Beautiful and unique Fiji
A Visit to India to find home! Dear people of Fiji, what a beautiful country you have. I refer to the article by Ashneel Jaynesh Prasad in Saturday’s edition of The Fiji Times. Please read this piece. It is insightful, balanced and from the heart. After every visit here, I return home feeling happier and healthier. Fiji is unique. Julie Morgan Pacific Harbour
Fearless commentator
For many months now Dr Sushil K Sharma has shared his perceptive analysis and incisive and fearless commentary on a wide range of topics concerning among others the economy, justice system, political system, administration and governance of Fiji. He writes from deep personal experience but also from an uncompromising rational analytical perspective. Although highly educated and qualified his writings express a sincere empathy and concern for the common people of Fiji. He is precisely the type of person we need in our national Parliament. I don’t know whether he intends to stand in the upcoming election, but if he does he has my vote, and my pledge, by way of this letter, of $5000 towards his election campaign. I hope others will join me in encouraging Dr Sharma to stand for election. Our country needs him. Aren Nunnink Hooper Street, Savusavu
Direct flights to Suva
The call by the business community for direct flights into Suva is loud and clear. It’s not only the business community, but the travelling public have been praying for resumption of direct flights from Australia and New Zealand to Nausori Airport. The recent plea by the New Zealand Fiji Business Council (NZFBC) president Chandar Sen to national and regional airlines to re-establish direct flights to Suva needs to be looked at seriously. For NZFBC, the direct flights remain priority number one. Same goes with Fiji businesses. Mr Sen even made a commitment that the business community was ready to fund the infrastructure deficits at Nausori Airport. This pronouncement gives credibility to the genuine call for direct flights, I would say. Previously, when direct flights came to Suva, businessmen were able to come in the morning, attend to their work and return home in the evening. It was so convenient. Why can’t our national airline accept the fact that there is a need for such flights? Why can’t the government intervene and bring back the direct flights? It is not only the businesses who are pleading for direct flights. The public demands the same. Don’t tell us that direct flights from Australia and New Zealand are not viable. We will not buy it. Arun Prasad Dilkusha, Nausori
Acting awards
There should be best actor awards awarded in the current World Cup. It will be hard to choose, as there are so many candidates doing a Hollywood. Some are so blatantly milking a penalty, that the fakery has become too obvious and unnecessary. There must have done a lot of training on the side. t’s all so distracting and dishonest really. Methinks, that the players that are obviously acting, should be penalised for wasting time and being childish and unfair. Otherwise, it will just continue and draw attention away from the real and genuine efforts by other hard working players. Maybe, a player’s ability to act, has also become a criteria now for club membership. The sad thing is that people watching around the world are being taught more of how to act and perform fakery, then how to just play a proper and wholesome game. But, we all can see you in real time and especially in the replays and reminds. What you are really up to, cannot be hidden from the scrutiny of the millions of viewers. At the end of the day if you want to act, go to Hollywood! Edward Blakelock Admirals Circle, Pacific Harbour
Glitter and bling!
