Three girls drown
SO sad. It was heartbreaking to read about the reported drowning deaths of three young children at Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi earlier this month.
Two girls, aged eight and seven, had accompanied their mother for a picnic when bystanders found them floating in the water. In a separate incident, a five-year-old girl who had gone to the beach with her father was found near the shoreline.
What should have been joyful family outings ended in unimaginable sorrow. Three young lives, each full of promise, were tragically cut short. Nothing we say or do can bring these children back, but we can honour their memory by doing everything possible to prevent similar tragedies.
Both incidents are expected to be investigated for alleged negligence.
While we must allow those investigations to establish the facts, these heartbreaking losses remind us that children need close, constant supervision around water. A moment’s distraction can have devastating consequences.
With the national drowning toll reportedly reaching 50, compared with 31 for the same period last year, water safety must remain a priority.
Parents, caregivers and communities all have a role to play in promoting safer practices, particularly for children with no swimming experience.
At this painful time, the grieving families deserve our compassion and support.
I pray that these children rest in peace and that their families find strength and comfort as they grieve the loss of their loved ones.
Suresh Chand Nadi
Lest we forget
THERE they fought,
there they died.
Some buried in memorial plots,
some alone under a foreign sky.
They fought for king,
queen and country,
so that we can all have
freedom, peace and security.
Those brave and fallen ones,
made the ultimate sacrifice,
shedding their precious blood,
so that you and I can survive.
At the going down of the setting sun
and in the dewy dampness of new dawn,
as the Last Post breaks the stillness,
we all should pause, pray and mourn,
those gallant, brave and fallen ones.
So wear a blood red poppy,
on Wednesday 11th November 2026
Remembrance Day,
to forever remember them fondly,
lest we forget all of them today!
Edward Blakelock Admirals Circle, Pacific Harbour
Must-win politics
OUR political system is the root cause of Fiji’s collective downfall. Somewhere along the line, leadership stopped being a service and instead became a high-stakes game.
Because it is viewed as a “must-win” match, transparency and accountability are routinely swept under the carpet, substituted with polished lies designed to make the public believe a false reality.
History exposes this toxic cycle clearly.
In 1987 and 2000, manipulative techniques weaponised fear, falsely claiming our Indo-Fijian brothers would strip others of their land.
In 2006, the coup was executed under a dual guise: protecting senior officials from prosecution while simultaneously preaching equality for all ethnic groups.
Decades later, the playbook hasn’t changed.
Today, numerous political parties still exploit these exact same manipulation tactics simply to secure votes, seize power, and accumulate personal wealth.
When will real, honest people step up into leadership?
We often hear the ambitious promise of Fiji becoming the “Singapore of the Pacific”.
Unless we break this cycle of manipulative, win-at-all-costs politics, that vision will remain a distant dream that never happens.
Paula Kaloukocei Levuka, Ovalau
FNPF saga
I cannot thank Professor Shaista Shameem enough for finally adding her very learned and authoritative voice (FT 09/11/26).
On behalf of the surviving 1370-odd betrayed senior Fiji National Provident Fund pensioners, you bring us a huge and undoubted “ray of hope” — and much awaited possible good news.
Can we please lean on you? Your powerful sharing adds immense strength to our cause.
Equally so, our thanks must also go to Sue Cauty of Pacific Harbour — FT November 10, 2026.
Vinaka vakalevu for your sharing.
They are very well experienced.
The voices of two caring ladies in society, our advocates, are received with great positivity, hope and much happiness.
You amplify all that has been expressed in recent weeks, months and years.
To Professor Shameem, our immense thanks, gratitude and appreciation for taking up our late fearless fighter, David Burness’ case (your former neighbour in Suva Point).
Sadly, he watches from way up yonder beyond the stars.
To him and his fearless co-fighter, the late Jackson Mar, under the Chairmanship of Professor Vijay Naidu, our fight with the cruel, heartless and “don’t give a damn” FNPF, is now energised. We will fight on.
Equally cruelly, the former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and his then Attorney General – Minister for Finance, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, I believe, worked with FNPF to force so much financial loss, pain and suffering to so many senior pensioners in 2012.
This was a real “cruel blow well below the belt” to at least 6000 of us, way back then. Sadly, some 4630-odd have since passed on. Dewan Chand of Namadi being the latest. May they all rest in perfect peace.
Fresh new voices are with us now. We are energised.
We will fight on.
I will give my last breath in this cause for Restorative Justice and Restitution.
Honourable Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, still holds that proverbial “Golden key” to unlock that door and grant us life-lines we desperately crave.
We count on you.
You have the empathy and compassion needed.
This festering 14-year betrayal must end sooner.
Ronnie Chang Nadi
Trade union, FNPF pension
IT is a matter of grave concern that in recent years neither the FTUC nor its affiliates have spoken up for their former members fleeced by the 2011-12 FNPF reforms.
This oversight applies especially to the teachers and public service unions.
The retired workers and FNPF pensioners would have paid their union dues, and made the mandatory contributions to FNPF.
Teachers and public servants as well as other salaried and wage earners lost between half to a third of their monthly pensions each month for the last 14 years.
As far as I can recollect the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions led by Attar Singh made at least one significant statement opposing the pension cuts for existing pensioners.
James Raman, the former FTUC general secretary and former FNPF Board member also wrote to the Fiji Times about this matter and the serious impact on pensioners.
He pointed to the fact that there was no issue of FNPF bankruptcy.
These initial opposing statements by trade unionists do not exempt the trade union leaders’ failure to stand up for retired workers for the last decade and a half.
Over this period, the number of FNPF pensioners have declined from 14,000 to 1371 by natural attrition.
Their financial insecurity and following their deaths, the hardships and poverty of their families seem to have been overlooked by the labour movement.
I hope that the current trade union leaders do ensure that there is no more pension challenge by FNPF.
Professor Vijay Naidu Chair, 2012 Pensioners Committee
Your request!
Sukha Singh. Your request to the Minister for Health (LTE 06/11/26) for a $850 scale is noted.
Is anyone dying?
Edward Kumar Lautoka
Constitution change
I can’t understand why our Prime Minister made extra ministers to change the constitution, especially to make a Senate which will not benefit the people but himself and the senators.
I am sure he will get a lot of votes from the chiefs in the next election.
The council is already “great”.
Will it not cause division in the Great Council when only eight of them from the council will become senators.
Why don’t we let the Great Council be the Senate also?
Sukha Singh Labasa
Sea to tap
History has taught us that prolonged droughts and famine can have devastating effects on communities. Today’s drought should be a wake-up call for Fiji.
We are an island nation surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.
Why can’t our Government invest in Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination technology to convert seawater into fresh drinking water and store it for future emergencies?
Instead of relying only on water carting and temporary solutions, let’s invest in long-term water security.
We cannot control the rain, but we can prepare for its absence. Water is life!
NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
Water shortage
Navneet Ram’s comments on water shortage (FT27/10) is amazing, as Fiji is surrounded by sea, river, natural spring water and waterfalls.
“Water! Water everywhere, but not a drop to drink!” I believe this is temporary, due to El Nino, as the Fiji PM has commented.
Once you carry your own water, you learn to value every drop.
Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Kava for minister
IT may be a little late to voice this, but I am appalled to have read as reported in this daily that as a taxpayer and a non-kava drinker, part of my hard earned dollars was used to pay for kava taken overseas by the Minister for o Health.
The very minister responsible for our health!
Edward Kumar Lautoka
