Hibiscus: 70 years of bringing Fiji together!
I salute John Kamea for the inspiring editorial titled “Hibiscus: 70 years of bringing Fiji together” (ST: 30/08)! I agree with you that for 70 years the Hibiscus Festival has been much more than a beauty pageant or a week of fun, pomp and flair. Indeed, the Hibiscus Festival has been a celebration of Fiji — our cultures, creativity, communities and, most importantly, our ability to come harmoniously together. John shared the journey of the Hibiscus Festival when television was not part of our everyday life, and the radio carried the excitement of the festival across the country. While the Hibiscus Festival has evolved and become commercialised, the traditional magical phenomenon of the festival can never be forgotten. The spirit of the Hibiscus Festival must echo as we celebrate its 70th anniversary. Looking forward, the festival must embrace and empower young people to become better Fijian citizens. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Live and let live
Recently, a passenger boarded my taxi and complained that taxidrivers should not receive a fare increase. I would describe this attitude as that of a “taxi hater”. I said that taxi fares had remained the same for years, while fuel, servicing, tyres, batteries and spare part prices had skyrocketed. I reckon a reasonable fare increase is not about greed but rather about keeping the taxi industry sustainable. I asked him a simple question: “Did any taxidriver complain whenever you received a pay increase at your workplace?” The passenger had no answer. Before he left, I offered “you don’t have to pay for the ride, it’s on me”. Perhaps this small gesture would make passengers think differently about the people who keep this essential service running. Live and let live! Shamal Chand Kuku Village, Nausori
Well said, who is listening?
I read Nishant Singh’s article with great interest, and I fully agree with the serious concerns he has raised. What is happening in our towns and cities should concern every Fijian. From Lautoka to Nadi and Suva, we are increasingly seeing intoxicated individuals causing disorder in public spaces. At the same time, robberies continue to threaten innocent people, while hardworking taxi drivers are being placed in situations where their safety and livelihoods are at risk. The question that must be asked is simple: Where are the relevant authorities, and what are they doing? How long do we wait before decisive action is taken? Do we wait until another innocent person is seriously injured, robbed, or worse? Law-abiding citizens should not have to live in fear while criminals and troublemakers appear to operate with increasing confidence. Taxi drivers should be able to work late hours without wondering whether their next passenger could become a threat. Families should be able to walk through our cities without feeling unsafe. Fiji was once proudly known as a peaceful and welcoming nation. But peace and security cannot simply be slogans — they must be protected through visible action, strong policing and accountability. The warning signs are there. The question is whether those responsible for maintaining law and order are prepared to act before these problems spiral further out of control. Are we heading back towards an era of uncertainty and fear reminiscent of the dark days surrounding 1987? Fiji cannot afford complacency. The time for talking is over. The authorities must act — and they must act now. Rahul Krishna Auckland, New Zealand
Data centres
DPM Manoa Kamikamica’s unabated support for data centres needs careful scrutiny. Is there a clear government policy on data centres? His flippant remark that the landowners have “sort of agreed” to the Natadola data centre raises a lot of questions. Are they the only stakeholders that need to be consulted? Many countries including big brother Australia is now embarked on a careful policy in relation to “resource” use and environmental impacts of these data centres. In the US where these are springing up like mini power stations, there is a lot of important debate. Is there a whole of government policy in relation to data centres in Fiji? Is he talking to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change. Energy, Infrastructure, Tourism, TLTB etc? For him to claim that the data centre will be powered entirely by solar is a red herring. There is yet to be a facility that is driven solely by solar. In a place like Natadola, subject to cyclones and stormy weather with periods of about weeks when there is no sun, has he calculated what will be the cost of the battery storage? And wouldn’t it be depended on the EFL grid or generators from the resorts for backup power. There is also the question about water use. As we grapple with the potential impact of the super El Nino, what plans does the developer have for using water. The data centres have been shown to be one of the most potent consumers of electricity and water. Even in Australia each of these would eclipse the power use by whole communities and suburbs. And the environmental impact of these centres which are being planned on land which would be used for farming and other ventures raises other questions. It is important for a transparent and coordinated discussion on data centres and a coherent policy that will drive this. Many developers are exploiting our ignorance to get these underway before we wake up. Australia has already decreed that the data centres will be run entirely by renewables. There have been many examples of such unplanned developments for which we are still paying the price. Altauf Chand Minto, NSW
Overseas missions
