An inspiration to local footballers!
Three great footballers- 38-year-old Lionel Messi, who will turn 39 on June 24, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 40-year-old Luka Modric are an inspiration to local footballers who will battle out for this year’s BiC Fiji FACT title at Subrail Park in Labasa. Messi, who created history by playing in his sixth World Cup, grabbed a hat-trick against Algeria. Making his debut at the WC in Germany in 2006, he inspired Argentina to victory over France in the 2022 WC final. Affectionately known as ‘La Pulga’ or ‘The Flea’ in Spanish, Messi has collected more major team and individual trophies than any other player in the history of international football. He collected the Golden Ball Award in 2014 and 2022. Ronaldo is also playing in his sixth WC, having made his debut in 2006. In 2022, Ronaldo made history by becoming the first footballer to score a goal in five WCs. Modric is playing in his fifth WC. He won the Golden Ball Award in 2018. Despite their age, these three footballers are football icons. Our local footballers have so much to learn from them. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Fuel price
Fijians have once again been reminded how quickly fuel price increases affect daily life. The moment fuel goes up, transport costs rise, businesses adjust prices and families immediately feel the pressure at the supermarket and in household expenses. Earlier this year, when global fuel prices increased due to international tensions and uncertainty, authorities acted swiftly to raise domestic fuel prices. At the time, many ordinary citizens questioned whether those increases were justified immediately, especially when Fiji already had fuel stock available locally and additional shipments were reportedly already on their way. Consumers were also reassured that there was sufficient supply and that there was no need to panic. Yet despite those assurances, people still experienced higher living costs across multiple sectors. Now that global fuel prices are reportedly easing, many consumers are asking a simple question: Why does relief seem to take much longer to reach households than price increases did? If fuel pricing operates under a lag mechanism, then the process should be applied consistently in both directions. If flexibility existed to manage rising prices, the public deserves transparency on whether similar consideration can be given when international prices decline. This issue goes beyond fuel alone. Bus fares, transport costs, electricity expenses and the prices of every day goods often rise quickly but rarely appear to fall at the same pace. Consumers are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for fairness, consistency and clear communication. The relevant authorities should provide greater transparency around how fuel prices are calculated, what timelines are applied and when consumers can reasonably expect to benefit from reductions in global fuel prices. At a time when many families continue to manage rising living costs, every dollar matters. Shahil Satendra Suva
Curious case of old stock
When global fuel prices increased, our local authorities appeared to move with lightning speed. Local fuel prices went up almost immediately, even though the fuel being sold was largely old stock that had been purchased much earlier at much lower prices. Now that global fuel prices have declined, we are suddenly being educated about old stock and told that lower prices can only be passed on to customers when new shipments arrive. This raises a simple question. Where did the old stock argument disappear to when prices were rising? Fijians deserve consistency. If old stock matters when prices are falling, then surely it should have mattered when prices were rising as well. Avineel Kumar Martintar, Nadi
Hard times of not?
From the attendance at the Fiji Football Association Cup Tournament (Fiji FACT), this weekend, we can probably determine if Fiji is going through a hard time. From what I have seen from the World Cup matches, I haven’t noticed much difference between local soccer and the World Cup games except a faster pace and a perfect ground to play on. Fiji needs a player like Diego Maradona and a bit of good luck to be in the next World Cup Sukha Singh Labasa
Coup criticism
I wish to assure Avenai Serutabua of Nabukelevu, Serua that I have always been a strong critic of the past political upheavals, and the 2006 coup is no exception (FT 18/06). I have consistently and vehemently denounced the military overthrow of a democratically elected government in 2006 and the subsequent authoritarian rule imposed by the 2-men regime that dominated the country for 16 long years. I am not sure how long “Ave” has been reading the FT letters column, as he appears to be “unaware”, much like his current leader, who seems blissfully “unaware” of many things happening around him, that I have been a regular contributor to The Fiji Times for the past 20-odd years. It is either a case of genuine unawareness, selective reading, or perhaps a tendency to conveniently overlook anything that does not fit a preferred narrative. After all, it is much easier to accuse others of silence than to spend a few minutes checking the public record. Had Mr Nabukelevu done a little homework before putting pen to paper, he would have discovered that my criticism of coups, regardless of who carried them out or who benefited from them, has been consistent and unwavering. Therefore, his attempt to portray me as a recent or selective critic says more about his understanding of the issue than it does about my record. Mr Nabukelevu should be more concerned on whether the next general elections will take place, as his leader Rambo is now giving mixed reactions as online reports have indicated. Nishant Singh Lautoka
Dialogue Fiji
