RFMF Submission
HATS off to the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, for finally saying what needed to be said — openly, honestly, and without political varnish.
His admission in the RFMF’s submission to the Constitution Review Commission marks a turning point in our national story, and it is time Fiji faced the reality he has laid bare.
The Commander stated: “The systemic and institutionalised pattern of political instability that has fractured the nation since 1987 was not merely witnessed by the military but, at times, was built and maintained by its own hands. The RFMF does not make that admission lightly, nor without genuine remorse for the role the institution has played in protecting a system that has fractured the moral soul of the nation.”
This is the most honest statement ever made by the RFMF in 56 years of constitutional turbulence. Fiji has gone backwards — socially, economically, morally — because every time our leaders or our institutions refused to follow the Constitution, the nation paid the price. We have lived through a cycle of constitutions, commissions, and “new beginnings” littered across our history, yet the instability continued because the root cause was never confronted.
Anyone with a gun could walk into Parliament, tear up the rulebook, write a new document, grant themselves immunity, and call it “national interest.”
That pattern destroyed our democratic culture. Bainimarama’s 2006 takeover and the 16 years that followed brought pain, fear, and stagnation.
And when the coalition government came in 2022, many believed — for the last time — that Fiji would finally have a people centred government. Instead, the poor have become even more destitute, and the same political habits have continued. This is why the RFMF’s call to remove constitutional immunity provisions is not only courageous — it is necessary.
Immunity has been the shield behind which instability thrived. It allowed leaders to act without accountability and left ordinary citizens to suffer the consequences.
For the RFMF Commander to admit the institution’s own role in this history is a moment of truth Fiji has waited decades for. It is now up to our political leaders to match that honesty with action. The Constitution must be respected. The rule of law must be upheld. And no institution — civilian or military — should ever again be placed above the people. Fiji stands at a cusp. We can either continue repeating the last 56 years, or we can finally build a nation where constitutions are not torn up, commissions are not used as bandages, and immunity is not a reward for destabilising the country.
Maj-Gen Kalouniwai has opened the door. Now the nation must walk through it.
DR SUSHIL K SHARMA Lautoka
Standing up for free press
THE Fiji Times has revealed that it “is not ready to apply for the $375,000 in direct Government funding allocated to the company under the 2026-2027 National Budget” (FT, 18/7/26).
I applaud the principled stance The Fiji Times has taken to maintain its independence and integrity as a free press.
Accepting Government funding would undermine the paper’s role as a public watchdog, holding those in power to account.
Even if editorial independence were maintained, the perception of compromised independence would be difficult to avoid.
The Fiji Times has earned the trust and respect of its readers, both in Fiji and abroad. It should not risk that hard-earned credibility by accepting Government funding that could create doubts about its independence.
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Taskforce on pornography
SOMETIME back, the Sitiveni Rabuka-led coalition government set up a National Taskforce on Pornography. What work has the taskforce, or any of its members, undertaken?
Surely this was an important taskforce established to address the pervasive problem of pornography in the country, and not merely a knee-jerk reaction to it.
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
National budget announcement
THE Australian national budget is handed down in Parliament at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday in May each year.
The Australian Treasurer is allocated 30 minutes to deliver the budget. Immediately afterwards, he races on foot from Parliament House to the ABC media centre to answer difficult questions about it. Australians wait for him to appear on TV at 8pm.
Expected revenue in the Australian budget is approaching one trillion dollars for 2026/27. On the other hand, it took the Fiji Minister of Finance almost two hours to deliver the national budget. I saw it because I was in Fiji at the time, and it was painful to watch.
Obviously, the Fijian budget is more complicated, and I should not be comparing apples with oranges, or a donkey with a horse.
I believe the complications may have to do with tradition and culture, unless someone has another explanation.
JAN NISSAR Sydney, Australia
Humiliation or greatest comeback
THE Flying Fijians’ 73–8 demolition by England was more than just a loss. It was one of the darkest days in Fijian rugby history. For a nation where rugby is woven into the fabric of everyday life, the result hurt. Deeply.
In the aftermath, questions have inevitably surfaced. Was replacing Mick Byrne the right decision?
Did politics influence the coaching change? While rumours continue to circulate, what matters now is not assigning blame but reassigning and charting a path forward.
Great rugby nations have all endured painful defeats. The All Blacks have. Australia has. Even England has. What separates champions from the rest is not whether they fall, but how they respond after they do.
