An all-New Zealand affair!
As predicted by rugby pundits, this year’s Super Rugby championship semifinals will feature the four top teams from New Zealand — the Wellington Hurricanes, Chiefs, Canterbury Crusaders and Auckland Blues. The two best teams from Australia — the ACT Brumbies and Queensland Reds were humiliated in NZ by the Hurricanes 66-12 and Chiefs 46-24. The Crusaders hammered the Blues 52-31 and kept their unbeaten run on their newly-constructed classic and state-of-the-art stadium — One NZ Stadium (Te Kaha Stadium). The huge scorelines reflect the deteriorating standards of the Australian teams and NZ’s dominance in Super Rugby. The last Aussie team to have won the competition was the NSW Waratahs in 2014. Since South Africa left, the competition has become weak, and I’m sure NZ is contemplating its future in the competition. South African clubs are playing in Europe — bigger and better competition and this is reflected in their performance in the RWC 15s and the Rugby Championship. The Pasifika Moana has been axed from the competition and if the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua do not up their performance, they could face a similar axe. This Friday the Chiefs host the Crusaders, and the Hurricanes face the Blues. Of course, the hosts will have the home crowd advantage but we can never count out the mighty Crusaders and Blues! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Marketing blunder
Nine.com.au travel asks what time is best to travel to Fiji (https://www.nine.com.au/travel/international/fiji/best-time-to-visit-fiji-if-you-want-ideal-weather-20260601-p602w9.html.) Without reading the article, I said “all the time, every month, every day”. Then I read the article. It did say “realistically, Fiji is great at any time of year”. But then, the article quoted Fiji Airways managing director and chief executive officer Paul Scurrah, “If I had to pick one month for Australians to visit Fiji, I’d say July.” Mr Scurrah, Nine and them were asking for your opinion. You shouldn’t have said July. We need foreign money all year round. You are selling seats for Fiji’s backbone industry. In marketing, you don’t always show how smart you are. Instead, you show how good the product is, the product that you are tasked with selling: Fiji. So, Aussies, please disregard our new managing director’s advice. Fiji is best all year long. Donald Singh Nausori
Public health issue
At midday on Saturday, I made a routine visit to the Nadi Post Office to check my mailbox, which is located on the wall opposite the government quarters. These quarters sit beside the main drain and are directly across from the Nadi Municipal Market, with the Nair Dias positioned between them. As I passed by the area, I couldn’t help but notice the deplorable condition of the main drain. It was evident that it hadn’t been cleaned for quite some time, given its unpleasant state. The overpowering foul smell emanating from the drain was simply unbearable, making it impossible to linger in the vicinity for even a short period of time. Neglecting regular maintenance of vital infrastructure like drains will inevitably result in such situations, and this is something that should concern all of us. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time I’ve encountered this issue. In years past, efforts were made to keep the main drain clean by ensuring daily maintenance, even on Sundays. These practices benefited both the town’s residents and visitors, promoting a healthier environment overall. To prioritise public welfare, it is essential that we reinstate and uphold such standards to prevent recurring problems of this nature. When foul odors arise in our own homes, we waste no time in investigating and eliminating them, because no one wants to live surrounded by the stench of sewer water. Similarly, the town’s public areas should not be burdened with such conditions. As someone who jogs regularly through Nadi, I witness the poor state of its main drain nearly every day. This raises serious concerns about the lack of adherence to occupational health and safety standards, which should never be compromised under any circumstances. Beyond the issue of the drain itself, there is also a lingering sewer odour in certain areas of town that seems to go unaddressed by the council. If concrete steps had been taken to tackle this problem effectively, I wouldn’t feel compelled to raise awareness through this write-up. When we discuss the role of local councils, cleanliness is one of their most critical responsibilities. Maintaining hygienic conditions is not just about appearances; it directly impacts public health and quality of life. Accumulated waste and untreated sewer drainage increase the risk of diseases and pose avoidable threats to community well-being. It is high time for those responsible for maintaining our town’s infrastructure to act decisively and ensure that these issues are promptly resolved for the health and safety of everyone in our community. Suresh Chand Nadi
Changing your mind, tattoos
As a young job seeker one of the many occupations that wasn’t around then was tattoo removal. There was no need to remove football team logos, butterflies, messages in other languages that didn’t say what you thought or anyone’s name, especially that person you once loved. Soon there will be an updated, specific task, for the appropriately skilled person, removing the word “Trump” from many, many buildings, documents and people’s memories. The ability to also refine gold, especially in gilt form, would be seen positively. A training site, the J.F. Kennedy Memorial Center, is available to demonstrate your skills, although the task must be completed by June 12. The recommended applicant will be the one who can best demonstrate the above skills or the one with the most influential contacts. Dennis Fitzgerald Australia
