Mocenacagi’s impact
Sevuloni Mocenacagi is like a bottle of wine. The older it gets, the stronger it becomes. Mocenacagi has played a huge role in Fiji’s success on the 7s arena. Whenever he has been given the opportunity to wear the national jumper, he has given his best and stood out with his sublime performance, leading like a warrior. He is humble and soft-spoken and prefers to do his talking on the field. His presence makes an impact. When the Vancouver 7s kicked off at BC Place yesterday, Mocenacagi overtook Fiji 7s all-time caps record as he surpassed former captain Jerry Tuwai’s record by becoming the most capped Fijian 7s player in the HSBC WRSS circuit. Mocenacagi’s record reached 65 appearances, solidifying his legacy. A product of former 7s coach Ben Ryan, who gave Fiji memorable moments with his innovative, no-nonsense and passionate coaching, and having played for Yamacia,
Mocenacagi’s journey began during the 2015/16 7s season when he made his debut in Dubai. Since then, almost a decade back, the towering forward has swiftly made a name for himself as a player with remarkable agility and skill. The Nukuilau, Navosa, lad continues to convey his unyielding dedication, carrying the hopes and aspirations of a rugby 7s nation. Mocenacagi has won numerous titles, including a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and Commonwealth Games and a gold medal at the RWC 7s tournament. In 2018, he was named the HSBC Player of the Final at the Vancouver 7s after Fiji beat Kenya 31-12. Despite age catching up with him, Mocenacagi has been in fine form, threatening the line going forward. He makes countless tackles and turnovers. He is a threat whenever he gets the ball. Mocenacagi is a big, powerful and influential runner, and he is an asset with his offload. He has been a towering figure and pillar of strength for the 7s side. His achievement highlights his enduring spirit of commitment and excellence. Mocenacagi deserves a reward for his loyalty to Fiji 7s. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Jayakumari and colonialism
The story of Jayakumari fighting for the rights of indentured labourers and her subsequent exile is very moving and inspirational. (The Sunday Times 08/03). The colonial and imperial powers after bringing upon World War I and World War II began lecturing the world about peace, democracy, human rights etc. Today, we stand on the threshold of world war III. The western world wouldn’t let its hegemony go away easily. But there will be a reset in reverse. Military and economic power will shift to Asia in a few years. Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Road safety concern
The bad drivers are a major concern on our roads as commented by The Fiji Times with tragic pictures of road accidents, “Taming Bad Drivers” (FT 27/2). I believe some strict regulations will be enforced by LTA with the police to control this. The best could be to ban such “bad or mad” drivers for life for innocence to survive. Road safety is life safety. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Has it risen?
Has a phoenix truly risen from the ashes of an old lovo pit? One cannot help but wonder whether what we’re seeing is a genuinely new political movement or a carefully re-packaged makeover of the former FijiFirst Party, dressed in fresh colours and introduced with confident smiles. In the tyre trade, they call it retreading. It’s an honest business model. You take an old tyre, sand it down, glue on some new tread, polish the sidewalls, and voilà — it looks roadworthy again. For a while, it may even perform like new. But seasoned drivers know this: beneath the cosmetic upgrade lies well-travelled rubber. And when pressure builds and heat rises, the past has a way of reasserting itself with puncture perfect consistency. Politics appears to have adopted a similar workshop. We’re told this is different. New culture. New ideology. New direction. New language. New faces. And perhaps that is so. But voters aren’t naïve motorists cruising blindly down the highway. They have long memories, sharper instincts, and a healthy suspicion of glossy overhauls that avoid discussing the mileage on the treads. A makeover can be wise. Renewal isn’t a crime. Reinvention is sometimes necessary. But there’s a difference between transformation and translation, between genuine reform and simply changing the font on the letterhead. When political Botox is applied too liberally, it can smooth wrinkles but stiffen expression. Fillers can plump the narrative, but they can also make sincerity struggle to move naturally. The smile may be wide, yet the eyes remain oddly familiar. So the question isn’t whether a party can rebrand. Of course it can. The real question is whether culture has changed, whether accountability has matured and whether humility has replaced hubris. Because no amount of fresh paint can conceal structural cracks forever. If this is truly a new movement, it will welcome scrutiny rather than fear it. It will demonstrate, not declare, its difference. It will invite the public to inspect the engine, not just admire the bonnet. Fiji deserves authentic leadership, not political retreads sold at premium prices. Colin Deoki Australia
National detox
Colin Deoki raises “a rather delicate national question — When was the last time Fiji had a detox?” (ST 8/3). The last attempted national detox happened in 2006 when Voreqe Bainimarama carried out what he called his “clean up” campaign. That didn’t go well. The nation ended up constipated with a repressive regime for 16 long years! The enduring lesson from that is let’s stick with the democratic election cycle to get rid of the rot of bad governance. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Leave religion out
