Leading by example – A major wake-up call by Education Minister Aseri Radrodro (FT 19/7) should shake up all education stakeholders, including parents, to address the escalating problems of drug issues, affecting our education system. The Fiji Times editor-in-chief Fred Wesley always urges people to work in partnership to control and declare war by taking up challenges to fight it out. Unless we take it seriously, with self-examples, we will continue with / promote this. Let’s destroy it to the root to save our children for Fiji’s future. Parents and teachers are the best role models to lead by example. Relax without drugs. Relax with family, not with drugs in talanoa sessions. My father never told me how to live, he lived and let me watch him. Tahir Ali, Hamilton, New Zealand
Government investment
The Government has invested $104.7m for Rewa Province, from 2022-2025, as revealed by the Minister Rural (FT 26/7/25). That would be like $34.9m/annually and $2.9m/monthly, in my view. Was that not a lot of money? Were there “meaningful” developments done? Or just irrelevant, unworthy, insignificant and non-generational projects? From history, the delta and its adjoining regions, in my opinion, never neglected river dredging, with drainage desilting. These were its armour for containing flooding, maintaining existing waterways, improving goods transportation, creating healthy ecosystems and removing pollutants. And I am certain that nothing of such had been seen within the past 15 years. Is it possible for the Rewa Provincial Council to publicly provide the list of developments, with their associated costs? I believe it has to be transparent and informative, as part of its responsibility, for all Rewans. For almost all of the time, generally, the dissemination of such information among the people, was always unreliable. It would be very sad and untrustworthy, in my view, to receive so much of an investment, with very little to show for it, as the return on investment. This was government funds and should be utilised appropriately.
Samu Silatolu, Nakasi
Look and learn
The British and Irish Lions Rugby team is currently touring Australia. It is a once-in-a-12-year tour and I believe it is bigger than the Rugby World Cup. Indeed, some 45,000 British and Irish fans have descended upon Australia for this spectacle. Two tests have already been played with the Lions winning both, the second one in controversial circumstances in the last 45 seconds. The third Test will be held in Sydney this weekend. The British and Irish Lions is captained by Oghenemaro Miles Itoje, affectionately known as Maro, who was born in England to Nigerian parents and demonstrates the diversity and inclusion in British Rugby.Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, one day, an Indo-Fijian led the Fiji Rugby side. Fiji would then come of age. For that to happen the Fiji Rugby Union needs to abolish its apartheid approach first. Fiji rugby should look and learn. Jan Nissar, Sydney, Australia
Tribute to Parmesh Chand
THE dedicated state official late Parmesh Chand had the grace to apologise and “publicly acknowledge the wrong committed” in the arbitrary and indeed unlawful reduction in pension payments when he was the chair of FNPF in 2009 and the need for the wrong “to be rectified by the Fund” ( Matt Wilson’s letter ST 27/7). So why hasn’t the wrong been rectified? Is it on account of the lack of political will on the part of the gang in government currently? When will the adversely impacted pensioners get justice for the wrong done to them? Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Farewell for now
I offer my condolences to the family of Parmesh Chand on his recent passing. The relationship I had with him was based largely on our professional association. We were in regular contact particularly when he was Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, and I was contracted to work with the Prime Minister’s Office as a speech writer and public affairs consultant. Parmesh and I exchanged thoughts and ideas on many issues. He was easy to talk to, well informed, a good thinker with an agile mind. He gave me invaluable and willing support on certain national speech drafts for the PM requiring input on civil service matters and policy. His dedication to, and enthusiasm for the task of reforming the service was total. Our paths crossed again after I had stepped down from my transitional role in the PM’s Office. I became part of a group of pensioners dedicated to seeking justice from an indefensible and illegal decision in 2012 by the Fiji National Provident Fund. The Fund broke our life pension contracts. It forced us to accept unlawful and often severe cuts to our monthly payments. Parmesh was chair of the Fund from 2009 to May 2010. He did not hesitate when he was asked if he would come out publicly in full support of us. He had the grace and courage to express remorse, and to apologise for what was done. He was the only FNPF senior executive so far to publicly acknowledge the wrong committed, and the need for it to be rectified by the Fund. That was the measure of the man. Parmesh, I remember well our last conversation about a week ago. Farewell for now my friend.