I fully support the comments by Dr Sushil Sharma in support of the Turaga Tui Nayau (Ratu Tevita Mara) regarding Dialogue Fiji’s Economic Dialogue. The presence of Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on the panel raised questions about Dialogue Fiji’s integrity in finding long-term solutions to Fiji’s problems. Whereby, the former FijiFirst party doesn’t value the Fiji citizens who voted for them and abandons them entirely — who are you lecturing? Dialogue Fiji should carefully select its panellists, with the right timing, or else it will create more conflicts. Maika Tabukovu Cunningham, Suva
The ceasefire
At the soccer World Cup in America, there are hydration breaks. And then they start again. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Cost of living
Every person we meet today talks about cost of living. Day by day we listen to talks about the rising costs. Someone said the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. The Government and the authorities should start allowing people to trade freely. Let people sell vegetables and other things from wherever they want to. Some of the regulations are making it difficult for people to sell and make a living. In these hard times, it should be allowed without some of the regulations. It’s like facing a prison wall when going through some of the regulations. People need to have money to live happily in our beloved country which is getting costly. I hope this pops up in the upcoming budget somehow. Aminisitai Tora Nadera, Nasinu
Football fireworks
Congratulations to New Zealand for holding Iran to a draw in a thrilling encounter. It was inspiring to see our Oceania neighbours display quality football and strong teamwork. Performances like this should challenge our local and national teams to raise their game. Now all eyes turn to the next fixtures, including NZ’s upcoming match and the clash between Australia and the US. Both promising high–intensity football. This weekend shapes up to be a football spectacle. Expect drama, heartbreak, and surprises. This is where dreams are either realised or shattered by the referee’s final whistle. Floyd Robinson Micronesia
Sugar and ancestral land
Sugar, sustainability and intentions
Putting taxpayer dollars in the dying sugar industry does sound unreasonable. However, given the sugar industry’s history and connected livelihoods over the past century, it is not acceptable to brush the sugar industry and cane farmers aside as not worth supporting using taxpayer dollars. Let me ask this. What are we good at? If the sugar industry were allowed to freefall into total collapse, what crop will replace sugarcane? What crop apart from sugarcane have we been good at? None. Currently we are barely self-sufficient with anything. I don’t need to show proof. Just look at the kilo, heap and bundle prices of produce in the markets. Then look at our ever increasing food imports. Let me say this. We only give up hope when we have no clue. For the past two and a half decades, politicisation of the sugar industry has culminated in our current situation. It is borderline criminal to say that the farmers keep complaining. Our biggest strength was sugar a long time ago. Instead of further strengthening our backbone industry at the time, we decided to play politics in those green fields. Instead of devising plans and strategies for the longevity of the industry, we chose to allow leases to expire without renewal, we chose to let those bushes take over the fields, we chose not to fully empower and support the new occupants of those repossessed lands (landowners), and we simply looked the other way once we realised that the legs of the industry were crumbling already under immense political and economic pressures. Today, the sugar sector remains a political football pitch where everyone claims to know everything about the problem and also why one should believe them. I grew up in the sugarcane fields, working part-time as early as when I was 10 or 11 years old, starting with supplying water, juice and tea to the glorious cane cutters at the time. Even cutting cane and loading those rail carts and trucks during the high school holidays was a job we’d look forward to. Tears would roll down any cheeks that have been there and done that if one reminiscences those days. Now, forget about how we arrived here. Everyone knows how it all happened. The way forward? Nobody who has been involved in the running of the industry for at least the past two decades should be allowed anywhere near the industry. The sugar industry can be reinvented for Fiji. It will take five to 10 years, and I will need to handpick nine people for the project. We, 10 people and a free hand, is all that’s needed, minus everybody who is there and been there for ages. The same farmers or the same fields will yield gold once again. These sorry faces who brought us here have to be locked away. Donald Singh Nausori
Traditional land
It was good to see that ancestral land belonging to the Mataqali Nailagobokola of Nausori being returned to them after more than 100 years by none other than the Prime Minister. I believe it was previously freehold land known as the Nausori Golf Club. The PM knows such an achievement must be well publicised. Now the people of Mataqali Nailagobokola who have lived outside their villages in other parts of Fiji can return and live off this land — it is more than 17 acres, so it is not a small piece of land. No more worries about cost of living, rent, cooking gas, kerosene and the like for the people of Mataqali Nailagobokola. Not only can they grow root crops and vegetables but livestock as well and live sustainably. It would be disappointing if they start growing weed on this prime land after 100 years. But who am I to worry about what people do on their own land? I believe this is only a small step in the return of the remaining 7% of the land in Fiji that is freehold. Once all the freehold land is returned, all of Fiji’s problems will be solved. We all know that the remaining 7% of land is a massive hindrance to the land rights and economic development and progress of traditional owners. I can see no one else but this PM who can achieve this feat. As I have always maintained, the people of Fiji are truly blessed. Jan Nissar Sydney, Australia
