Children and drugs
The revelation by the Minister for Education that 3627 students were involved in drug-related cases is not surprising.
This has been happening for a long time, yet there has not been any concrete solution to help children get off drugs. Parents need to start playing an active role and counsel their children in matters of urgent concern.
Unfortunately, it is the behaviour imitation that leads to such issues.
Children see their parents consume alcohol, kava, or smoke cigarettes and imitate such behaviour themselves.
Cigarettes are available at homes where parents or grandparents smoke, and children find it normal to try them out.
Most times, parents confuse discipline with love and care. Disciplining your child does not mean you don’t love them.
Teaching them the right things will augur well in their later years.
I have seen parents disguising their children’s behaviour and later regretting not disciplining them.
I urge parents to step up and play an active role before it is too late.
Avitesh D Kumar
Ba
The term
‘fruit salad’
I SEE there’s been a bit of a kerfuffle lately over the use of terms like “fruit salad” to describe people of mixed heritage. Some folks, it seems, are getting their knickers in a knot and feeling offended by a phrase that, in many families like mine, is worn as a badge of honour.
I’m married to a remarkable woman who was once referred to as a kai loma — a beautiful blend of Indigenous Fijian, Samoan, Portuguese and Welsh.
I bring Indo-Fijian and French into the mix. So yes, our children are literally walking talking “fruit salads”! And to be honest, they’re proud of every juicy bit of it.
We’ve even had chats with our grown-up children and daughter-in-law whose heritage mixes Croatian, Serbian, Jewish and German. Our grandchildren, needless to say, are a magnificent medley of cultures and histories. If that’s not worth celebrating, what is?
Frankly, I’ve been called far worse things than “fruit salad” as an Indo-Fijian. Some of those names sting like a swarm of angry hornets. But here’s the thing.
We can’t keep tiptoeing through life acting like fragile victims every time a phrase rubs us the wrong way.
Racism, unfortunately, is still alive and kicking across every continent and in every colour. And as much as we wish it would vanish overnight, it won’t. But we can choose how we respond.
So rather than being offended by fruit salad, maybe we should try being the dressing that sweetens the mix by adding understanding, humour and a touch of humanity to the plate.
A proud Indo-Fijian-French Fruit Salad Enthusiast.
Colin Deoki
Australia
Visa
joke!
I just had to laugh when I was checking the Australian Immigration website to find out when the PEV Ballot for 2025/2026 will begin.
We are told that for 2025-26, there are now two streams of the Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192).
The usual Pacific Engagement stream, known as the ‘Pacific Engagement visa,’ this stream is for eligible Pacific island and Timor-Leste nationals and the Ballot dates for the 2025-26 program year are yet to be announced.
The second, which made me laugh, is called, Treaty stream. The Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192) — Treaty stream (Tuvalu) is for Tuvaluan nationals only and implements Australia’s obligations under the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty.
The Treaty stream ballot for Tuvalu nationals opened on 16 June 2025 and will close on 18 July 2025.
I said to myself, wow, what if the current Vuvale Partnership between Fiji and Australia, one day becomes a Vuvale Union treaty with Fijians having their own PEV Treaty stream?
The thought made me laugh!
Australians can visit Fiji at any time but for us, the majority have had their visa applications refused, even families whose other half are currently working in Australia.
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa
Tacirua
Israeli
fire
FOR the Israelis to fire on the only Catholic Church in Gaza, killing three, is utterly disgusting, deplorable, shameful and downright a crime, beyond all words.
Are Israelis supposed to be God’s chosen people?
Shame on you, Netanyahu, your ultra right wing elements in Cabinet, and the Israeli defence forces. You cannot keep perpetuating this genocide for your own political survival.
Stop all this madness immediately. Enough is enough. This is genocide. It is a crime. Silence all guns. The Palestinians are equally human. Leave them alone.
Let them leave in peace.
Fifty-eight thousand-plus innocents slaughtered … and counting. Up to 100 innocent children killed trying to collect food, by IDF each day. (No matter how long the night may be; the sun will rise).
Justice beckons.
Ronnie Chang
Martintar, Nadi
A night of
boxing!
ZEG Kings Boxing Promoter, Nahroon Buksh, is no stranger to boxing. I’m thankful that we have promoters like him in Fiji who are willing to take the risk and get first class boxers in the boxing ring.
Todays’ feature bout will see Sigatoka’s Junior Binnu Singh take on Runqi Zhou of Australia for the inaugural WBA Oceania Super Bantam Weight title. In another interesting clash, James Singh will take on Semi Daloloma for the BCF Heavyweight title in the main supporting bout.
The female bout between Sera Bolatini against Connie Chan of Australia is expected to add excitement to the fights.
It’s a pity that Mikaele Ravalaca was forced to withdraw from the highly anticipated NZPBF Oriental Pacific Super Featherweight title against John Ingram, but I thank the organiser and the boxer for coming out clean.
