Government needs to act
The report of five families in Navai, Seaqaqa struggling with a three-year water crisis is a clear indictment of local leadership failure (FV 1/8/26).
The borehole that once served these households has remained out of service for three years while the District Officer and the Advisory Councillor appear to have been asleep at the wheel.
Sugarcane farmer Mohammed Rizwan has repeatedly raised the matter with both officials.
Families are forced to rely on limited well water that runs short in dry periods.
Schoolchildren bathe in the river after classes.
Water trucks arrive only days after desperate calls to the Water Authority of Fiji.
Clean water is a basic necessity, yet three years of complaints have produced no lasting repair.
This is not a sudden emergency.
It is an ongoing failure of duty by those who accepted responsibility to look after community affairs.
In 2026 such laxity is unacceptable. With a strengthening El Niño now established, dry conditions across northern and western Fiji are expected to intensify.
What is already difficult will become more acute. Government agencies and local representatives must shift from reactive to proactive mode immediately.
The Ministry of Lands has been asked for comment.
The people of Navai should not have to wait any longer while those charged with their welfare remain silent and inactive.
Accountability is overdue.
Dr Sushil K Sharma Lautoka
Security and contradictions
The Guardian reported on May 5, 2026 that “Australia looks close to signing a landmark security and economic agreement with Fiji as part of the Albanese government’s efforts to contain China’s growing influence across the Pacific.” (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/05/australia-eyes-security-pact-with-fiji-as-pushback-from-beijing-undermines-agreement-with-vanuatu)
The Fiji Times online reports on August 1, 2026 that “Australia has dismissed suggestions its expanding partnership with Fiji is aimed at countering China’s influence in the Pacific, insisting the relationship is driven by shared interests and regional co-operation.” (https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/roberts-dismisses-china-rivalry-claims/)
Thank you Australia for being there for Fiji all the time. Thank you China also for being there for Fiji all the time.
It is the blatant lie that is the problem. The Australian High Commissioner Peter Roberts doesn’t have to lie about the real reasons they are supporting us.
I mean, we Fijians don’t really care why you are helping us. We mostly care about how and how much you are helping us. If it’s aimed at countering China’s influence, that’s fine, geopolitically speaking.
The more you say something isn’t, the more it is. Help us for whatever reason, just keep doing it, maybe until China is helping us. Just don’t try to pull wool over our eyes please. Some of us out here can’t be conned.
Donald Singh Nausori
Smoke screen
The beauty of Savusavu Bay is one of Fiji’s greatest natural assets.
It deserves to be protected — not hidden beneath a cloud of suffocating smoke that threatens the health of our people and the reputation of our town. For several days now, Savusavu and the communities around our beautiful bay have been blanketed by thick smoke from the burning town rubbish dump. In the calm early mornings, the smoke that has accumulated overnight hangs over the bay like a heavy mist, carrying with it the stench of burning rubbish, including plastics.
This is no longer just an inconvenience — it is a public health and environmental issue.
Our hospital patients deserve clean air. Our children deserve clean air. Our visitors deserve clean air. Above all, the people who call this beautiful bay home deserve clean air.
This serious issue should not be allowed to become the new normal.
If our local authorities do not have the resources or equipment to properly manage the landfill, then it is time for the national government to step in.
I urge both the ministry responsible for local government and environmental management, together with the Fiji Roads Authority, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health, and the Savusavu Town Council, to treat this as an urgent priority before the situation deteriorates further.
We should not have to choose between disposing of our rubbish and breathing clean air. The people of Savusavu deserve better.
Noleen Billings Savusavu
Last King of Scotland
The picture of the PM being carried on the shoulders of the bati while seated on a cushioned sofa reminded me of the Last King of Scotland.
For those who do not know of the Last King of Scotland — they should Google it. Perhaps he just wants to take the country back to the old days of dark Africa and proudly so. In any case, the glory is all the PM’s. He has been basking in glory for 40 years, but what is there to show for it?
Jan Nissar Sydney, Australia
Ba Edges Closer to League Title
I congratulate the Dayal Sawmillers Ba team for the brave effort in defeating Labasa at home.
After edging the Babasiga Lions 1-0 in this year’s BiC Fiji Fact semi-final and winning the title there after beating Navua in penalties, the Men in Black made it back-to-back wins over Labasa.
