Very disrespectful
FOR doing what she is meant to do as a reporter – ask the hard questions to leaders – President Trump berated CNN reporter Kristen Holmes as “very disrespectful” and said to her: You’re a loud, boisterous person, you’re fake news, be quiet”.
CNN stood firmly behind its reporter and said the attacks on Holmes were “beneath the office”.
Trump is notorious for attacking female reporters (FT 19/8/26).Trump does not know what that means because he is not fit and proper to hold that high office in the first place.
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Football fever
YESTERDAY was finals day at Subrail Park in Labasa, where our secondary school footballers battled for supremacy.
The competition made the Friendly North come alive as fans enjoyed four days of football action.
More attention is needed to foster the growth of football at the secondary school level.Our footballers need exposure and competition, and I urge FFA to act and bring back the zonal winners at the main IDC.In front of the fans, our players will love the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills.I acknowledge the efforts of Aminesh Ram and his executive team, the players and all the participating schools!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Corporate Fiji and SPCA
I SINCERELY thank The Fiji Times for publishing my letter, “Please Stand with SPCA,” in its Saturday August 22 edition.
My purpose in raising this issue was not for personal recognition, nor to criticise SPCA.It was to give a voice to the many animals that cannot speak for themselves and to highlight the essential work SPCA continues to perform despite limited resources.I also wished to encourage corporate organisations to look beyond conventional sponsorship activities and consider animal welfare as a meaningful part of their social responsibility.
Consistent corporate support could assist SPCA with veterinary medicines, food, shelter improvements, rescue services, desexing clinics and community awareness programs.My dog Mummy’s experience reminded me how important SPCA is—not only to pet owners, but also to abandoned, injured and neglected animals that may have nobody else to help them.
By publishing the letter, The Fiji Times has helped bring this important matter before the wider community. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to express this concern and hope it encourages discussion and, more importantly, positive action.
PRAVENDRA SHANKAR Flagstaff, Suva
Commission of Inquiry
WE read in The Fiji Times that Chief Justice Salesi Temo criticised the extension of the Commission of Inquiry into former FICAC commissioner Barbara Malimali, referring to it as “money wasted” (FT 22/8).
PM Rabuka does not think so. His view is that the concerns over Malimali’s appointment were valid. He is lodging an appeal to challenge the High Court ruling that the COI was “null and void”.
We read further that “when approached separately about Justice Dane Tuiqereqere’s findings that Ms Malimali’s appointment was “inappropriate”, Justice Temo declined to comment, directing questions to the judge who delivered the ruling.
That is interesting because “Ms Malimali was appointed by the Judicial Services Commission, of which the Chief Justice is chair”.
I commend The Fiji Times for putting a very pertinent question to the Chief Justice in the public interest. That is good journalism!
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Hockey’s glory days
THE Sugar City was a hive of activity and excitement as it hosted the 2026 Fiji Secondary Schools Hockey National Tournament Finals, with 13 schools battling for glory.
The tournament kicked off at Nadovu Hockey Ground, featuring the girls and the boys competition in the U16 and U19 categories.
Unlike major sports like rugby, football, netball and athletics, hockey is not a popular sport, perhaps because of the structure of the game. The Ministry of Youth and Sports must invest in this sport because we have talented players.
I commend Fiji Secondary Schools Hockey Association President Makelesi Mawi and her executive team for doing their level best to revive hockey at secondary school level, and for supporting a competition that not only builds character but instills discipline and teamwork.
I had a chat with the keyboard warrior from the Old Capital, Anthony ‘The Wizard’ Francis Sahai, who shared that apart from being nicknamed Romario because of his dazzling football skills, he was part of the Levuka Warriors Hockey team that won the National Inter-Club Hockey Tournament in Lautoka in 1989.
The Levuka Warriors beat top teams from Suva and Lautoka which were laden with Fiji reps.
Some players who donned the Levuka Warriors jumper include the late Kenny Powell, Tevita Vola, George Salesi, Karalo Vugai and Wakele Vidi, Jiofiliti Tela, Arthur Warbrooke, Salu Young, Tapa Powell and Sahai.
Back then, Nasau Park, the heart of sports in the Old Capital, was the cradle of Fiji hockey.
Passionate hockey players like Sahai picked up anything (whether it was a tavioka stem or any piece of timber) that resembled a hockey stick to play hockey along the back roads and lanes.
Isa, those beautiful days in the Old Capital, which was once a football powerhouse and won the senior division football IDC tournament.
I’m glad, the glory days of Fiji hockey have been revived!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Lions dominate Deans 2026
AS I penned this letter, Lelean U19 led Navatu Secondary School by a point (15-14).
The atrocious weather condition played a vital role in determining the outcome of most of the games that were played yesterday.
While the finals were thrilling, I was disappointed by the ground condition.