No amount of money will be able to bring back the life of a boxer and the Boxing Commission must ensure that boxers, who are medically fit, must be allowed inside the boxing ring.
I’m expecting a huge crowd at the Vodafone Arena to witness a night of boxing with the compliments of ZEG Kings Boxing Promotion. All the best bro, Nahroon Buksh!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam
Nadawa, Nasinu
What’s
news?
WHEN checking through quite a number of newspapers, local and online, there seems to be a limited range of events. In the UK it’s the heat and Wimbledon, in the US it’s Trump and the flood, but in all of the world it’s also Australia’s Mushroom killer.
Three people are dead, another has been injured, the jury has determined that she was guilty and unless she wins an appeal, she will be in jail for a very long time. Thirty two words and it’s done but there seems to be millions more written.
It’s time to forget Australia’s deadly mushrooms, spiders, snakes and a few other animals and get back to reporting on our sports, celebrities if we have any, our politics although it’s mostly boring but stick with our natural beauty.
There must be something positive happening somewhere in the world. Please find it.
Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Australia
Culture
and identity
Culture and identity are roots of human existence
They shape our values and guide our persistence
Culture is the song we sing
The rhythm in our everything
In how we speak, in what we wear
The stories that the old ones share
Culture is the mirror in which we see
The roots of our past, our ancestry
Culture is connected with religion deep
In sacred customs that people keep.
Through rituals old and prayers each day
Traditions of faith still guide our way
Festivals bloom with colours bright
Symbols of worship bring pure delight
Culture lives in food, in dance, in art
In every beat of every heart
A sacred thread from past to now
That tells us who, what and how
Without our roots, we drift, we stray
Like leaves the wind might blow away
But with our roots held strong and deep
We rise with pride, our spirit keeps
For in our story, clear and bright
Shines our purpose, power and light
Values and morals from scriptures grow
In culture’s soil, their roots we know
Identity blooms from the soil we tread
In customs kept and prayers we’ve said
Identity shines when we dare to be
A blend of the old and new, proud and free
Diversity is not to divide
But to walk as one, side by side
Let children know their roots run deep
In tales the elders softly keep
From temples, churches, and mosques arise,
Stories of hope beneath the skies.
They teach of kindness, love, and peace,
And help our inner storms to cease.
In every custom, carved or sung
The threads of who we are strung
To lose that link is to unbind
The compass of the searching mind
For in each rite and legacy,
We find our true identity
Let’s hold culture close to our hearts
It’s where our identity truly starts.
BHAGWANJI BHINDI
Laucala Beach Estate, Nasinu
Aiyaz’s
well-wishers
A handful of well-wishers, including Members of Parliament and one Abdul Zohard, a self-proclaimed youth rights advocate and known supporter of Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, have expressed deep concern about the former Attorney-General’s health. They’ve described it as “painful” to see him in such a condition.
Let me offer Ketan Lal and Abdul Zohard a reality check — their former master is not the only person currently battling a serious medical issue. Their sudden outpouring of sympathy begs the question, have they shown even a fraction of this concern for the countless ordinary Fijians lying helpless in public hospitals, many of whom suffer in silence without political allies or media coverage?
And let us not forget, it was Aiyaz himself who spent years in power, consistently praising Fiji’s healthcare system, even claiming it to be among the best in the Pacific. If that’s the case, as he insisted for years, there should be no reason for him to seek treatment abroad, be it in Singapore or elsewhere.
I have full confidence that the Lautoka Aspen Hospital, the very institution he once held up as a success story, will provide him with the appropriate care. He should be back on his feet soon.
Or perhaps the truth is finally catching up to him.
Nishant Singh
Lautoka
The Cuban government fired its labour minister after she was publicly rebuked by the president for saying the country’s beggars were all phonies in disguise (Reuters/FT 18/7).
I wonder if the fired minister will claim $2m from the Cuban government?
Rajend Naidu
Sydney, Australia
Challenging safe
abortion misconceptions
I would like to respond to the other day’s (FT 17/07) section of the Letter to the Editor, particularly one that was raised by Conan Hatch — Abortions in Fiji.
While I do appreciate Mr Hatch’s concerns regarding the recent statements about abortion access in Fiji, I would like to point out that this stance is completely ignorant and misinformed for the following reasons.
