Final Test set to excite and thrill
The Springboks and All Blacks will battle at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the fourth and final Test match between the top two ranked sides. The All Blacks claimed the first Test, winning 33-16 at Ellis Park, but South Africa’s green machine won back-to-back Tests against the visitors 33-26 at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium and 29-14 in Johannesburg at the FNB Stadium. South Africa’s set-piece accuracy and the ability to put the All Blacks under pressure thrived on home soil, but the US is going to be a neutral venue. It is the All Blacks’ last chance to level the series, while the Springboks would take a 3-1 lead and claim top spot. Following a nine-game winning streak which saw the All Blacks dispatch France, Italy and Ireland and then South Africa, the All Blacks suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in over two years and if they fall to defeat in the third Test, then it will match an unwanted run that they last suffered in 2022. Dave Rennie’s men will aim to bounce back to form and there is certainly no better way to do so then getting one back on their fiercest rivals. However, the All Blacks have just won two of their previous nine meetings against the Springboks and will be the underdogs heading into the clash. They will have to be on top form if they are to earn a result at the M&T Bank Stadium. Ardie Savea’s injury and departure will greatly affect the team morale, but the All Blacks can bounce back to win the final Test! Go, go ABs! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
A new sugar chapter
FRED Wesley’s editorial (FT 09/09/26) A Clear Path Forward, rightly underscores the importance of consensus, transparency, and trust in shaping the future of Fiji’s sugar industry. His call for honest dialogue and accountability resonates deeply with growers who have endured a difficult harvesting season and continue to face uncertainty about the industry’s direction. The revelation of an EU–led diversification study is encouraging, but we must be cautious. Too often, missions of this nature remain detached from the lived realities of farmers. Reports and pilot projects are valuable, but they cannot substitute for genuine engagement with growers who carry the industry on their shoulders. Farmers deserve more than talk fests; they deserve action anchored in their daily struggles — cane prices, transport costs, milling efficiency, and fair profit margins. This season has shown us that the current leadership structure is not working. The Assistant Minister’s reluctance to engage openly with growers has eroded confidence, prompting the Prime Minister to rethink the industry’s governance. If Fiji is serious about revitalisation, then new leadership — fresh, energetic, and committed to partnership — must be appointed. The suggestion of Charan Jeet Singh as a possible replacement reflects the urgency of this moment. Leadership must be about listening, not dictating. Equally, the industry cannot continue recycling retired FSC staff into positions of influence. That practice perpetuates outdated thinking and stifles innovation. Just as the civil service has moved to retire staff over 55 to clear space for new ideas, the sugar sector must embrace generational change. Young professionals, engineers, and innovators should be brought in to inject creativity and modern solutions. Without this, diversification will remain a slogan rather than a strategy. Europeans may not plant sugar cane, but their expertise in renewable energy, integrated farming, and market diversification can be useful — if applied with sensitivity to Fiji’s context. What we need is not imported theory but practical pathways: restoring rail transport to cut costs, mechanisation to ease labour shortages, and climate–aligned funding to support sustainable practices. These are tangible steps that can transform the industry from survival mode into a modern agricultural enterprise. The truth is simple: Fiji’s sugar industry cannot be resurrected by reports alone. It requires bold leadership, generational renewal, and policies that translate vision into reality. Farmers have carried this industry for generations; now the Government must carry its responsibility with equal weight. The path forward is clear. Retire the old guard, empower new voices, and anchor diversification in lived reality. Only then will the sugar industry rise again—not as a relic of the past, but as a cornerstone of Fiji’s future. DR SUSHIL K SHARMA Lautoka
Change is necessary
WE read in The National a letter by a ‘PNG Analyst’ who writes “Papua New Guinea needs change. Our people deserve MPs who are present, accountable and genuinely committed to serving them — not leaders who deliver impressive speeches in Parliament while remaining disconnected from their communities.
With only a handful of exceptions, voters should seriously consider replacing MPs who have failed to deliver meaningful results.
The power to change this rests with the people” (Sep 11, 2026.)
Indeed, it does in a democracy.
