Super 8 Cricket Championship
Hats off to Cricket Fiji CEO Anushil Kumar and Cricket Fiji for the efforts taken in organising the Super 8 Cricket Championship in Suva. On July 11, Cricket Fiji held its 2026 Annual General Meeting at Albert Park, led by chairman Ratu Meli Saubulinayau and one month later the Super 8 kicked off on a high note. Eight teams are taking part in the Super 8 — Kabara, Lakeba, Moce, Namuka-i-Lau, Suva, Nadi, Ono-i-Lau and Komo. Cricket Fiji has been boosted by sponsors — JR White, Subrail’s Furniture, Newline Chemicals, Unique Rubber Stamp, Smart, Mai TV, Tech 360, the High Commission of India, All Freight Logistics, 4R Electrical and Commercial Amusement Kava. Suva’s Albert Park has come alive as the eight teams battle it out for supremacy. Fans are encouraged to fill Albert Park and witness the fun and flair. I thank teams who have travelled from afar, having invested funds, training time, energy and resources to compete in the competition. Now that Anushil Kumar, who has had success as a football administrator, is at the helm of Cricket Fiji, I urge him to strengthen competition at school level as well. There are hidden talents in these schools, and they need to be tapped and unearthed and then developed into great cricket ambassadors. RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
More money
Australia will be giving another $A20m to Fiji to host the Pre-COP summit later this year. That is Fijian $30m. Of course, Fiji cannot afford this sort of money so who else will come to Fiji’s aid? This will be another opportunity for a beggar nation to bask in glory for doing exactly nothing. There appears to be no shame in begging and proudly so. It has become part of the ingrained tradition and culture of the country now. It is a bit hypocritical when these ministers try to take the beggars off the streets while they go begging internationally. I believe the same rules should apply to all Fijians, including members of Government and the GCC. Jan Nissar Sydney, Australia
Property crime
Recent debates regarding property crime often overlook a fundamental legal principle recognised globally: the right to self-defence and property protection. While every jurisdiction defines the “reasonable force” limit differently, the underlying legal authority for property owners to protect their assets is deeply embedded in common and civil law systems worldwide. In the United States, the “Castle Doctrine” codifies the right to defend one’s habitation. Across the United Kingdom and Australia, while less expansive, the Criminal Law Act 1967 (UK) and similar state statutes in Australia enshrine the right to use reasonable force to prevent crime, including theft. Legal scholars point to the ancient Latin maxim vim vi repellere licet, “it is lawful to repel force with force”. I believe this is not about vigilantism, it is about jurisdiction. Research by the Institute of Economic Affairs highlights that clear legal pathways for self-defence actually deter opportunistic theft, reducing overall crime rates because the risk to the perpetrator becomes tangible. Furthermore, I believe the European Court of Human Rights has consistently upheld that a state has a duty to protect private property, and where the state fails to provide immediate police response, the property owner cannot be rendered entirely powerless. We must advocate for balanced laws that give citizens the legal authority to protect their hard-earned property without fear of prosecution. The research is clear, societies that respect the owner’s legal agency against theft foster stronger, safer communities. George Seki Sigatoka
A day for our youth
Yesterday, August 12, we celebrated the young people of Fiji —their dreams, resilience, ideas and contribution to our communities and our nation. From our villages and settlements to our schools, workplaces and communities, young Fijians continue to show that we are not just the leaders of tomorrow; we are already making a difference today. Let us create more opportunities for our young people to participate, lead, innovate and have their voices heard in the decisions that shape our future.Our youth are not a problem to be managed, but a generation to be empowered. To every young person working hard, serving your community, pursuing your dreams or simply trying to find your way—keep going. Your contribution matters. Vinaka vakalevu to all our young people for the work you do in your communities and for the future of our beloved Fiji. Happy International Youth Day, Fiji AVENAI SERUTABUA Nabukelevu Village, Serua
People’s behalf
We read in ‘Fiji Focus – Minister’s Corner’ Minister Lynda Tabuya saying “As we continue our mission of making Government information accessible to all, I encourage every reader to make use of trusted Government platforms and publications … to stay informed about the work being carried out across the country on your behalf” (FT 12/8/26). I wonder if the 138 per cent parliamentarians pay rise Minister Lynda Tabuya recommended and her colleagues in Government and Parliament approved was on behalf of the ordinary people of Fiji, a good proportion of them living in grinding poverty? Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Act your wage
If $8/hour is “unsustainable” for Fiji’s economy, why are residential and commercial rents acting like we’re all sitting on generational wealth? If wages must reflect economic reality, shouldn’t the cost of living do the same? Workers are constantly told to live within their means. Maybe it’s time rent started acting our wage too. Elisha Bano Suva
Election thoughts
Standing in elections comes with people’s own aspirations and expertise while some have other motives best known to them. Something that baffles me is of someone who I believe once thought of building a casino in Fiji while our country is still getting developed with so many issues at hand and has now decided to put his foot forward for the next GE. That “casino” never saw the light of the day with so much criticism being thrown in. How do we expect such people with such thoughts to bring in productive and positive vibes which can help make our beloved country better. Our country needs to be at that stage first where modern technologies and ideas can be implemented successfully. Let’s get our country in order so that the rest can follow easily. Kirti Patel Lautoka
From HIV to pornography
Australia pumps in extra $23.5m to fight HIV (FT 7/8/26). A friend in need is a friend in deed. Australia is such a friend to its key vuvale partner in the Pacific. Another problem crying out for Australia funding is the porno pandemic in the country. Fiji reportedly has one of the highest rates of pornography consumption. I am sure the Fiji task force on pornography would have no difficulty in making a case for Australian funding or anyone else. Rajend Naidu Sydney
More from SPX?
