Junior Bula Boys achieve goal
I warmly congratulate head coach Sunil Kumar and the Baby Bula Boys for reaching the OFC U16 Men’s Championship final and book a ticket to next year’s FIFA U17 World Cup (WC).
The Baby Bula Boys join the Junior All Whites and hosts Qatar to become the first nations to qualify, after beating the Solomon Islands 4-2 in penalty kicks.
I salute Marist Brothers High School star athlete Kirikiti Biu, who was a standout performer on the tracks during the Coca-Cola Games and was in goal, for making a pair of saves as substitute Maikeli Ratuove converted the decisive kick.
I commend head coach Sunil Kumar as he leads Fiji to a third U-17 WC competition which is a milestone achievement for Fiji. Team director Ritesh Pratap, Sanaila Waqanicakau and Shelvin Singh are also congratulated for being part of the historic qualification. Now that the boys have qualified, the ball lies in FFA’s court.
They must invest in this team and allow it to play some quality opposition before flying out to Qatar. The boys need to work on their fitness, finishing and combination.
Our defence is good, but we need more communication between the players. Toso Viti! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Fiji soccer
Fiji soccer will be competing in the FIFA U-17 Soccer World Cup in Qatar, from 19/11/2026 to 13/12/2026.
Fiji is pooled with renowned world soccer power-houses, Spain and Morocco, together with China.
With the millions of dollars FIFA had splurged out to all participating teams, prior to and during the recent Soccer World Cup, can Fiji FA let us know, how much (millions) in grant they’ll receive for the team’s preparation and how much will be actually spent on the team’s preparation.
As we love to say in de o’l Capital, “I just want to know ga”. (Sigh) Anthony Sahai Levuka, Ovalau
Getting the Miller history right
As a descendant of the original Miller family of Savusavu, I wish to correct an historical inaccuracy that has been repeated in recent years.
This concerns the identity of the patriarch of our family.
Our ancestor was William Miller, an English shipwright who arrived in Fiji via Samoa in the 1840s with his Samoan wife, Mauga (Martha).
They established the Miller family whose descendants remain closely connected with Savusavu today.
For many years an incorrect family tree has circulated claiming that our ancestor was Daniel Bathe Miller, or D.B. Miller.
Despite extensive research by several descendants over many years, including examination of original records held at the Fiji National Archives, they found no evidence that Daniel Bathe Miller is related to William and Mauga Miller or their descendants.
D.B. Miller was a different individual associated with Levuka.
Unfortunately, this error has been repeated until it has become accepted as fact.
This conclusion is supported by contemporary records, including baptism, land, will and death records held at the Fiji National Archives, together with early historical accounts such as James Calvert’s Mission History of Fiji and the Fijians.
One of the earliest surviving records is the baptism of William Henry Miller at Ovalau in 1843, which records his father simply as William Miller.
These independent records consistently identify William Miller as the English shipwright who settled in Fiji and do not establish any connection between our family and Daniel Bathe Miller.
The story of William and Mauga Miller and their children — William Henry, Sarah (Smith), James (Jim), Monga Jemima (Shute) and Alice — is well documented.
We believe William, Mauga and William Henry Miller are buried at Nawi.
It is important that the history of one of the founding families of Savusavu is accurately preserved for future generations. Carol Gordon Hobsonville, Auckland,
New Zealand Begging needs closer look
The situation for beggars seems to be getting worse, with more people resorting to begging in towns and cities, like Nadi.
This increase indicates that many are being driven to this point due to the rising cost of living.
For a lot of them, it’s their last option. We often don’t take a moment to think about their stories or question the validity of their circumstances.
However, seeing the same individuals over and over again raises alarms that for some, begging has shifted from a plea for help to a long-term way to get by.
It’s especially concerning to see able-bodied adults and even kids in this situation.
We need urgent and effective actions to prevent this from becoming the norm.
No child should ever have to face such vulnerability.
Tackling this issue calls for collaboration between law enforcement and local officials to handle it responsibly, but that alone isn’t enough.
It’s also essential to acknowledge the role of Social Welfare, which should take the lead in helping beggars and ensuring their needs are met properly.
Finally, we can’t overlook the underlying issues that push people to beg. It’s crucial to point out that unless the relevant departments step up and fulfill their duties, the neglect of the environment will continue.
Making the changes we want to see requires everyone to take their roles seriously and with commitment.