Leave religion aside Jan Nissar, you are sitting on Aboriginal land occupied by white men using “Doctrine of discovery”. New research (Google) reveals that Aboriginal people are Tamil people from South India. Their language contains vocabulary that is similar in meaning. Jan Nissar, having respect for tradition and culture is one thing, occupying their land, using resources and not compensating them and keeping them in poverty is grossly unjustifiable. Your words are empty talk and hypocrisy. Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
New war
President Donald Trump says the next new war is going to be “pretty soon”. That’s what Mr Trump bragged about to Dana Bash, CNN’s chief political correspondent, when unprompted he turned the topic from the war in Iran to Cuba (Yahoo! News March 7, 2026). And this the President who recently set up a Board of Peace. What kind of peace is he promoting? That we are not sure about given his war bent. What is more certain is he and the American military-industrial complex profit immensely from war. No doubt about that! Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Oil supply
The Times of India reports that India has said, “that it never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil and Russia continued to be its largest crude supplier (Google)”. This was in response to the USA Treasury Secretary claiming the USA has permitted India to buy Russian crude oil. The world should stay assured of continuous oil supply. Even Iran has allowed Indian oil and food supply ships to go through the Strait of Hormuz. Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Women and pension
Saluting Fiji’s women
John Kamea’s editorial ‘Saluting Fiji’s women’ (ST 8/3) is an inspiring and illuminating tribute to Fiji’s women. It is particularly pertinent where he acknowledges the life of the struggle of ordinary women.
As a social welfare worker who worked all over Fiji, I am familiar with that life of struggle. That contrasts sharply with women who live in the lap of luxury and privilege and often pay lip service to the trials and tribulations of the ordinary women, in much the same way that many men in positions of power in our patriarchal society do. There needs to be genuine commitment to uplifting the status of women and not merely mouthing cliched stuff about women’s empowerment and leadership on International Women’s Day. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
FNPF pension reforms
Recent commentary by the FNPF (FT 7/3) revisiting the 2011 pension reforms provides a technical explanation of why the changes were introduced. We’re told the system was unsustainable, that solvency standards had to be restored and that difficult decisions were necessary. But at whose expense? More than 14 years later, an important question still lingers in the minds of many: were those difficult decisions shared fairly? Pension systems aren’t merely financial mechanisms on a balance sheet. They’re built on a lifetime promise made to workers who spend their productive years contributing faithfully in the belief that the security awaiting them in retirement will remain intact. For many retirees, the 2011 reforms altered that promise after the race had already been run thanks to a questionable Decree that was passed by an illegal regime. The explanations offered tend to focus on structural sustainability, cross-subsidies and actuarial requirements. These are important considerations, but numbers alone cannot fully address the deeper issue at stake – public trust. Retirees, unlike younger contributors, have no opportunity to rebuild their savings or return to the workforce to recover lost ground. When reforms affect those who’ve already retired, the consequences are immediate and permanent. That reality makes one question unavoidable: if reforms were necessary, could the burden have been distributed more equitably across the entire system rather than falling most heavily on those least able to recover from it? Another point often raised is the role of the Pension Buffer Fund. While it may not have been a ring-fenced account belonging exclusively to pensioners, it was nevertheless part of a system built through decades of contributions by the very members whose retirement incomes were ultimately reduced. In any pension system, transparency and confidence are as important as solvency. Citizens must believe that the system protecting their retirement is governed not only by technical calculations but also by a strong sense of fairness and stewardship. The debate surrounding the 2011 reforms should therefore not be dismissed as “misleading commentary”. It reflects genuine concerns from people who devoted their working lives to building their futures and contributing to their nation. If anything positive can come from revisiting this chapter, it should be an opportunity to reaffirm a simple but vital principle: that the security of retirees must remain one of the highest priorities of any pension system. After all, a pension is more than a financial instrument. It’s a promise. And the strength of any society can often be measured by how faithfully it keeps its promises to those who’ve already given their best years in service to what should be a grateful nation. Colin Deoki Australia