In your report ‘Trading Boom’ FT August 11, the chief executive of the South Pacific Stock Exchange [SPX] congratulated himself and his colleagues for last year’s record performance. This included a 200 per cent jump in the number of new investors [727] and the highest level of turnover on the SPX since 2015. Imagine how much more successful the SPX could be if it adopted a proactive, inquisitive, and where necessary critical attitude to its listed companies so that investors could be assured the SPX was always looking out for their best interests. The now-convicted indecent assault offender Mohammad Nouzab Fareed was the subject of at least two written complaints from leading shareholders of Sun Insurance [SUN] when his appointment to a C-suite position was announced last year. In 2019, Fareed had left his previous position as CEO of another SPX-listed company Fijian Holdings after being charged over similar allegations; although he was subsequently convicted this was reversed on appeal. Sun Insurance had told the SPX and investor community in a written statement on July 17 last year that Fareed had been hired as the company’s new chief transformation officer. The company boasted how Fareed was going to be instrumental in the company’s long-term growth strategy. Fareed’s appointment by Sun Insurance triggered multiple written complaints from significant shareholders which went unactioned. And then after his conviction last month, Sun Insurance changed their story entirely. On July 28, Sun Insurance told the investment community via the SPX website that Fareed was only ever a consultant on a short-term contract, and had already left the company unrelated to being found guilty on two counts of indecent assault. Fareed’s business cards, his email signature block and the original July 17, 2025 press release directly contradicted this. The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement spoke for many in a press release issued on July 30. ‘The silence, lack of curiosity and foot-shuffling of SPX and the Reserve Bank of Fiji, whose primary responsibilities include market regulation, is astonishing,’ said FWRM executive director Nalini Singh. As the FWRM said, the SPX has provided no comment or guidance to investors, stakeholders or the wider community. Sun Insurance’s clearly conflicting public explanations have been distributed by the SPX without comment, relaying company statements about Fareed that have been both confusing and shape shifting. The obvious fear is that the silence from the SPX over Sun Insurance sets a precedent and could encourage other listed companies to treat their responsibilities to shareholders as little more than a street hustler’s three-cup monte trick, where nothing is as it seems. The SPX’s record-breaking number of new, small-dollar investors will need so much more than this if Fiji is ever to reach its full capital-market potential. Charlie Charters Hong Kong
Artificial intelligence
The terms “artificial intelligence (AI)” or “super intelligence (SI)” – in terms of robotic machines- are in my opinion misnomers. Despite this, we have all adopted these terms without question. By applying the word “intelligence” to these machines, we are really – and I believe wrongly- attributing them with the “consciousness” trait which uniquely is a human characteristic and one that cannot really be replicated by non-humans. Of course, robotic machines through “machine learning” can eventually become sentient and aware and do things far better, quicker, smarter and more efficiently than humans. However, these non-human objects will never acquire the kind of intelligence -with all its related feelings and other God – given traits – that only humans have. It’s, therefore, not really right to state that machines or robots will artificially acquire human intelligence. What they are really acquiring or learning are knowledge and technical skills inputted by their human masters/ creators. Certainly not the human intelligence that is uniquely God given! Edward Blakelock Admirals Circle, Pacific Harbour