The Flying Fijians must rebuild with discipline, restore confidence, tighten their defence and ensure rugby decisions are made in the best interests of the game. Fiji possesses some of the most naturally gifted players on the planet.
Talent has never been the problem. Consistency, structure and composure are keys and can be the turning point.Sometimes a crushing defeat becomes the wake-up call that success could never provide.
The scoreboard read 73–8. History will remember the number. But the next chapter is still unwritten.
The question now is simple: Will this be remembered as Fiji’s greatest humiliation or the moment the Flying Fijians began their greatest comeback?
COLIN DEOKI Melbourne, Australia
FIFA World Cup climaxes
NINETY minutes separate Spain and Argentina from eternal glory and a hand on the prestigious World Cup title.
The highly anticipated final pits Lionel Messi against his prodigal Barcelona son Lamine Yamal who will be a threat.
In the semis, Spain took advantage of France’s weakness – lack of midfield superiority, which is common with Argentina which has been frail in midfield as well.
In the final 30 minutes against an exhausted England outfit, Argentina asserted their dominance in midfield, but prior to that they found it hard to break the wall. Spain will be happy to pack the midfield once again, as they did against France, and allow their full backs to strike.
Pedro Porro, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Marc Cucurella, Alex Baena, Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal will play a vital role for the La Roja. For Argentina, Lionel Messi will play an instrumental role alongside the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina presses much better and this could disrupt Spain’s midfield play.
The La Albiceleste play with immense physicality (as was seen against England) and their fighting spirit and character were seen against Egypt (coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2) and The Three Lions (scoring two goals in the dying moments).
Argentina has depth on the bench. Messi wants to retire on the highest of notes by winning his second FIFA WC title. Argentina, which is the holder of the CONMEBOL Copa America, faces Spain, the holder of the Euro 2024 title.
The last time the two sides met in the WC final was in 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Spain had the last laugh as Andreas Iniesta netted the historic, match-winning goal in the 116th minute of extra time to secure the La Roja’s maiden WC title. Best wishes to Argentina and Spain and their ardent fans!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
The right size
THERE can be no disputing the logic behind right-sizing the civil service (FT 17/7).
However, what about right-sizing the size of the Sitiveni Rabuka-led Coalition Government, where a large number of members are ministers or assistant ministers?
Where is the logic in maintaining such a large Cabinet and ministerial structure in a country with a population of less than one million people?
The question is whether decisions are being made in the best interests of the country and its people, or whether political considerations are also influencing the size of government. I believe thinking Fijians will have their own views on this matter.
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Independent stance
TEMPTING. That’s what I would call it. Leaping at the grant allocated for media organisations would be a natural reaction by media houses. The Fiji Times has abstained. May it continue to maintain its independence for the benefit of its all Fijians.
DONALD SINGH Nausori
The blame game
BLAMING someone else or something else is a long-standing tradition and culture in Fiji.
The blame game is prevalent from the highest offices of government to everyday people on the streets.
We all know that the descendants of the girmitiyas have a lot to answer for. In fact, there is a widespread perception among certain groups that Fiji’s problems began when the girmitiyas arrived.
Be that as it may, what is immensely creative is when a passionate grog dopey blames the weather for his kanikani.
JAN NISSAR Sydney, Australia
Viva la Argentina
NO matter what people may say, Lionel Messi is the GOAT (Greatest of all time).
MANOA KALECA Nakasi
Open manholes
WHEN I read that a New Zealand resident had injured himself after falling into a manhole, I was not at all surprised (“Manhole incident sparks concern”, FT 18/7). It was bound to happen.
I suspect many locals have also had incidents involving exposed manholes, but they have not made the news. The Fiji Times has, through its Eyewitness reports, alerted us on numerous occasions about exposed manholes and the danger they pose to public health and safety. Hopefully, concrete action will be taken to address the country’s ongoing manhole problem.
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Prison statistics
THE Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) director of training and rehabilitation, Superintendent Isireli Dausiga, has reportedly revealed that there are 1650 inmates in Fiji’s correctional facilities, with 74 per cent identifying as iTaukei.
While some might jump to conclusions along ethnic lines, I find the statistic broadly consistent with national population ratios. On a pro-rata basis, this suggests that every ethnic group faces challenges when it comes to law and obedience.
There is therefore no ethnic group that is inherently “worse” or “better” when it comes to law and order. We all have much reforming, transforming and perhaps even reflecting to do. This issue should be viewed through a statistical lens rather than through emotional or political perspectives.
DONALD SINGH Nausori
