Kakala fights on!
THE story (FT 01/10) of Juliet Kakala is one of resilience and hope. When her mother Gracy Gerard was told that Kakala could not be treated in Fiji and needed evacuation, she did not lose hope and her faith and belief in God were rewarded as her nine-month-old daughter then received treatment from India, after doctors found that she was 85 per cent affected by Leukemia. WOWS Kids Fiji organisation is a centre of hope for parents whose children are diagnosed with cancer. These children, who are battling the deadly cancer, rely on support from the public, including generous donors, both individuals and organisations. October is a special month. The Pinktober campaign has rolled out, and people must join hands to support WOWS Kids Fiji and the Fiji Cancer Society. I salute Value City for turning its morning tea into a $45,000 lifeline for children battling cancer. I thank Value City for raising about $165,000 for children with cancer since 2023. Such organisations give hope and save lives. To my fellow Fijians, let’s unite for a worthy cause. Let’s do something to give hope to kids battling cancer. Every dollar that we donate will make a difference! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Memorable visit home
SINCE 1977 I have returned home dozens of times, but my recent visit is my most memorable. A very sincere thank you to all who made me so welcome and this visit so special. My purpose was to (finally) give back to Hibiscus, but I was humbled by how much I gained from reconnecting with that chapter in my life. I am grateful for the goodwill of those within the festival, those who recognised and embraced me in the streets, at Nasinu cemetery, at airports and even out in Tawake! A public thank you to the wonder woman who made this happen — my old primary school classmate Ellen Whippy. Isa, what a national treasure she is! Wherever I have lived, Fiji has always been my home and in my heart. That will never change, nor will I stop promoting our precious place and its special people. Vinaka vakalevu. MICHELE (SMITH) COZZI Brisbane, Australia
Defying all odds
THE Wallabies have given the rugby world, and especially their neighbour from the Land of the Long White Clouds, a timely reminder that no team is unbeatable. Their remarkable upset victory over the Springboks not only sent shockwaves through the rugby union world but also offered renewed hope that the seemingly invincible world champions can be beaten. Just as many All Blacks supporters were beginning to lose faith, the Wallabies delivered a simple reality check. In international Test rugby, no result is guaranteed. For Fiji, however, the focus now turns to the future. Are we ready to take on the Springboks next year? More importantly, the Wallabies are once again in our pool. Flying Fijians supporters are holding their breath as they await the announcement of the national coach. Will the current coach retain the position, or will common sense prevail and see the appointment of an internationally experienced coach? Alternatively, could a woman defy the odds and become the first female to lead Fiji’s national rugby team? Whatever the outcome, the Wallabies have reminded us that in sport, anything is possible. FLOYD ROBINSON Micronesia
Teachers’ contract
A THE Fiji Times article in 2023 quoted PSC chairman Luke Rokovada as saying that teachers’ contracts will be phased out and all teachers will have appointments that will expire once they are 60. It is sad to note that some teachers are holding on to five years, three years and worse one year contracts. Some teachers who have been serving for more than 20 years are still being contracted for one year. Corruption can be in the form of mismanaging money, mismanaging position and office and bribing. But to say something publicly and yet do the opposite when you are a public service officer should also be deemed as corruption. Where is the truth we have been harping about? What about transparency and equality? To be on a one year contract is one of the lowest treatment any government can do to its workers. So much has been said about teachers including pay, but the issue about contract should have been dealt with since it came out of the horse’s mouth in 2023 that the contract basis will be phased out. And any person holding a public office saying something in public and not accomplishing it should be deemed as corruption. Hoping the government does something for the sake of our teachers who have been victimised for so long. Government please do something. MAKITALENA ROSI WAI Nailuva, Ra
Terrorist attack
I’D read a The Fiji Times post on Facebook (30/09) titled, “Fiji prepares for possible attack”. After reading the excerpt, “The Fiji Police Force will be required to have the capabilities, training and legislation needed to respond swiftly and proportionately to a terrorist incident”, I burst out laughing. Meanwhile, the police should seriously and effectively address the issues of loitering/lingering around aimlessly in public, drinking in public, rowdy drunkards not only making a nuisance of themselves but also hassling passers-by and other members of the public, etc, which will obviously create a much safer and peaceful Fiji. As for a ‘Terrorist Attack’ (sigh), leave that to the military. That’s their domain, as they’re trained for such. Let them fight fire with fire. But if the police still wants to form an Anti-Terrorist Squad, then send some of their men to QEB for training instead of creating another new frontier. Join forces with the military to undergo the same training methodology/regime, so when there’s a possible terrorist threat or scenario, the police and military will approach such in unison and in a coherent tactical manner. Sometimes I wonder. ANTHONY SAHAI Levuka, Ovalau
Missing drugs
Damaging, concerning and embarrassing!
