New probe DINESH KUMAR BA THIS letter refers to the front page headline in Saturday’s edition (FT 03/01). I firmly believe the Government should allow the police to investigate all allegations relating to the former prime minister, former commissioner of police, former attorneygeneral, and former supervisor of elections in a single, comprehensive inquiry. The repeated emergence of fresh revelations involving the same individuals, stemming from events surrounding the last general election, has become tiresome and unproductive. Rather than allowing this saga to resurface at regular intervals, it would be far more prudent to conclude the matter decisively. Such an approach would not only conserve taxpayers’ money but also spare the public from an endless rerun of political drama that offers little beyond déjà vu.
Domestic violence KIRTI PATEL LAUTOKA THE Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre has revealed nine women lost their lives by the hands of their partners in 2025. I agree the number is too high for our country. As revealed by them, 70 per cent of women are at huge risk when they decide to leave their partners for good. Precious lives are lost just in the blink of an eye because “some” males’ ego take the best of them. It’s very frustrating and upsetting to know of such tragic incidents although it’s nothing new. We still haven’t reached the stage where there is fear in the violent partner who believes in taking life than to work things out or letting go. What good does one achieve by taking the life of another woman? Women are no one’s personal property as “some” sick-minded males seem to think. Women have the right to life just like men and it’s a life too meaningful and special to be lost only because a weak, sick, disturbed and worthless man could not sort things out or control the rust in his brain. Our women need more counselling and education in making a safer and smarter move to safeguard their lives. It will be good if we get to hear of less, rather no lives lost as such in coming years. Better to let go than taking lives which does not benefit anyone and ruins the future completely.
Fiscal year questions DONALD SINGH SUVA I READ with particular interest about the possible reverting to the January to December fiscal year from the current August to July fiscal year. While there are way more qualified individuals than me both in Government and in the private sector to provide provoking thoughts on the matter, I am loudly wondering what opinion the immediate former Finance Minister holds on this. I mean, I didn’t hear about any such plan under his ministership. This is not a politically motivated question. It’s just honest questioning.
Judge blocks Trump order RAJEND NAIDU HYDERABAD, INDIA WHEN I read in The Fiji Times “Judge blocks Trump order” (Reuters/FT 3/1) from “ending deportation protections for thousands of migrants from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua after opponents argued the terminations were motivated by racial hostility” it reaffirmed my abiding belief in the integrity and primacy of the American justice system. No one including the highest office holder, the president, can ride roughshod over the rights guaranteed under the laws of the land. May that continue to be the norm of human rights protection in America after Trump is long gone.
New year NARAYAN REDDY LAUTOKA 2026 just started and many new year resolutions are made again, it will be interesting to see when and how long the new resolutions last. I remember some of my friends quit grog, alcohol and one even quit his night life last year. Within a month they were back doing whatever they said they would not do. Let’s see how this year goes for many of us.
The golden voice of Satish Narain RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM NADAWA, NASINU LEGENDARY commentators have a lot up their sleeve. For me, the voice of soccer, Raymond Stoddart, former rugby commentator Graham Eden and currently the best rugby commentator Satish Narain have left an impression, footprints on the sand and a legacy that will be hard to emulate. As such, I wish to pen a tribute on Satish who is a renowned name in soccer, athletics and rugby 7s and 15s. I thank Satish for his support that enabled me to compile this piece. I started following Satish from 1998. I sent him a video of the final of the 1998 Fiji International 7s that was played between Fiji and the Australian Fijians. Satish was the commentator. In pool play Fiji defeated the Australian Fijians 28-26 and in the final Fiji won 28-19. Satish started doing short commentaries in 1991, but it was in 1992 that he started doing full games. His first full match was a Fiji Football national league game between Suva and Ba in Suva in August 1992. Satish never looked back from there. Satish grew an interest in commentary in 1977 when he first heard Graham Eden on the radio. Since then, he did mock commentaries and even his schoolmates knew that because he was into that when they had free classes. For Satish, calling the Coca-Cola Games is the highlight on the local scene. I quote him, “Imagine an athlete coming from maritime or far North or the West and his family and friends who can’t make it to Suva watch the kid perform on TV. That makes you feel that the work we do means so much to grassroot people. And when we get cheers or bad comments on social media, it makes us know that people are watching — following and caring.” The other memorable moment for Satish had to be the 2000 World 7s Series held in Suva, where he was selected to be part of an international commentary pool with one of the greats, Keith Quinn. They ended up calling the final which saw the All Blacks 7s defeat Fiji 31-5. Satish felt emotional and proud as he did the commentary alongside All Blacks 7s great Karl Te Nana during the HSBC SVNS WRSS. He hoped that his dad and mum were around to see what he had achieved in the country and on the international scene. He paid tribute to Karl TeNana who helped him to be on the circuit. As a veteran commentator, Satish prepares for a Saturday match four to five days ahead, writing short notes and preparing player profiles. For Satish, most of the work for a Saturday match is done during the week which means that the 80-minutes rugby on Saturday becomes much easier to call. Satish is not only a famous commentator, but a renowned writer, a humanitarian, a social worker, a humble and downto-earth gentleman. Just like the greats Graham Eden and Raymond Stoddart, there will never be another Satish, thus the need to pen his life on paper. Dear Satish, you are our pride. Continue with the great commentaries! God bless!
The “Qiri kapa” gangs DONALD SINGH SUVA WHILE we are revisiting, reviewing, revising existing laws and bylaws, and also enacting some new laws, can we please consider outlawing the “Qiri kapa” gangs? Quite annoying when these children, youths and adults in residential areas are beating their tin cans, drums and utensils, and the bigger problem is that they sound loud and horrible. “Qiri kapa” should be restricted to entertainment only, upon invite and also upon consent from those who feel disturbed, especially when the noise goes on and on for hours. I used to like it though, not too long ago. That’s when they played in town around shopping centres. Now I find the groups in the neighbourhood, across the street and across the fence even. Hopefully when the new year is new no more, the noise will be gone. Chaos and nonsense, if done in the wrong place. Entertainment, if well rehearsed, permitted and musical.