The hosts started well as Rex Naime struck for them but then they could not defend their lead, conceding a penalty in the dying stages of the first half through Nabil Begg and then the heartbreaking goal by Etonia Dogalau in the closing moments of the game.
Ba has a grip on the Extra Premier League title. They face Tailevu Naitasiri next and three points are up for grabs based on Tailevu Naitasiri’s performance.
The Men in Black hadn’t beaten Labasa on their home turf for seven years in a league match, and they ended that ghostly streak.
Ba last won the league in 2019, aiming to end a seven-year-old drought, and they look certain to win. Saturday’s traditional rivalry went in favour of Ba.
For Ba fans, it was a moment of joy and celebration, but for Labasa fans another painful loss and a witness to the bitter fact that the premier league title has slipped away.
Rajnesh Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
A mission into the mountains
Ana Madigibuli’s illuminating article “A mission into the mountains” (ST 2/8/26) brought back special memories for me.
I was the only Indo-Fijian in a government team tour to the remote villages of Nabutautau, Nasauvakarua and Nasivikoso in the interior of Viti Levi in the late 1980s.
I saw the historical sites pictured in the article and stayed overnight in the chief’s house in Nabutautau.
He related the story of the ambush killing of Reverend Thomas Baker and even gave me to handle the axe used to deliver the fatal blow to Baker.
I might be one rare Indo-Fijian to have had that experience.
The taubale we did for several hours to get to these remote villages remains etched into my memory as are the memories of the hospitality of the villagers.
Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Western schools stand out
After the eliminations, all the four Western schools created history by qualifying for the quarterfinals.
This is the first time in the history of the Deans competition that four schools from the West will be represented in the quarter-finals.
This highlights the strength and prowess of these Western-based schools — Ratu Navula College, Ba Provincial Freebird Institute, Cuvu College and Ra High School. Ratu Navula created history in 2013 when they became the first school from the West to win the U18 title after beating Queen Victoria School 19-16 and breaking decades of dominance by the Eastern and Southern schools.
I vividly remember Vasikali Mudu’s crucial try that saw the Nadi-based school edge the boys from Matavatucou.
Ba Provincial looks the team to beat after they edged defending champions QVS after both teams were locked 29-all.
Ratu Kadavulevu School and Lelean Memorial also look top contenders as they brushed aside their opponents, Ratu Sukuna Memorial School 43-14 and Marist Brothers High School 26-7, respectively.
Cuvu College, which produced a blockbusting performance to thrash St Johns College 55-7, will be another tough nut to crack in the quarters. It’s a pity that none of the Northern-based schools could pull through, while Suva Grammar and Nasinu Secondary salvaged the Southern Division’s pride after beating Ratu Luke Secondary School 50-6 and Holy Cross College 21-20, respectively.
The quarters are set to thrill. Toso Viti!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Money talks, solidarity walks
UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC, of which Australia is part of, have rejected outright the ill conceived plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup to private investors.
Where is OFC? I beg to wonder what their position is in the matter.
What about Fiji FA? Or is it, “money talks, solidarity walks”?
MANOJ LAL Patel Lautoka
Gold medal
Fiji’s Taniela Rainibogi secured the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Scotland.
A very wonderful effort from him in the 110kg category, that was also a Games record of 208kg lift. In the 2022 Games, he took a bronze and this year 2026, he became the gold medallist.
What a wonderful effort! We must suffer, I believe, either the pain of discipline or the pain of disappointment. And I am absolutely certain that Taniela embraced quite a disciplinary process, for his triumph.
Vinaka vakalevu Taniela. Be the difference that needs to be seen.
Samu Silatolu Nakasi, Nausori
Unfit to lead
With his patently absurd plan no doubt concocted secretively with the Trump mob to sell off World Cup hosting rights to private interests, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has again provided proof that he is an unfit person to lead the world soccer governing body.
If it was not for the outright rejection of the plan by European and Asian football federations, the soul of soccer would have been sold to private commercial interests.
Infantino was forced to back down from his plan.
Now soccer federations around the world should force him to resign as FIFA president because he is clearly unfit for the job.
Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Unbearable conditions
A lack of public toilet facilities can lead to difficulties in day-to-day life.
Unhygienic conditions, dirty seats, floors, flush handles increase infection risk.
Ba Town Council, do you have any planning on public convenience near the bus station and the water fountain area at market?
NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