Robert R Kant has raised an important question which “appears rarely to be asked”: Who measures whether our taxpayer-funded overseas missions “are actually serving the people?” (ST 30/8/26). He highlights the slackness and calls for proper scrutiny and performance appraisal of Fiji’s overseas missions. He is right in saying “the people deserve to know”. They do indeed. Another thing the people deserve to know is whether the top positions at the overseas missions are based on merit and competency or on job for the boys based on nepotism and political cronyism? This has a direct bearing on performance at the overseas outposts. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Council administrators
THE Labasa Town Council has three administrators. I believe one administrator is at the council almost every day, one comes occasionally and one never comes around. I presume all get hefty pays. Since I’m a ratepayer, I do not like this system where people are appointed for doing nothing. The Government and the council might think all ratepayers are dumb, fortunately some of us are not. Sukha Singh Labasa
Kadavu was great
Congratulations to Kadavu for teaching Lautoka how structured rugby should be played. All the best in your future games. Dan Urai Lautoka
Let love in
Who knows what beautiful things might happen when we do good. And remember just one thing. Give all the glory to the God of love. God bless you with His boundless endless love. Colin Deoki Australia
PM defends UN trip
I believe nobody is surprised that the “PM defends UN trip” by the President and his nine-member entourage including his personal butler, physician and domestic staff costing $45,668 in air fares alone. It does not include all the other associated expenses (ST 30/8/26 ). This looks reminiscent of the way colonial aristocrats conducted themselves. Our own local leaders often display neo-colonial tendencies. It is therefore understandable why PM Rabuka defends this UN trip. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Springboks level series
The Springboks avenged their 33-16 first Test loss at Ellis Park to beat the All Blacks 33-26 at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town to hand the All Blacks their first loss of 2026. The Springboks were desperate to win after their 12-match winning run ended. They were determined to respond after being stunned in the first Test in Johannesburg and it didn’t take them long to cross over the whitewash. The hosts scored all three of their tries in the first half to build a pressure-inducing 24-14 lead, heading to the break. The All Blacks outscored Rassie Erasmus’ green machine four tries to three, but the soft and silly penalties that they conceded determined the outcome of the match. The All Blacks struggled at times to break the staunch, resilient South African defence and were outplayed in the breakdowns and lineouts. Their scrum improved vastly, but they could not match the hosts intensity. Looking forward to the third Test match this Sunday! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Passengers left guessing
I am writing to raise serious concerns regarding the level of customer service and communication provided to passengers affected by a Fiji Airways flight disruption from Auckland to Nadi on August 24. Close relatives of mine were booked to travel on a flight scheduled to depart at 2pm. However, passengers later discovered that the flight had been rescheduled to 2am the following Tuesday. The most concerning issue was the apparent lack of a clearly identifiable Fiji Airways representative at Auckland Airport to assist affected customers. Passengers were seen scrambling around the terminal, desperately trying to find someone they could speak to for information and assistance. There was confusion, frustration and uncertainty. Many passengers who arrived at the airport and saw the changed departure time simply returned home, potentially unaware of what assistance, accommodation or meal entitlements may have been available to them. A gentleman wearing an Oacis Aviation uniform, involved in Fiji Airways ground handling, was doing his best to identify affected passengers and assist with hotel accommodation and meal vouchers. However, this should not have been left solely to ground-handling staff. Where were the clearly identifiable Fiji Airways representatives? In a situation involving a major flight disruption, passengers should be able to easily locate an airline representative wearing the airline’s uniform and receive clear, consistent information. Instead, there appeared to be confusion and a lack of communication. Adding to the frustration, an email notification was reportedly sent to customers at 12.26am on Monday morning. Realistically, how many passengers would be checking their emails at that hour? No clear explanation was provided regarding the reason for the delay. Even after affected passengers were accommodated at the nearby Pullman Hotel, communication remained unclear. Guests were uncertain about exactly when they were required to return to the airport. Some were confused as to whether the flight would depart at 2am Tuesday or 2pm Tuesday. This is precisely where a Fiji Airways representative should have been present — either at the airport or at the hotel — to personally brief passengers and provide reassurance about the revised travel arrangements. Passengers should never be left guessing about when their flight will depart. Finally, for customers who pay to be members of the Tabua Club, there is an expectation of a higher level of service and customer care, particularly when things go wrong. Flight delays can happen. Operational issues can happen. Passengers understand that. But poor communication and a lack of visible airline representation are simply unacceptable. Come on Fiji Airways — you can, and should, do better. Rahul Krishna Auckland, New Zealand
