CWMH needs attention!
Yesterday’s editorial titled “CWMH needs urgent attention” summed up the state of “Fiji’s mother of all hospitals”. Without pointing fingers, let’s be brave enough to say that the deteriorating state of CWMH has continued to be neglected. Enough of talk! Let’s pull out all stops and get down to doing something about repair and maintenance to the hospital that thousands depend on. I agree with Fred Wesley (FT: 15/09), “We need action, accountability and results”. The statement (FT: 15/09) made by the former dean and professor of surgery, Eddie McCaig, must also be taken seriously by all the stakeholders concerned! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Call for urgent accountability
Fred Wesley’s recent editorial (FT 15/09/26) rightly described Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM) as a “total mess” and demanded urgent accountability. His words echo what many citizens have long felt: Fiji’s health system has reached rock bottom, and decades of neglect have left patients stranded while leaders recycle excuses. The failures at CWM are not isolated. They mirror the collapse of governance across ministries. Aspen Medical, entrusted with Lautoka and Ba hospitals, has imported its controversies from Australia into Fiji. ABC’s Four Corners revealed Aspen’s billion–dollar PPE contracts secured through political patronage, not competence (ABC 01/05/22; 02/05/22). In Fiji, audits at Lautoka found unsafe prescribing practices (FT 15/09/26). Patients were exposed to preventable errors while Aspen withdrew free outpatient medicines despite receiving $117million in allocations. All the SOPD cases were shunted to the Punjas Health Clinic who now are overwhelmed with 3000 SOPD patients. Similarly, ASPEN has overloaded the Sukanaivalu Medical Clinic with the same numbers and reverted Lautoka to a third world Banana Republic where patients and doctors are exploited with this new company. Where has the $117million gone when they are off loading all the patients, reverting them to these little sheds and huts, where patients sit for hours and then have to take a taxi ride to ASPEN for blood tests and basic X-rays. An investigation into the management of ASPEN and its practices is long overdue. Meanwhile, doctors at CWM are left alone overnight, registrars overstretched, and interns waiting years for postings. FMA acting president Dr Ronal Kumar warned that “nobody leaves because they stopped caring; they leave because caring stopped being survivable” (FT 15/09/26). This is a damning indictment of a government unwilling to invest in staffing, supervision, or safety. Permanent secretary Dr Luisa Cikamatana admitted the 2015–2025 National Health Strategic Plan was unsuccessful, with poor monitoring and no measurable outcomes (FT 15/09/26). Former FMA president Dr Alipate Vakamocea stressed that reporting is essential, yet annual reports were never produced. Strategic plans without accountability are empty promises, and the collapse of CWM is the predictable result. Wesley’s editorial asked what happened before current plans were unveiled. The answer is decades of neglect, misallocation, and paralysis. About 61 per cent of the Health Ministry’s budget is consumed by salaries, yet postings remain delayed and patients wait endlessly. This improvisation mirrors failures in other ministries, where funds are shuffled to cover deficits rather than strategically invested in frontline needs. I (FT 12/09/26) catalogued over 17 listed failures of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s administration: unpaid teachers, sugar industry chaos, EFL gridlock, Fiji Airways debt, tourism exploitation, constitutional secrecy, anti–corruption paralysis, and wage betrayal. If the Prime Minister cannot manage payroll in education, he cannot manage health. Responsibility lies with him, at the top. Fiji traded authoritarianism for incompetence, and citizens now face a nation adrift. The Coalition is asleep at the wheel, presiding over a state where paralysis has become policy, neglect has become routine, and the people are left to shoulder the burden of what I believe is a government that has surrendered its moral authority to govern. DR SUSHIL K SHARMA
Lautoka
YOUR SAY
General election
In his message carried by you on the International day of Democracy, the Speaker of Parliament called upon all Fijians to renew their commitment to democratic participation and accountable governance. Justice Jitoko is obviously right and we should support him. As has been made clear by the Fatiaki Commission, the present Constitution, in particular the single constituency system, has seriously undermined our democracy. I believe it must be now made perfectly plain to our leaders that the people will not tolerate another general election being held under the present undemocratic arrangements. The Constitution must first be brought into line with the principles of representative democracy: an election can then fairly be held which will truly reflect the nation’s will. If it is objected that time is short then the answer is that those who are responsible for getting us into this jam will have to roll up their sleeves to get us out of it. Democracy is too valuable to be allowed to fall victim to dilatoriness. Michael Scott Morris St, Lautoka
Coastal pollution
I am writing to express my concern about the growing coastal pollution affecting Muaivuso Village and nearby communities. For generations, villagers have depended on the sea for fish and seafood to feed their families and support their livelihoods. Today, pollution from abandoned ships, oil spillage, and industrial waste is destroying these precious marine resources. Families are losing an important source of fresh food, while the once beautiful and safe coastline is becoming unsafe to use and enjoy. This is not only an environmental issue but also a human rights concern. Every community deserves a clean, safe and healthy environment. Immediate action is needed to protect our ocean, families and future generations. Sinead Deve Laucala Bay, Suva
Ba to Ba hai!
