Affordable housing?
You give an interesting account (FT 2/9/26) of one of the Hibiscus contestants’ impressive research on affordable housing, citing the need for 1000 homes a year and the failure of the Housing Authority to come anywhere near this figure. Unfortunately, this research omits to mention that there are people and communities that overcome housing problems by simply building their own vale vakaviti – houses of traditional materials – in villages and settlements. This lacuna is understandable, since governments and organisations also ignore this, so there is, to my knowledge, no way a researcher can discover how many vale vakaviti have been built, when and where. A well-built vale vakaviti withstands hurricanes as well as a house of any material, and has the advantage that flying thatch does not maim and kill like flying roofing iron. It is suitable for all weathers, warm in the cold and cool in the heat. It is environmentally friendly and costs little, the main investment being in time and knowledge and oco (food) and yaqona for the workers. It gives the builders a sense of achievement, having created with their own hands something that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing, using materials from their own environment. It brings the pleasure and excitement (kamikamica) of communal work, and the bonding that results from working and achieving together. Also important is that passing on the knowledge of how to build a house from local materials frees future generations from the bondage of the hardware store. If this knowledge is not passed on, our children and grandchildren will have no way of housing themselves if they cannot afford the western materials. We must pass on this knowledge so they have a choice. Yet successive governments and organisations have been vying for decades to help people acquire western-style housing, while no-one lifts a finger to help someone who prefers to build or live in a vale vakaviti. They see a future Fiji which is identical to a suburb of Auckland or Sydney. This is not my view of where we should be heading, keeping the best of the skills and artefacts that we already have and should be proud of. The ancient and environmentally friendly art of Fijian house-building may well be lost within a generation, so those who cannot afford the prices demanded by hardware stores will be condemned to live in shacks, since their ancestors killed the necessary knowledge, and left future generations with no options. Let us commit to increasing knowledge, not decreasing it. Paul Geraghty USP, Suva
The literacy crisis!
I read the front-page story titled ‘Literacy crisis starts early’ (FT: 10/09) with a heavy heart. It saddened me to read that years one to three, which are the backbone of a child’s education, are where Fiji’s literacy crisis is taking hold, with children leaving the crucial early years without the basic skills to read, write and count. Reading, which was adored in the past, is becoming a rare activity. Technology has replaced reading. Artificial intelligence is a threat as well. In our days, kids were seen with story books in schools and in public domains. Today, mobile phones have replaced story books. It’s a pity, as pointed out by former trade unionist and educationist Susana Tuisawau (FT: 10/09), that some students went up to Year eight without basic reading skills. There’s no doubt that as a nation, we have dropped our jaws in literacy and numeracy. The curriculum at primary school must be reviewed thoroughly. Let’s do a nationwide survey to find out if our primary school students really understand the curriculum or is it beyond their capability. Let’s be real and not paint beautiful pictures. The reality must be brought out so that we can assist our children who are struggling to read and write. Let’s make libraries a place where kids would love to be. Parents and guardians must make our home environments resourceful. Teachers alone can’t address the reading crisis. It will take a joint effort! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
HIV outbreak?
Is Fiji really having a HIV outbreak? If the answer is yes, then can someone from the Ministry of Health explain to me why a container, which I believe, is a portable HIV lab sitting in the FPO yard in Lautoka? I am told it was donated by the Australian Government and all MOH has to do is connect electricity, water and then start using the portable lab for testing as all testing equipment are already inside the container. Can someone from MOH please check? Narayan Reddy Lautoka
Unpaid teachers
It is sad to see that some teachers are not being paid on a timely basis. There are myriads of excuses from the minister and those who are responsible. In the end, it is, of course, always someone else’s fault. I believe as long as the PM and his ministers, his assistant ministers and the permanent secretaries are paid on time, the teachers can always wait. I suggest that the PM call his Australian counterpart and kerekere for some more help so that teachers can be paid on time. And we Australians will always oblige because we have lots of peanuts to spare. The question is, when will the kerekere stop because even though Fiji is a small place, the need for money is a bottomless pit simply because international begging has become a national pastime. I believe it has become part of the tradition and culture of the country. I believe the PM and his ministers clamour over each other to celebrate when they receive free money. I believe the politicians, the permanent secretaries, and the pensioners would not be paid if it was not for the direct budget support from Australia almost every month. Jan Nissar Phuket, Thailand
HIV status
Since the Government has declared the HIV outbreak in Fiji as a national crisis, the question is, what is the next tangible step to be undertaken? As per the current HIV status, which I believe, are known cases, the next question is what is the percentage of unknown cases? I think if the unknown cases become known, our status as a national crisis will remain for a certain period of time, probably in the next 10 years or more. Juki Fong Chew Nadawa, Nasinu
Pirate taxis