First, they are assuming that “safe abortion” is referring to the “killing of innocent unborn human beings”. That is an intense statement, especially since the term “safe abortion” refers to procedures conducted under medically sound conditions, aimed at protecting women’s health. The focus is on ensuring that women have access to comprehensive healthcare, including family planning and reproductive health services, which can help prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the need for abortions. These often include cases of rape, incest, foetal deformity, or danger to the mother. Now, for the purposes of this article, I will assume Conan is a man and therefore is already speaking from a place of privilege. That privilege allows him (and men like me) to have greater access to sexual and reproductive health information, face less stigma compared to women, be less likely to face judgment for their sexual behaviour compared to women, among so many other factors, but most importantly, be able to stand on the other side of the fence and pass off harmful rhetoric such as: “this is a dangerous and one-sided speech.” What this tells me is that they are okay with girls and women carrying the foetus to full term, whether it is a result of rape, incest, or if it may cause harm to the mother. A little FYI on that, they still have abortions; it’s just really unsafe—back-alley procedures, ‘massages’, herbal potions, etc. I would much rather they seek care from a healthcare professional than risk bleeding out at home from toxic herbs. More importantly, safe abortion is already legal in Fiji, so I’m unsure what the opinion article is trying to achieve.
Which brings me to my second point. The speech he is referring to was, in fact, not a one-sided one; it was a panel discussion, and the representative was invited to be part of it. The participants there, from my understanding, were engaging in back-and-forth discussions with the panellists, so no one was there to push their own agenda. This was a healthy discussion, and I encourage Mr Hatch to go see the whole event, if not already. NGOs are doing some good work for Fiji and the region. It made me crack up to read: “I would ask the Government to be extra careful about handing over full responsibility of family planning strategies to non-Fijian organisations.” The Ministry of Health (MOH) exists for a reason, and these organisations work with the government. They do not dictate what to do, and even if they tried, it would not work. It is, therefore, vital for the Fijian Government to consider the voices of its citizens and the expertise of international organisations in shaping policies that prioritise women’s health and rights. Collaboration with reputable organisations can enhance local healthcare systems and provide necessary resources for family planning. Also, I must add that these “non-Fijian organisations” don’t operate independently; they work with their local member organisations, which means they are not non-Fijian.
Lastly, I would like to point out the most important message: that no one—that is, a woman’s partner, brother, father, friend, family, other fellow women, religious bodies they may belong to, community, or government—has the right to tell them what to do with their body. Where it concerns a theological entity such as God, let’s just leave that conversation between them. I have heard of so many cases where, due to a lack of access to proper healthcare and the enormous stigma, young girls and women have had their lives ruined all because some people in power are adamant about controlling their bodies. If this concept is hard to grasp, I would suggest imagining yourself in a woman’s shoes (since most women have two feet). I have failed many times to do so, but I still try because we all have these amazing women in our lives who need us to support them, not to vilify them for the choices that they should have the right to make in the first place. Fiji is not all the way there in terms of prioritising women’s health, but I hope we can get there (at least in my lifetime) by changing our mindset and being more empathetic.
I do apologise if this came off as too harsh or crude. It was not my intention to disparage anyone, but I will stand by what I said.
This is a monumental issue, and ultimately, the goal should be to create a supportive environment where women can make informed choices about their bodies and health, free from stigma and fear.
Anish Reddy
Flagstaff, Suva
Trump’s
tariffs
FT 15/07 Business World News reports that President Trump has threatened Mexico and EU with 30 per cent tariffs and Brazil with 50 per cent tariffs. Soon letters threatening tariffs on other countries will be sent.
This reminds me of Bhasmasur, a demon (normal person having demonic characteristics) who after long penance and prayers to Bhagwan Shiva (Bholenath) managed to obtain a ‘boon’ that if he put his hand on a person’s head, that person will be burnt to ashes.
Bhasmasur became so confident that he tried to practice this on Bhagwan Shiva itself. The matter was resolved when Bhasmasur was tricked into putting his own hand on his head and thus reduced to ashes.
The question is, is President Trump turning the US into a “Bhasmasur”?
Rakesh Chand Sharma
Nadi
Vuvale
partnership
It is great to read in the dailies about the details of the Vuvale Partnership that is being orchestrated by the PM of Australia and Fiji.
I have mentioned before that the iTaukei translation of the word Vuvale means family.
Maybe the Australian PM does not know of the Vuvale Partnership discrimination that is affecting nearly a thousand or more Fijian Vuvale partners, whose visas have been refused and not allowed to visit their other half working for up to four years in Australia?
Last month we were told that 78 families from Fiji have been granted visas to be in Australia and support their working partners.
If that is the case, then it will make sense for the Australian Immigration to come up with a way forward, so that other families in Fiji who have partners working in Australia at least be granted visas to visit them.
Shooting down these Fijian families through visa refusals is just inhumane and come to think of it, maybe that is why the Vuvale Partnership between the two PMs, do not include immigration matters.
This week, a wife whose husband died in Australia and was to be buried on the 10th of July, invited two family members from Fiji to attend the funeral. Both visa applications were refused with the usual stupid reasoning, so no family member from Fiji attended the funeral of the Fijian-Australian citizen.
Australians can visit Fiji anytime, so why are we being discriminated against?
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa
Tacirua, Nasinu
