Trio shine! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM NADAWA, NASINU
ANISH Chand, John Kamea and Samantha Rina stood out for the trusted brand during the Fiji Achievement in Media Excellence (FAME) Awards. It did not come as a surprise that The Fiji Times dominated this year’s FAME Awards, securing several of the night’s top honours across print and digital journalism. Veteran and robust journalist and managing editor Digital, Anish Chand, was named Journalist of the Year. Anish also walked away with the Print Journalist of the Year award. He scooped the Scoop of the Year award for his exclusive The Lens@177 interview with Military Commander Ro Jone Kalouniwai, a breakthrough story that sparked national debate and showcased the growing impact of digital journalism in Fiji. The Sunday Times deputy editor John Kamea deserved the Best News ArticlePrint Feature, which was a reward for his powerful storytelling rooted in rural Fiji. His narratives are great pieces of literature even for future generations. Finally, Samantha Rina earned the All-Media Best Coverage of a Major News Event or Issue award for her comprehensive 20-page Lupus insert. The special feature, which provided a rare insight into a commonly misdiagnosed and misunderstood illness, was appreciated by many, especially patients and survivors who bravely shared their stories. The Fiji Times strives to be the voice of the people and is accountable to the truth. The awards earned reflect the passion, dedication and commitment of the newspaper and its industrious employees. For me, Anish deserved the Journalist of the Year, Print Journalist of the Year, and Most Innovative Digital Team awards. Anish, who has 34 years of experience as a journalist, was rewarded for his hard work and courage. Fiji Times led by the editor-in-chief, Fred Wesley who starts the day with those excellent previews.
FAME Awards TAHIR ALI HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND
CONGRATS to The Fiji Times for shining with multiple awards as reported (FT7/12). The reliable daily newspaper read globally with many of us Fijians addicted to it, starts our day as the day begins. Keeping shining in whatever weather in the Paradise of the South Pacific. Keep the flag flying higher with your professional team. Vinaka to the editor-in-chief Fred Wesley and the team. Long live Fiji Times.
Street dwellers NARAYAN REDDY LAUTOKA
IT is sad to see more younger people are ending on our streets every day. In Lautoka just beside the Punjas Children’s park, a group of about eight or 10 young adults, both boys and girls live at night. They can be seen cooking in that open drain, drinking at times, bathing and using the same drain as washroom. Some who care always drop some food and things to them early in the morning. Many are saying “not to feed them” because they are young and can find work. Nowadays there is so much red tape everywhere that most people do not wish to employ those who are on the streets. Suddenly when tragedy happens, everyone jumps in with ideas, blaming Government, religious organisations, parents and families for what has happened. If you look at the real issue then, to me it is just another bread and butter issue for those streetkids. Our society looks at them and treats them as untouchables and anybody treated like that will react in a bad way. Our society has failed this young generation and everyone is quick to just blame someone. Social welfare department is not the only one responsible but the responsibility should start from parents, schools, religious organisations and not forgetting our own vanua where we all come from. Just having prayer sessions and giving them bread is not the solution but teaching them to bake so they can bake for themselves is. Most of these young kids will never go for counselling but if it is taken to them, then it will be a different story. Let us all open our eyes this festive season and spare a thought on how we all as citizens of this beautiful Fiji can look after each other in need.
What’s with the hazard lights? PECELI ALISTIR WAITOLU, NAITASIRI A WORRYING trend is emerging on our roads: many drivers now activate their hazard lights when slowing down, changing lanes, or briefly stopping — situations where these lights are not meant to be used. In some cases, hazard lights are even used more than indicators, creating confusion and increasing the risk of accidents. Fiji’s vehicle regulations clearly define flashing or warning lamps — including hazard lights — as intended for emergencies or authorised vehicles only. Ordinary drivers using hazard lights casually may be in breach of these rules. This shows a growing misunderstanding of proper road practices and reflects inadequate driver education and theory lessons from the Land Transport Authority (LTA). This misuse is not just a bad habit; it reflects a failure in our road education system. Poor theory tests and inadequate lessons from the LTA mean drivers are unclear about the proper use of lights. Hazard lights are for emergencies or stationary vehicles, (when breakdown) — not a substitute for signalling. I urge the LTA to address this issue through better driver awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement, and improved road-code education. Road safety depends on everyone understanding the rules — and knowing when not to press the hazard button. This misuse is not just a bad habit; it reflects a failure in our road education system. Poor theory tests and inadequate lessons from the LTA mean drivers are unclear about the proper use of lights. Hazard lights are for emergencies or stationary vehicles — not a substitute for signalling. Road safety depends on everyone understanding and following the rules — and knowing when not to press that hazard button.
