Voice of the voiceless!
I have been following the profiles of this year’s Miss Hibiscus Queen contestants on the front page of The Fiji Times daily. These queens are an inspiration to girls and young women. They are the voice for the voiceless. They are champions as they have the power to assist our youths make positive decisions about their lives. These queens have also gone through a journey that has taught them valuable lessons about life, faith in God and the power of forgiveness. The experiences that they will go through will make them better and versatile citizens. The Hibiscus Committee must train the queens so that they are confident during public judging, and we see the best from them. It’s not easy to face the audience, so with proper training they will shine and perform well on the stage. Wishing our queens all the very best! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Another election
As Fiji prepares for another general election, it is often said we need to be united for a better Fiji. Allow me to say this, most respectfully. How can we be united, successful and well cared for? To begin with, how do budding politicians and aspiring leaders preach unity when we are so very divided? In all, there are supposed to be 10 political parties, this time. Scripture aptly tells us: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am with you.” (The Lord, did not say 10). Dou kaila mada! Forget not our 1400 surviving betrayed senior FNPF pensioners. They are fervently praying for Christmas 2026 to come early. Lord, hear our prayer. The Coalition Government is our only life saver. They can deliver. We seek justice. Nothing less. Restorative Justice and Restitution, please. Is it so difficult? I believe man-made laws are easily subject to change by better men, and women. Show us. Do not tell us, please. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Police headquarters
The Fiji Police Force headquarters will soon be relocated to the old Parliament complex in Veiuto (FT 13/8), a noble move, and something long overdue. The members of the public now, will have to find their way, all the way to Veiuto for some basic services like obtaining police reports, a rather inconvenient thing, looming. I believe we could still have a kiosk around Centrepoint to receive such applications from the public. In fact, our government service centres (GSCs) could also facilitate the service around the country. How poetic that the very site that was abused to ruin the country in 2000, will now be fully occupied by our lawmen and women. That eerie haunted house feel around the old Parliament complex will go away once the move eventuates. I like it. Donald Singh Nausori
Union reaction
We read in The Fiji Times report ‘Union criticises PM’s remark’ (13/8) that the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) national secretary Felix Anthony rejected PM Rabuka’s comment that “Fiji’s economy cannot support an $8-an-hour minimum wage” and claimed his comment showed he was “out of touch with the struggles faced by workers and their families”. What I am also interested to know is what the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Agni Deo Singh, a former high profile trade unionist, thinks about Rabuka’s comment? Does his former trade union colleague Felix Anthony make valid observations regarding the minimum wage? Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
MP parking ticket
A traffic officer issuing a parking ticket is exercising an executive function (enforcing statutory traffic laws passed by the legislature). I believe it does not infringe upon or interfere with Parliament’s function, which is creating legislation and debating public policy. “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” SAILOSI NAEWE Tacirua East, Nasinu
Memory lane!
TEN years ago on August 12, 2016, the Fiji men’s 7s team grabbed their first Olympic Games gold medal thanks to their dominant effort as they throttled Great Britain 43-7. The Ben Ryan-coached side finished the Olympic Games undefeated and handled their opponents with ease. Fiji outclassed the All Blacks in the quarterfinals, 12-7, before beating Japan 20-5 in the semifinal. Leading 29-0 at half-time, Fiji ensured that the gold medal was coming home. Rugby made its triumphant return in 7s form to Rio 92 years after it was last contested in the Olympics in its traditional form, and Fiji stood tall as they won the gold medal. An emotional and incredible ending to the exciting tournament as our heroes were greeted with tears of joy and unconditional warmth from their fans. Thinking about that special moment brings back tears! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Constitutional guides
IT is certainly pleasing that two new constitutional guides have been published. According to your report both publications are available to the public. On behalf of residents of Lautoka, Nadi, Ba and other points West, may I ask where, exactly, they may be obtained, and at what cost? Michael Scott Morris St, Lautoka
Pay teachers
THE Fiji Times news on “Stop excuses for teachers pay” (12/8) is alarming. Our dedicated teachers are always there for the children and the community with lots of sacrifices with service before self. They need to be paid accordingly. There is a need to retain our professional teachers. Pay them properly and lessen brain drain. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
No more
JUST a few years back, NGOs were consistently in the mainstream media headlines when contributing to national issues. Recently, they are rarely making it to the podium. Just thinking what has changed. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Bus fare
NOW that the bus fares are set to revert to pre-global fuel crisis levels from August 31, 2026, could the employers’ contribution to FNPF be also reinstated to 10 per cent from next month. After all the reduction was allowed for the same reason if I am correct. I wonder what is FCCC’s position on this issue? SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
Empowering provinces, chiefs
AS Fiji navigates its path forward, the proposal to devolve greater authority to our divisions and provinces is a welcome return to our roots. The role of our traditional chiefs in governance is not a relic of the past but the cornerstone of our communal identity. Handing more power to provincial councils acknowledges that our chiefs — who carry our vanua, culture, and history—are best placed to understand local challenges. They are the custodians of our land and the protectors of our people. Empowering them will ensure that decisions are made closer to the grassroots, reflecting the unique needs of each province rather than a distant bureaucracy. This isn’t about breaking away from the national framework; it is about strengthening our national fabric by honouring our local leadership structures. We must ensure this devolution fosters unity and progress while respecting the constitutional rights of all Fijians. When our chiefs are given the authority to lead in their provinces, we honour the past while building a resilient and prosperous future for every village and community. George Seki Sigatoka
Blinding headlights
I AM writing to express grave concern over the rapidly escalating danger of blinding vehicle headlights on our roads. Despite clear directives from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the night-time driving experience in Fiji has transformed into a hazardous gamble because of the rampant misuse of high beams and the proliferation of illegal, unregulated aftermarket LED and HID lights. Every single night, responsible drivers are being subjected to severe, blinding glare. When a vehicle equipped with poorly aligned aftermarket LED bars or un-dipped high beams approaches, oncoming drivers suffer from temporary flash blindness. This split-second loss of vision is terrifying; it completely obscures potholes, road edges, and pedestrians walking along our poorly lit highways. Furthermore, this intense glare causes severe eye strain, headaches, and physical fatigue, turning routine commutes into highly stressful and exhausting ordeals. While some drivers argue they need brighter lights to navigate our poorly marked roads, the solution cannot be to blind everyone else. The danger is amplified for our public transport workers, including taxi and bus drivers, who spend long hours on the road and face continuous exposure to this hazard. The current situation suggests a massive gap between regulation and enforcement. If these ultra-bright bulbs and light bars are illegal for road use, why are they still being freely imported, sold in local auto shops, and passed during vehicle inspections? I urgently call upon the LTA and the Fiji Police Force to conduct strict, targeted night-time checkpoints to penalise offenders and issue immediate defect orders. We need proactive enforcement on our streets, not just warnings on social media, before this blinding negligence causes a catastrophic and preventable fatal accident. Suman Lata Lautoka