EIA process
By the way, what was the EIA process when building the landfills in Naboro and Vunato? Are they still complying with the environmental standards? Kiran Khatri Samabula, Suva
Waste to energy
Now that all the hullabaloo over the good and bad of the project has subsided, can we concentrate on the bigger picture. That is our growing waste management issues especially those arising from illegal dumping and contaminated waterways. Let’s tackle this bigger fish to fry with same level of zeal and exigency. SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
Nadi rally
The Fiji Times reported that 1200 people joined a Nadi rally as a show of solidarity for environmental protection and ocean conservation to mark World Environment Day (ST 7/6/26). It would have been nice to see a photo accompanying the report of the environmentally conscientious citizens. On the same page, there was a photo of now no longer deputy PM Biman Prasad making an exaggerated noise about threat to civil servants in the coming elections. We did not need to see his photo. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Fuel prices
I always hear fuel prices going up. The remaining fuel in the reserve tanks at the service stations should all be sold at the old price. Only when the old stock is finished, and the new one is bought, can prices be increased. At the moment it’s not fair trade. Prices are increased overnight but the old stock is still in the tank. More profits? Relevant authorities, anyone of you got any answers to the above please? A Shariff Shah Savusavu
Our struggles
Government must never separate the struggle for democracy and the struggles for workers’ rights. Dan Urai Lautoka
No to drugs
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) is usually celebrated by schools around Fiji whereby visitation by relevant authorities who conduct awareness and also talk about the bad and ugly side of drugs. Now with the amount of various types of drugs and illicit substances used and available in Fiji, I believe this celebration should be an everyday awareness in schools around Fiji so that our children are reminded daily of its side effects and always say no to drugs. Juki Fong Chew Nadawa, Nasinu
A troubling reality
Unsolved cases
The growing list of unsolved murders and missing persons cases is a troubling reality that reflects a larger systemic issue. If these cases were being approached with total dedication, resource allocation, and efficient investigative strategies, it’s hard to believe the number of unresolved files would remain so high. Instead of decreasing, this list continues to grow, which is an alarming indication of where we stand as a society in addressing such tragedies. From the reports I have come across, it’s evident that most of these cases remain open because of inconclusive investigations. Each incomplete case symbolises not just an administrative failure but also the prolonged suffering of families searching for closure. For instance, as of now, the parents of a three-year-old girl who was reported missing late last year are still unaware of what happened to their innocent child. Their pain is immeasurable, and their longing for answers remains unmet. This is just one story among many, exposing the deep cracks in the system. One can’t help but question whether investigators are fulfilling their responsibilities with the diligence such cases demand. Are they equipped with the proper skills and strategies to handle complex cases involving missing persons or heinous crimes? If such perpetrators continue to evade justice, they not only deny the victims and their families peace, but also pose an ongoing threat to society at large. It is chilling to think about the potential harm such culprits might inflict if left unchecked and undeterred by accountability. This situation urgently calls for law enforcement agencies to adopt a more proactive, innovative, and relentless approach to solving these cases. Their priorities must shift towards ensuring justice for victims and their families by sparing no effort in pursuing leads and using advanced tools for investigation. Whether it involves reorganising resources, improving training, or employing modern forensic technology, a comprehensive overhaul is needed to address the inefficiencies currently plaguing these efforts. It’s vital for everyone involved in these investigations to remember that unsolved cases are not just about statistics or forgotten files — they represent real lives shattered by loss and uncertainty. Until the files are closed with satisfactory resolutions, the affected families cannot find even a semblance of peace. Their grief should compel our collective conscience to demand more from those tasked with upholding public safety. I implore law enforcement agencies at all levels to take decisive action. Let these open cases not merely be reminders of what remains undone; let them serve as urgent calls to do better — for the victims, their families, and the communities that rely on these institutions for justice and safety. Suresh Chand Nadi