Lessons from Cape Town! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM NADAWA, NASINU
BACK-TO-BACK bronze medals for Osea Kolinisau and the Fiji Airways Fiji men’s national 7s team enabled the side to be placed on first place on the HSBC SVNS WRSS overall points table alongside South Africa. Fiji lost to South Africa 24-21 in the first pool match and finished runners up. The side struggled to beat Great Britain 21-17 but thrashed Dubai 7s champions— the All Blacks 7s 35-5. Many had expected the boys to repeat this performance against Argentina, but the boys lost 29-21. Disappointing, but our discipline and the number of missed tackles led to our downfall. In the first leg (Dubai and Cape Town), Fiji beat heavyweights Argentina, the All Blacks 7s, France (twice), South Africa and Argentina, but we succumbed during the key encounters. Watching the losses, I reckon it’s high time Kolinisau called the shots and reinforced the team with speed, power and precision. We need players who can stand pressure, make tackles and be dominant at ruck time. We need a robust rover who can create enough space for the winger. I salute Vuiviawa Naduvalo for his sterling efforts. We need to drop players who have gone past their peak. I don’t want to name them, but those who watched both tournaments will know whom I’m talking about. Let’s inject fresh legs for Singapore, where we face South Africa, Great Britain and Spain!
Legend in his mind JAN NISSAR PRAYAGRAJ, INDIA
DURING my current trip in India, one cannot help but notice the pictures of PM Modi everywhere. He is on every street corner and every intersection and along the roads everywhere. Some intersections and roundabouts have several posters of him, and they are big posters. Instead of being the world’s largest democracy, it feels like you are in a propaganda state surrounded by the Gestapo. I doubt if the despots who run North Korea and those that ran the former Soviet Union had so many pictures of themselves everywhere. I asked a lot of uber drivers, taxi drivers, tuk-tuk drivers and hotel workers and all said they did not agree with it but could not raise their voice for fear of being taken in. Some did not want to talk about it out of fear. I can understand their predicament as they struggle every day and do not need another headache. If there are posters of him all over India as I imagine there is, I just cannot fathom the cost of it and who is paying for it. I believe the reason for so many posters of PM Modi everywhere is to remind people just in case they forget who the PM is. Perhaps our PM should take the cue from PM Modi and do the same as he is also a living legend and a national treasure — in his own mind.
Domestic violence TAHIR ALI HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND
THE Fiji Times editorial comment: “When homes become deadly” (FT 26/11) will continue to rise, unless controlled by strict regulations. FWCC coordinator Shamima Ali recommends that perpetrators should be severely punished to justify. It’s high time to cooperate with the authorities concerned to ensure full control on this crime. Religious leaders, communities and security forces are always there to listen with awareness programs. Women’s rights are human rights that are to always to be protected to live in the world. Domestic abuse can destroy not just the life of victims but of children and other family members as well. The best protection women can have is the courage to move forward to live.
Sevens team LUKE KULANIKORO SAVUSAVU
IF Fiji is one of the top teams now, while playing players as far back as 2013 and 2019, why not take a team to Singapore by mixing a team from Devo Babas and Malolo 15s. Looking for gold people, they might just get it, who knows!
Forestry Bill MAIKA TABUKOVU CUNNINGHAM, SUVA
THE new Forestry Bill should have included the legal power for the forestry officers to prosecute companies or individuals operating illegal harvesting in forests-similar to fisheries officers.
Ethanol fuel NARAYAN REDDY LAUTOKA
WHATEVER happened to the much talked about ethanol fuel from sugar cane? The previous government wanted to build an ethanol fuel plant in Rakiraki to replace the old Penang Sugar Mill. I can recall one company was manufacturing ethanol fuel in Lautoka and many people were using it on Diesel vehicles. Unfortunately, they didn’t go that big but a few customers were benefiting from cheap fuel. Imagine if those in authority and that company can work together for more production. Our fuel bill will go down, and our economy will prosper.
Putin’s visit RAKESH CHAND SHARMA ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA
Vladimir Putin’s visit (FT 8/12) has proven that India’s claim for strategic autonomy has been achieved. The West’s hegemony is now coming to an end. Europe is ranting and raving, while President Trump is quiet. As far as ICC and labels of “war criminals” are concerned, they have turned into hot air. The US and UK “Deep States” and their armed forces have carried out many assassinations and regime change operations in many countries (assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani 03/01/20 by US drone strike one example). They have also waged war in the name of WMD and democracy etc. Political ‘pundits’ claim that many of the agreements between Modi and Putin have not been made public.
Coming clean RAJEND NAIDU SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
I RECALL this RNZ report of January 31, 2025 ‘Rabuka to come clean about 1987 coups to Fiji’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’. In December 2025, Rabuka fronted the FTRC. Did he come clean? What do the people of Fiji think? What do the thousands of victims think?
