions is folly – Dict. stupidity/imbecility – held in check. Questioning is the whole purpose of education and questioning is vital to freedom and to democracy. So if democracy (as opposed to traditional authority or modern authoritarianism) means ideally rule ‘for the people — all the people — by the people through their freely elected leaders’, then questions should be put to parents, pastors, teachers, academics, chiefs, politicians, law-and-order people, journalists, and public servants, and (most importantly) they in turn should boldly question each other to expose the fissures of thinking in consensus. Christopher Griffin Perth, Australia
Letter of the week (02/03/26 – 08/03/26)
A brush with death
On Thursday, February 19, 2026, I headed towards Fiji Club to attend a Pensioner Core Group meeting scheduled to be held at 10.30am. I asked my daughter-in-law Reetu to drop me at the meeting venue. However, upon arrival I had an excruciating pain in my chest and could not get down from the vehicle. So, I rang my friend Ronnie Chang, explained the situation and asked him to tender my apology. From there I headed to- wards home hoping that the pain would go away. But as we were driving back, I got the second attack which was unbearable. So, I asked Reetu to drive me to the CWM Hospital Emergency Department. She swung around, put on the hazard lights and kept honking the horn but the traffic clogged the street. No one was willing to give way despite the emergency lights being switched on. However, after a desperate struggle we reached the emergency department and Reetu swung open the door and shouted: “Heart attack, heart attack”. The security swung into action and brought in the wheelchair and ushed it into the nursing reception area. My health ID was given, pressure was checked and a note was given to Reetu to take me into the emergency department. Lo and behold the corridor was full to capacity and the emergency department itself was full of sick people choking the passage. After a short wait a doctor rushed in to check me. He directed that I be taken into the ECG room for examination. The nurses swung into action and pushed my wheelchair into the ECC room. They struggled with my hairy chest to fix the vacuum grip. Finally, they succeeded. The doctor looked at it and cautioned that it would be a long wait as no beds were available. I was frustrated but helpless. I arrived at the emergency department at 11.30am and blood was extracted at 5pm for examination. The results came at 9.30pm and the nurses were struggling to locate a bed for me and kept saying that it will be available soon. But that soon never came. At 3.30 am I was told that a bed will be available in the step-down room adjacent to the emergency department. It was a painful wait, but I was relieved. The room was awfully cold, and no blanket was supplied so I asked Reetu to bring one from home. She also brought in a cup, plate, spoon and a knife. The next day I was taken to the cardiac department for an echo test. However, upon arrival the power sup- ply was cut off and my echo test was aborted. I was brought back to the step-down room and soon two other men appeared who in- formed me that I would be shifted to the ICU-1 room. This was a great relief as this room was neat and clean and the doctors and nurses monitored my situation closely. The food was good and service was excellent. The following day I was taken in for the Echo test and the X-Ray of the chest. Regular visits from doctors and groups of medical students from FNU kept coming and talking. It was such a big relief just talking. On Tuesday, February 24, I was informed that I would be discharged from the hospital in the afternoon. Necessary medication was provided and what a relief it was to be out of hospital. Thanks to all doctors and nurses and other staff for their kind services. Also, thanks to all friends and relatives who visited me in the hospital or rang from overseas. Yes, it was a close brush with death! DEWAN CHAND Namadi Heights, Suva