Right now, I think this is where we see the biggest gaps. Suresh Chand Nadi
Good judgement
Sometimes, I wonder where has logic and the ability to reason gone from our society? You do at times wonder, don’t you? Sobo! Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka
Withdrawal symptoms
We have not seen any letters about the long-running FNPF saga where people have been ‘robbed’ of their FNPF money. I am starting to miss these letters. I think I may be starting to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Jan Nissar Osaka, Japan
Food or fuel
In this global food crisis, better grow family food to supplement expensive processed food. I believe a Fiji prime minister once said: “We have plenty of food in the jungle and sea.” We got the message! Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Change first!
Looks like Alitia Bainivalu cannot get over Savenaca Narube. Lady, I believe you need to grow up. First reduce your salary by 80 per cent and survive like us on minimum wage rate than open your mouth. Reducing the salary of civil servants is not the answer, but reducing your salary is a little answer and I hope where your government can save and at some point, that can be used somewhere important. Learn from your professor please. Salaries for civil servants can be reduced on minimum base but that depends on how much they earn, and know she is attacking Premila Kumar. Get your facts right, move out of your AC cars and see the students struggling. Jaheed Buksh Korolevu
Something about politics
Former Emperor of the French Napoleon Bonaparte said, “in politics, stupidity is not a handicap”. The self-styled emperor of America, Donald Trump demonstrated that when he photobombed the Spain team celebration photo after its World Cup 2026 victory. I believe this is a US President who has no class. He shames his country. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Fijian Drua women
What a semi-final played right here at home between our courageous Fijian Drua Women versus the Reds. Our team showed what it meant with the intention to win. Congratulations to the team and management staff. One more to go. Show them to them. Juki Fong Chew Nadawa, Nasinu
Workers and immigration
Workers deserve better
Fiji’s workers have once again been blindsided, not by accident, but by design.
The long–delayed Employment Relations Bill has become a symbol of a government that has lost its way, a Coalition that promised to be “for the people” yet continues to bend to the will of business lobbyists while ordinary workers struggle to survive on a minimum wage of $5 per hour.
The Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) has waited three years for the Government to honour its commitments. Workers have waited over 12 years for long–promised reforms to the Employment Relations Act.
Yet the 2026–27 National Budget delivered nothing meaningful for labour. Instead, it delivered a masterclass in political self–interest: Members of Parliament quietly wrote in a 138% salary increase, later reduced by a token 20% due to the temporary fuel crisis, still leaving them with a staggering 118% net increase.
Meanwhile, the very people who keep Fiji’s economy functioning continue to earn poverty–level wages.
This is not governance. This is abandonment.
The FTUC National Council meeting on July 21 (FV 21/07/26) made clear what workers already know: the delays are unreasonable, the excuses are exhausted, and the patience of Fiji’s labour force has run out.
The Government’s failure to progress the Employment Relations Bill, to appoint Wages Council members on time, to restore employer FNPF contributions, and to deliver a transparent pathway to a National Minimum Wage and
National Living Wage is not merely administrative slippage, it is a breach of trust.
Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Agni Deo Singh, once a vocal defender of workers’ rights while in Opposition, now appears unwilling or unable to champion the very people who believed he would fight for them.
His assurances that the Bill will be tabled in August ring hollow after years of deferral.
Fiji’s cost–of–living crisis cannot be solved with promises. It requires action, and action is precisely what workers have not received.
The FTUC is right to warn of a national march. When a government repeatedly delays legislation that aligns with ILO Committee of Experts recommendations, when it waters down protections, when it refuses to prioritise the basic dignity of labour, then workers have every right, and every obligation, to take to the streets.
Fiji deserves a minimum wage of at least $10 per hour. Fiji deserves a government that recognises labour as the backbone of the nation, not an inconvenience to be managed. Fiji deserves leadership that does not wait until an election year to pretend to care.
With the 2026–27 election approaching, the Coalition Government is showing its true colours and they are not the colours of a workers’ government. They are the colours of a government that forces the FTUC to fight tooth and nail for every inch of progress, a government that has forgotten who put them in office. Workers will remember. And they will vote accordingly. DR SUSHIL K SHARMA Lautoka
Border control
It is sad to learn from the Immigration overstayers report, that within four years (2019 – 2023), only 47 out of 135 (35%) removal orders were enforced accordingly. That was three years of Voreqe Bainimarama’s FFP administration. When will there be another update? Will the trend continue? Has there been a designated immigration removalist branch? Is this not protecting Fiji’s sovereignty? I believe, as the number is still small, the immigration ministry should quickly address the issue, rather than waiting for a blowout. In fact, if the legal processes are appropriately secured, I am certain, expediting the exercise would not be an issue. The Fiji people, in my view, need to see strong borders that enhance appropriate safe security. It begins with border control and enforcement, in my opinion. Any government that can’t protect its people is not worthy to lead. Samu Silatolu Nakasi