Congratulations to Ba on clinching the 2026 BOG title. Well done! It seems the Men in Black have finally rediscovered their glory days and winning ways. After also securing the 2026 Fiji FACT title, Ba are once again producing the goods with admirable consistency. Obviously, whatever they are doing in the field is working. Perhaps someone from their coaching bench should kindly send their winning recipe across the west. Sadly, the same cannot be said for my Blues outfit, whose recent performances in the national league and major soccer tournaments have been anything but inspiring. How can a team realistically build consistency, dedication, discipline and display constructive football when it is constantly changing coaches? I believe Lautoka has gone through four mentors in the past two years. At this rate, the coaching position seems to have become a revolving door rather than a foundation for stability. Lautoka was once a respected and feared force in Fiji soccer, backed by a passionate and a huge fan base. Sadly, that aura appears to have diminished considerably.With the seemingly endless internal bickering, recycling of coaches and officials, and lack of continuity, the Blues urgently need to get their house in order. Strategic planning, stability and accountability are desperately needed if the team is to regain the respect of its supporters and, more importantly, return to its winning ways. My undying loyalty to Lautoka remains unquestionable and, despite their recent struggles, the Blues will always have my support, but for now, the crown firmly belongs to Ba. Once again, congratulations to Dayal’s Ba, the proven kings of Fiji soccer. Nishant Singh Lautoka
Chemicals can harm silently
AS someone involved in farming, I have noticed that many farmers spray insecticides and weedicides without wearing proper protective clothing, gloves, boots or masks. This is a serious concern that deserves more attention. The same applies to people who do backyard farming, gardening or use weedkillers to clean their compound boundaries. Just because the work is being done at home does not mean the chemicals are harmless. Agricultural chemicals can enter the body through the skin, eyes or by breathing in spray droplets and vapours. The worrying thing is that the effects of repeated exposure may not always be noticed immediately. Some health problems can develop gradually over many years. Whether you are a commercial farmer or simply spraying weeds around your home, chemicals should always be handled responsibly. Read the label, use the recommended protective equipment, avoid spraying in windy conditions, keep children and animals away from treated areas, and wash properly after handling chemicals. Our farms, gardens and homes should be places where we protect our health, not places where we unknowingly expose ourselves to harmful chemicals. Protect yourself today, because the effects of careless exposure may only become visible years later. Shamal Chand Kuku Village, Nausori
Poverty and race
Poverty neither knows any race nor it has a choice to be prevalent in only one ethnic group. More than 90 per cent of land is owned by iTaukei. They make up almost 80 per cent of civil service, police force, military and other statutory organisations where all receive above the poverty line salaries. While others earn in thousands, they earn in millions through land rent, premiums and royalties. If they are poor, where do they get money to buy expensive commodities such as kava, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs? Neither all Indians nor all iTaukei are in business. The retail business, owned by majority of Indians, is not the only form of commerce. The iTaukei own substantial real estate along Gorden Street and Victoria Parade with an advantage of guaranteed tenancy by Government departments. This is also a form of commercial activity. Poverty is an individual choice. I believe it entirely depends on an individual whether he/she wants to remain in poverty or get out of it. Even in homogeneous societies, there are three classes — lower class, middle class and upper class. Instead of sowing seeds of hatred, division and tension with threats of instability, we should be exploring and resolving the root causes of poverty irrespective of ethnicity. BHARAT MORRIS Gold Coast, Australia
QUICK VIEWS
Crime rise
With the rise of cost of living and crime, how can we survive in this expensive world? Let’s control crime first to alleviate poverty. Law abiding peace loving people should not be made prisoners in their own home. Law and order should be maintained at all times. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
State of healthcare
Fiji’s health system is at “rock bottom” and Colonial War Memorial Hospital is a “total mess” according to Dr Eddie McCaig the former dean and professor of surgery at the Fiji National University’s College of Medicine (FT 15/9/26). Professor McCaig is amply qualified to evaluate the state of the healthcare system in the country. So that is the prevailing situation in the country on the one hand but on the other hand Fiji will, according to the Environment and Climate Change Minister Lynda Tabuya, host over 3000 people at a grand Pre-COP talkfest next month. That’s interesting to say the least. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Heritage site
A news article dated 12/09/2026, stated that, “16 priority buildings, comprising of 10 residential and six public buildings”, in Levuka, Ovalau, will undergo Department of Heritage funding assistance works soon. Four of those six “public buildings” are government owned and obviously fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Works, thus, should not qualify for such assistance. Instead, the maintenance/refurbishment of historical sites, which visitors come to see/visit, should be prioritised. It seems the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage & Arts have got it all muddled up. And by the way, with the Special Administrator been the Township’s first Resident/Citizen, he should be the very last person on the Heritage Assistance list. Anthony Sahai Levuka, Ovalau
Voice of the wind
I observed the FijiFirst led as a ruthless government. Orders from top down was a norm in daily operations to have things in shipshape according to the likeness and wishes of the two leaders. Whereas the current three-wheeler Coalition Government, their way of leadership comes from all voices of the wind. There are little governments within the Coalition Government. Therefore, I believe it is better to be the fastest fish rather than being a big fish to overshadow the small fish. AREKI DAWAI Suva