I recently spoke to a few people regarding pirate taxis (pari) and they all said they prefer the illegal operators. One even said they provide a better service than registered taxis, they’re cheaper and available 24 hours. Don’t you find it ironic that the taxi association is complaining about the increase of illegal operators when after 8pm every night there is hardly any taxis in the Sugar City? I know that after repeated crackdowns, this illicit business will continue to thrive. These illegal operators are popular because their transportation service is valuable to their customers. It’s an ongoing cat and mouse game, a never-ending cycle. You take a vehicle off the street, and another will replace it the next day. Where there is demand, there will be supply. Sobo! Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka
FNPF dues
The Fiji Times report as reinforced by FTU GS Muniappa Goundar that outstanding contributions belonging to teachers be properly reconciled. (FT 7/9). I believe with teachers, all loyal members and retired pensioners have been assured of security of their finance. FNPF secures the future of all Fijians by growing their retirement benefits. Now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Long live FNPF. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Treaties and prenups
Pardon my naivety, but I never really properly understood what a prenup looked like (apart from reading a bit about those Hollywood and Bollywood marriage deals) until I read news about the recent hearing session with Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence regarding the Vuvale Union and Veitacini Treaty with Australia. Well, the 10-year work plan underpinning the treaties are reportedly still in draft form and could be amended or jettisoned, but the important thing is that I now understand how a prenup works. I’ll leave the rest to the experts involved in the drafting of the prenups, sorry, treaties. Donald Singh Nausori
Don’t wait for the warning
In Fiji, when someone passes away suddenly, our communities come together to support the family. But we often hear the heartbreaking words, “They looked perfectly healthy”. That is exactly why I believe we need to take our health seriously. I have seen people I knew, including schoolmates and others in their 30s and 40s, leave this world far too early because of heart-related illnesses. Many of us work hard every day, provide for our families and rarely think about getting checked because we feel healthy. But feeling healthy does not always mean everything is fine inside. A routine health check can help us understand important things such as cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and blood sugar. Depending on our circumstances, a doctor may also recommend an ECG or other checks. We service our cars, maintain our farms and repair our homes. Why don’t we give our bodies the same attention? My message to everyone, especially men, is simple: don’t wait until you become seriously sick. Talk to your doctor, get appropriate routine checks. Know your numbers and take warning signs seriously. Our families need us. Our children need us. Take care of your health today, because tomorrow is never guaranteed. Shamal Chand Kuku Village, Nausori
Festering FNPF issues
My sincere thanks goes to Kirti Patel, Lautoka – LTE FT, Thursday, September 10, 2026, her admirable understanding of our plight with FNPF action against the surviving senior pensioners. Thank you for adding your appreciative voice in our cause for justice. Thank you also for your courage to address our Prime Minister, Rabuka. Sadly, FNPF remains steadfastly defiant holding on to their lawyer who says the law restricts FNPF. What law? The then Fiji government was unelected. What Parliament passed the law? In this modern day and age, even senior pensioners are robbed of their very own irrevocable pensions. This is so shameful. FNPF is supposed to be the best corporate citizen. Their actions speak much louder than all their words and their paid actuaries. Downright disgusting. None of FNPF’s balance sheets show their inability to make right yesterday’s wrong. Two wrongs never make one right. In time the whole will surface. Our younger generation today, I hope will not suffer the same fate. FNPF has betrayed us beyond words. Discretion is always the better part of valour. We must pray for Prime Minister Rabuka to immediately restore our losses — including the lower income earners whose pensions then were forcibly reduced immensely. Out of fear of even more losses, took lumpsums. Some higher income pensioners enjoy restored monthly pensions of five figures. They cry for more. Where is the justice? The restored monthly benefit for some luckier betrayed pensioners came from the former DPM and minister of finance, Biman Prasad. Can the same formula be applied the former lower income pensioners, please? Why this discrimination towards elderly persons? We are not asking much. It can be easily a lifeline we are so desperate for. Older citizens do need to live and die happily. This is not the preferred option. Stealing is a sin. Stealing is also a crime. It is also a broad daylight robbery in the history of the custodians of Fiji’s fiduciary benefits. Strangely, it is always true. The big boys can afford the best lawyers and KCs. They are able to run out the time and escape justice. About 4600 out of the 6000 original pensioners have sadly passed on. Sadly, they missed justice. About 1400 or less of us are survivors. We have our spouses, families and friends. Our dollar buys so little too. We have mounting medical bills. Often, we cannot afford some expensive prescription medication. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
My prediction
The four semi-finalists of the 2026 BOG tournament, set to resume this weekend at Ba’s 4R Stadium at Govind Park have worked tirelessly to reach this stage. Notably, three qualifying teams hail from the Southern Division, with Ba being the only representative from the West. This year promises the crowning of a new champion since the defending champions, Labasa, were eliminated in the pool stage. In the first semi-final, hosts Ba will face the team from the Capital City, while the second semi-final features a southern showdown between Rewa and Nasinu. Govind Park is expected to come alive with enthusiastic cheers and excitement as the teams take to the field. Fans can look forward to a highly dramatic and action-packed soccer spectacle on Saturday. My prediction is that Ba and Rewa will play the final, with Ba claiming the title. Suresh Chand Nadi