The President of the United States (POTUS) held a UFC fight night on the South Lawn of the White House last week to celebrate his 80th birthday as well as to celebrate 250 years since the USA came into existence. I believe the President thinks he is an emperor who would watch gladiators fighting to celebrate his birthday and bask in glory while blood was being spilt in the arena. POTUS also accepted a luxury Boeing 747 from the Qatari Emir last year so that he would personally benefit from the most luxurious aircraft ever built. It is well known, he likes things luxurious. This aircraft is worth hundreds of millions, and many more hundreds of millions have been spent to bring the security needed for POTUS up to date. The ethics and conflict of interest regarding this gift is questionable and could be seen as outright corruption. Surely Qatar expects something in return from POTUS. Everyone knows that POTUS likes shiny things and wants to be surrounded by bling everywhere. He was very impressed when the President of France hosted a dinner for him in the Palace of Versailles a few days ago. Versailles is easily the most luxurious and over the top palace anywhere. I have been there. POTUS is also in the process of building a new blingy ballroom adjoining the White House which will be decorated in gold and luxury. Another opportunity to bask in more glory. But POTUS is not alone in his love for shiny things and basking in glory. We have leaders in Fiji who also like the same – the only difference being the scale of it in Fiji is directly proportional to the size of the country and the lack of money. It is more like pretend glory in Fiji. Jan Nissar Sydney, Australia
Unknown parcels
Here on Long Island, papers are floating around asking for signatures in aid of aspiring candidates for the coming national election. The names are quite foreign, some quite suspect, just like the other parcels that made landfall on an inshore island a few days ago. Samu Railoa Vanuabalavu, Lau
EFL subsidy
I fail to understand how EFL subsidy works for those living in rural and informal settlements who have top up card systems on EFL meters? I am sure the pre-pay EFL meter system works like the phone recharge system where the topped up amount can only be used. With the recent EFL price hike, can the Consumer Council or EFL please explain how this system works for poor ordinary people. I am of the view that our poor people are fooled by this system and subsidy is never given to them. I stand to be corrected. Narayan Reddy Lautoka
Miracles happen
Some Columbia soccer fans came in wheelchairs to cheer for their team in the FIFA26 World Cup and were given wheelchair space with a superb view of the ground. When Columbia scored, some of them stood up to celebrate. Miracles do happen! Arun Prasad Dilkusha, Nausori
Trump picture
Early the other morning (5am), I switched on CNN and then BBC to see the news of Trump claiming that Italy’s PM Meloni was begging for a photograph with him. Meloni, while denying the claim said that Trump was fabricating the issue. Trump’s demeanour is one of a school boy. No wonder the US Iran deal is not going anywhere. Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Soccer spectators
I remember a time when soccer spectators in the league and tournaments used to call, “referee murgi chor” now as years passed and with latest technology, spectators are calling “referee MPAiSA mila!” after the spectators see any mistake from the referee! Narayan Reddy Lautoka
Police escort
I passed two coaches, each being escorted by a police car, with lights and sirens. These were team coaches heading for Ba, question is, were escorts really needed. Nigel Fiu Owls Perch, Lautoka
Where truth sits!
“The only truth is what you can get others to believe.” Whether or not we agree with this statement that was supposedly spoken by a lawyer to drive home a point in the preparation of a murder case, it serves as a timely reminder of the world we now live in. Today, information travels faster than ever before. Through social media platforms, political commentary, online influencers and traditional news outlets, we’re constantly bombarded with competing versions of events. Everyone seems to have their own ‘truth’, their own narrative and their own interpretation of reality. This is particularly evident in politics. When I listen to some individuals associated with former administrations, and indeed some public figures in general, I’m often struck by the confidence with which opinions are presented as indisputable facts. Repetition can be a powerful tool. If a claim is repeated often enough, loudly enough and passionately enough, some people may eventually accept it as truth, regardless of whether it’s supported by evidence. History teaches us that propaganda isn’t always built on outright lies. Sometimes it’s constructed through selective facts, half-truths, omissions and carefully crafted narratives designed to influence public perception. The objective isn’t necessarily to inform, but to persuade through the manipulation of information. That’s why a healthy democracy depends upon citizens who are willing to think critically, ask questions, examine evidence and challenge claims regardless of who makes them. Blind loyalty to any political party, leader, or ideology can be dangerous. Truth should never belong exclusively to one side of the political divide. In Fiji, as elsewhere, we’d do well to remember that truth doesn’t become truth simply because it’s repeated frequently or spoken by influential voices. Nor does it become false simply because it’s unpopular. The responsibility ultimately rests with each of us. We must be prepared to separate fact from fiction and opinion, evidence from rhetoric and truth from propaganda. A case in point is an interesting fact about a current head of state in an overseas country. During his early career as an aspiring political hopeful he was enamoured with terrorist figure, the PLO’s Yasser Arafat. When this fact was brought to light recently, many people were flabbergasted and in disbelief. So it was suggested they conduct their own research. What they found was not only deeply disturbing. It also turned out to be true. After all, a society that values truth is strengthened by it. A society that allows perception to replace truth does so at its own peril. Colin Deoki Australia
Timeframe
There is still no definite timeframe for the construction of a new Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM), according to the Health Minister. (FT 21/6) No one is surprised with this statement, as no project in Fiji ever has a timeframe for completion. If any project has one definite timeframe, it never gets completed on time. The word urgency is not in our vocabulary. BHARAT MORRIS Rifle Range, Vatuwaqa, Suva