MATT WILSON, Votualevu, Nadi
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM NADAWA, NASINU
SUVA Grammar School and Queen Victoria School created huge upsets in the final of the Southern and Eastern Zone U18 finals. Grammar had to dig deep and stage a solid and strong secondhalf comeback to pip rivals Marist Brothers High School 15-13 and claim the Tabuya Shield. Grammar trailed 7-0 going into the break, but the Lions neversay-die and resilient attitude pulled them through. Spurred by a sea of yellow, the Nasese-based school downed the red brigade spirits and character with the winning try by Emosi Tuqiri that was set up by an individual brilliance from Peter John Hazelman Jr Semi Solovani, who was named man of the match, stood out with his sublime performance. However, both schools, who have qualified for the Deans Championship, will need to be mindful of their discipline as both teams received yellow cards after two fights broke out during the match. In the Eastern Zone, Queen Victoria School successfully defended their title and lifted the prestigious Lutubula Trophy after a scintillating 25-22 victory over Ratu Kadavulevu School. They broke RKS hearts with an epic a nd spectacular performance, ending the unbeaten run of the Kings of Delainakaikai. I salute the QVS forwards who laid the foundation for the welldeserved win.
They were rock-solid and clinical. The boys from Vulinitu took revenge for the round robin loss.
QVS had a great think-tank in Fiji U20 rep Sikeli Bari who walked away with the player of the final spoil.
QVS halfback Ratu Edward Vakalutugone, flanker Josua Naitini and winger Nemani Bativou were sensational. The win means that QVS will walk in as favourites to win a treble after beating Natabua High and Nasinu Secondary 24-15 and 27-13 in the Deans Championship in 2023 and last year. Natabua High looks hot after winning the Western Zone title, outclassing Cuvu College 31-16. It’s going to be tough!
Parental guidance, SAVENACA VAKALIWALIWA TACIRUA
THERE seems to be no positive response from the Ministry of Education or the Coalition Government regarding the cry of our teachers in Fiji concerning the high level of abuse they face from students.
Sadly, iTaukei students who are not disciplined at home, take this freedom allowed by the ban on corporal punishment and reveal their true colours to teachers when intimidated. As reported by the Fijian Teachers Association: “The IndoFijian parents are very strict with their children. They ensure that their children are at home before 5pm every afternoon, and they have a set of light duties that their children need to do when they come home. They have their tea, then they do their homework, and then they wash the dishes, sweep the floor and do other chores.” It is different for us iTaukei, “where children are often left to their own devices after school. You go to any suburb in Suva, even in the villages, before even entering the house they can just throw their bags through the door, and then off they go. Parents have these religious activities, they go for choir practice, go for prayer meetings, and then the children are left entirely by themselves at home”. To top it up, it is the teachers who are blamed for the student’s low grades in school. When the corporal punishment ban begins at home, our children are not disciplined and this mind-set seems to give
them the freedom that they are untouchable in school and in life. Our teachers in Fiji are calling for corporal punishment to be restored and as Christians, our children need to first see Christ in us, before they accept Christ and reflect His character through the trials of life.
TESSA MACKENZIE SUVA
I AM delighted to read of the good people who are reviving the ancient skills of bure-building, For those who dwell in rural areas, a well built traditional bure is the very best housing. It is cool, comfortable, and safe. Yes! it may get damaged in a storm, but there will be no dangerous flying pieces of roofing iron, and is relatively easy to replace. And no! I am not ignorant! In my younger days I have spent many a happy night in a bure in quite a number of villages in Fiji’s interior. Also, as the article in yesterday’s The Sunday Times (27.7) tells us, building a bure involves the whole community, leading to community-building as well.
This contrasts with the tales of the Public Rental Board and misuse of low-cost housing.