I believe what the ‘PNG Analyst’ says about the prevailing disconnect between MPs and their people has parallels in other countries in the region. It certainly is the case for Fiji if the commentary in the various Fiji blogsites (Fijileaks, Truth for Fiji and Grubsheet Feejee ) are anything to go by. A recurring theme is the failure of those in power to deliver the good governance they promised in the election. Now, many, including their erstwhile strong supporters, feel let down and are calling for a change in the upcoming elections. RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Market preaching
MY humble request to the Lautoka City Council is to reconsider the Saturday morning preaching broadcast over the public address system at the Lautoka Municipal Market. The volume is often very loud, making it difficult for vendors and customers to converse with one another. The sound can also be harsh and unpleasant, especially for those who spend several hours at the market KUAR SAHAI Simla, Lautoka
Memory, justice, and Fiji’s connection
ON September 11, 2001, nineteen Al–Qaeda operatives hijacked four planes, striking the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3000 lives were lost that day, and more than 9400 have since died from 9/11–related illnesses. A quarter century later, the scars remain deep, and the lessons remain urgent. For Fijians, the impact was felt immediately. Many recall the sudden tightening of global travel rules — liquids restricted to 100ml, endless queues at airports, and the disappearance of the open, welcoming cockpit culture. Before 9/11, cockpit doors were unlocked, pilots greeted passengers, and children were sometimes invited into the cockpit. That openness ended abruptly. Reinforced cockpit doors and heightened security became the new normal, shaping every journey from Nadi to Sydney, Auckland, or Los Angeles. The human toll did not end with the collapse of the towers. First responders — firefighters, police officers, paramedics — rushed into danger, inhaling hundreds of thousands of tonnes of dust laced with asbestos and toxic debris. The FDNY’s 25–year health report confirms that over 12,000 responders have been diagnosed with at least one 9/11–related condition, more than 4200 with cancer, and over 600 have died from exposure–related illnesses. Their sacrifice is ongoing, a reminder that heroism carries a lifelong price. Justice, however, remains unfinished. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind, has been detained at Guantanamo Bay for 20 years, with trial now scheduled for 2028. None of the 25 accused have been fully prosecuted. For families, closure remains elusive. For younger Fijians, 9/11 is not a memory but a lesson. Most under 35 were infants or not yet born when the towers fell. They know the story through parents, teachers, or documentaries, not through lived recall. Yet they experience its legacy every time they travel abroad, every time they queue at security, every time they are reminded that vigilance is now part of global citizenship. That is why remembrance matters. It is not about reliving trauma but about teaching resilience, vigilance, and the cost of freedom. At Ground Zero, names will be read aloud, and twin beams of light will pierce the Manhattan sky. These rituals remind us that terrorism cannot define us, but vigilance and justice must guide us. Twenty–five years on, 9/11 is not just America’s story. It is a global reminder — felt in Fiji’s airports, in our diaspora communities, and in our shared humanity — that memory is a duty, justice is unfinished, and resilience must be renewed with each generation. DR SUSHIL K SHARMA Lautoka
Teachers’ conference
A writer recently questioned whether there is a need to organise the annual Head Teachers’ and Principals’ Conference at expensive hotels, at the expense of the Ministry of Education and schools (FT LTE 20/8). Many of us, through experience, would support the continuation of such conferences because they provide valuable opportunities for interaction, learning and sharing. These meetings bring together education leaders from rural and urban schools who face different challenges but work towards the same goal — excellence in teaching and learning. Dedicated professional teachers look forward to such gatherings because they provide an opportunity to share experiences, discuss challenges and learn from one another. They remind us that, despite our differences and where our schools are located, we are part of the same profession and share a common responsibility towards our students. Teaching and learning can take place anywhere, and valuable lessons can be gained from our experiences, regardless of where we work. TAHIR ALI Hamilton, NZ
Proud moment for family
GRADUATIONS are meant to be happy occasions. For Asinate Koroimata, it was both a proud moment of joy and regret as her beloved father, who had always encouraged her, passed away while she was completing her studies. Her greatest wish was to have her beloved father see her graduate. But our loving God had His own plans. As more than 800 students graduated from various programs as part of the University of the South Pacific’s two-day September graduation ceremonies, Koroimata described her journey as emotional and challenging. A family is the basic unit of any society. Koroimata’s family is no exception as they helped her complete her studies. Their support, motivation and faith kept her going. Koroimata’s graduation was a proud moment marked by both joy and heartbreak! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