A thorough investigation must be carried out with regards to the missing cocaine exhibits from the High Court in Suva and the perpetrators must be dealt with at the earliest. This act is a breach of trust and raises serious questions over security at the High Court and integrity of Fiji’s justice system. The act itself is damaging, concerning and embarrassing as it has painted a negative image of our beloved Fiji. Police confirmed that all remaining exhibits had been tampered with. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka described the disappearance and tampering of cocaine exhibits from the High Court as “very, very, damaging, very concerning and embarrassing, and I agree. If the so-called safest place and the last station of justice is not safe, then how do we expect other places of justice to be safe? This incident has broken people’s trust and faith, and necessary actions must be taken by authorities to repair the damage that has occurred. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Great cocaine caper
The recent revelation that $31million worth of cocaine has vanished from the High Court Exhibit Room, replaced by bags of flour, is not just a scandal; it is a profound and damning indictment of our nation’s moral and institutional decay. This is no longer a joke or a matter for hushed whispers. It is a blatant, audacious heist that makes a mockery of our justice system and the very concept of law and order in Fiji. The fact that 39.5kg of pure cocaine — an illicit substance with a street value that could fund lifetimes of luxury — was allowed to sit in a registry for years is, in itself, a catastrophic failure of leadership and procedure. As the Chief Justice has pointed out, the prosecution’s failure to apply for its destruction is a critical oversight. But the greater sin lies with those entrusted to guard it. No matter how tight the security, the dark side of human nature, when tempted by such immense wealth, will always rear its ugly head. It is clear that those tasked with this sacred duty abandoned their civilised minds, allowing pure, unadulterated greed to corrupt their souls. They didn’t just stumble into this crime; they drew up a well-executed plan with like-minded colleagues to pilfer these high-value drugs. After all, it was worth $31million. The evil minds that orchestrated this theft were triggered into action by a simple, vile calculation: if they could sell even half the stash, they could secure an early retirement and enjoy a life of soggy, ill-gotten luxury. This is a very sad day for Fiji. Corruption is galloping through our institutions at a rate that should terrify every citizen, spreading like a cancer and eating away at the very fabric of our society. The blame game and finger-pointing that will inevitably follow are a smokescreen. Those responsible are, in effect, deliberately sleeping and snoring on the job while waiting for their wallets to be fattened up. Our policies, regulations, and laws are archaic and outdated, gathering dust and rust in the bottom drawer while the world changes. Why can’t we update them to suit the modern needs of this age? Why can’t we mandate that drugs, once discovered, photographed, and video-shot as evidence for court proceedings, be destroyed immediately? This would eliminate the temptation and the opportunity for such brazen theft. Enough is enough. We are tired of this theoretical drama. It is high time that heads roll. The person of interest who has conveniently fled overseas must be brought back and questioned. The investigation, which is rightly focused on the High Court Registry staff, must be swift, thorough, and utterly transparent. If we do not act decisively, our nation will become a laughing stock, run by moral cowards and thieves who have no respect for the law they are sworn to uphold. We need a complete overhaul. We need to replace the corrupt and the complacent with honest, capable, skilled, and God-fearing leaders who understand that their duty is to serve the people of Fiji, not to serve themselves. The cocaine may be gone, but the stench of this betrayal will linger for a long time. It is time to clean house. Seveci Tora Tacirua Heights
Drug probe
The drug problem is getting worse. Now the seized drug has been missing from custody or may be the zombies enjoying it. How much time do we have before Fiji’s prisons start to run out of space for inmates? NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
Missing cocaine
The authorities are estimating the value of the missing cocaine to be a massive $31million. There are two benefits of this situation. Firstly, our economy was injected with such a substantial amount. Secondly, our drug users and buyers are financially capable of spending a huge amount. BHARAT MORRIS Gold Coast, Australia
Chiefly status
With the prominence (or should that be dominance?) of the Great Council of Chiefs (BLV) in the draft new constitution of Fiji, I believe it would be fitting for a helicopter to be on standby on tax payer expense to airlift the chiefs to their chiefly meetings and to the senate meetings to reflect their status in the new order in today’s Fiji. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Fundamental faults
If the 2013 Constitution was undemocratic in its birth, how shall we define one which flouted Parliamentary provisions in order to push Bills through to amend that same Constitution? Woe to a sovereignty that is founded on fundamental faults. Samuela Railoa Nadi
Heavenly cocaine
Moses parted the Red Sea. Jesus turned water into wine. Now, who in Fiji turned cocaine into flour? As we like to say in Levuka, “Con-Ruption”. Anthony Sahai Levuka, Ovalau
Cocaine galore
Cocaine, cocaine, cocaine. Ice, ice, ice. Flour, flour, flour. The stolen drugs in Fiji has become the talk of the towns and cities! NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