The organisers knew that the HFC Bank Stadium was set to host the Deans finals, but the Suva vs Naitasiri match was played there on Friday evening.
Back to the Deans – the U-14 trophy was won by Ratu Navula as they beat QVS 22-17.
RKS broke the hearts of Marist Brothers High School with a try in the dying moments to lift the U-15 trophy.
Marist was reduced to 13 players, and they found it hard to contain the RKS onslaught in the dying moments.
Suva Grammar proved too strong for Tailevu giants QVS and RKS in the U-16 and 17 grades, respectively. Grammar thrashed QVS 40-12 and beat RKS 24-15 to walk away with the trophies.
The Fiji Sports Council must get its act together and work on getting the HFC Bank Stadium to what it used to be when Litiana Loabuka was the CEO.
Schools spend so much money, time and effort. They deserve better playing turf.
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Salary increase
Dr SUSHIL K. Sharma says, “Government’s refusal to implement a living wage is not about economics – it is about priorities” (FT, 22/8/26).
I believe it is about political will.
There was political will when it came to MPs awarding themselves “a staggering 139 per cent salary rise”.
The political will is conspicuous by its absence on the part of the same hypocritical leadership, which now claims that $8 an hour for workers is unsustainable.
The ordinary workers of Fiji deserve a more “people-centred” leadership rather than one that is self-serving and pro-business.
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Justice will prevail
FORCIBLY accepting major reductions in one’s FNPF pension under an unelected government and the grossly unpalatable Decree 51 was truly no small or painless measure.
Some of us, out of intense fear, opted to take lump sums. These did not last long.
Some high income pensioners are today so much luckier.
They have since received two to three times their total contributions.
The Coalition Government by former Deputy PM and Finance Minister fully reinstated monthly pensions.
The unfortunate folks — lower income earners, suffered much discrimination.
The Coalition Govt did not offer us any reprieve. This is so unjust.
Please have some empathy, compassion and due consideration.
We are truly overburdened with exacerbated financial stress. We are also struggling and beg for a lifeline.
One author of that infamous Decree 51 today understands the pain of losing his pension.
“Do unto others what you have them do unto you, former PM.”
It is painful.
The Eighth Commandment has valued lessons for all God-fearing Christians: “Thou shalt not steal.”
No third party has the legal right, in my view, to reduce our irrevocable pension.
Justice will prevail in God’s time.
Trust me.
RONNIE CHANG Martintar, Nadi
Greatest rugby rivalry
RUGBY’S greatest rivalry tour gets down to business when Ellis Park hosts the first Test between the Springboks and All Blacks, the first of the four-match series and the fourth of the nine-match tour.
The green machine is in a devastating form.
They hammered the Barbarians 80-31 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, England’s Roses 45-21 at Ellis Park, Scotland’s Bravehearts 42-28 at Loftus Versfeld and Wales 43-0 at Kings Park.
However, the Springboks narrowly escaped at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, beating the Los Pumas 17-10.
Since the 35-7 win against the All Blacks in 2023 at Twickenham Stadium, the hosts have won four of the five battles between the sides- 12-11 at the Stade de France in the 2023 RWC final, 31-27 at Ellis Park and 18-12 at the Cape Town Stadium in 2024.
The last battle between the sides at the Wellington Regional Stadium was a painful one for the hosts, as South Africa inflicted a humiliating 43-10 defeat on NZ soil.
South Africa looks favourites but the visitors have gained some momentum, after thrashing the three South African clubs- 38-21 versus the Stormers at the DHL Stadium, 54-0 versus the Sharks at Kings Park and 50-19 versus the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
The All Blacks looked good in the warm-up fixtures, but today’s battle will be the true test for the men in black.
The Springboks are on a 12-match unbeaten run and occupy top spot in the world rankings.
They are the two-time defending RWC champions and won the Rugby Championship back-to-back in 2024 and last year.
The All Blacks have a new coach in Dave Rennie, and the boys look fit and sharp.
However, in the Nations Championship, they struggled to beat France (34-32), but beat Italy and Ireland 47-17 and 40-21, respectively. Go, go ABs!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Kava abuse
HOW long will Methodist Church ministers and lay pastors continue to be reminded about the dangers of overconsumption of yaqona?
Must we keep repeating the same message until the Second Coming?
How long must we wait before this issue is taken more seriously?
Sobo!
WISE MUAVONO Lautoka
True leadership
JAMES Pridgeon, a 2016 Leadership Fiji alumnus, believes leadership is a privilege grounded in service, humility and responsibility (FT 22/8/26).
I wonder what he makes of the leadership displayed by our parliamentarians who give themselves a 138 per cent pay rise and additional perks when half the country is living in poverty and workers have been denied $8 an hour wage because it is purported to be “unsustainable”?
What kind of leadership is that?
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
