Sowakula steals spotlight
I could not help but agree with your front-page headline, ‘Sowakula steals spotlight’. The image of veteran warrior, Pita Gus Sowakula, in full flight against England stood out — a wonderful tribute to a rugby player with a decorated CV! Thank you, The Fiji Times, for honouring Sowakula who had two stints with the All Blacks and became the scapegoat as the All Blacks lost to Ireland 23-12 in Dunedin. Sowakula missed the cut in the 42-man squad for the Rugby Championship after making his debut in the three-match series against Ireland, which the All Blacks lost 2-1 on home soil for the first time. The then high-powered Chiefs loose forward, renowned for his strong ball-carrying, featured off the bench in the first two tests. Ironically, he saw limited action. In the second Test, the All Blacks lost veteran Ardie Savea to a red card substitution and Sowakula was brought into the game in the 69th minute. His first touch again was a drop. Sowakula didn’t feature in the third test as Dalton Papalii returned to the bench and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was included. Sowakula was left out. Heartbroken and with passion for rugby, Sowakula went to Europe and made an impression. He worked hard to make it to the starting 15 against England, and my word, what a performance he delivered against the Roses! He defended well, with powerful carries and set up a try-scoring offload. He was easily recognised — patches of white hair and a fit, rampaging train on the charge. Sowakula is a role model to the young players in the Fiji Water Flying Fijians. His impact on and off the field will be crucial as the Flying Fijians take on the Les Bleus this Sunday. All the best, Sowakula! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Last quarter
How many times our Flying Fijians will be tested with a disallowed try or almost hitting the try line after scintillating rugby in the last quarter of a test game? Just how many more times will we hold our breath in disbelief and ironically it always happens when we are on top our rugby game hitting the right chords. Go Fiji, go. We are been tested. Patience is a virtue. England did concede this and it was quite evident when the captain and stand in captain acknowledged the threat that the Flying Fijians bring to the game in their after match speech. It’s only a matter of time boys. Joka kece. Go Fiji, go forever and ever kon roki. Shalwyn Prasad Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva
PALM workers
It is obvious that a lot of Fijians working under the PALM scheme in Australia cannot handle the culture shock in a different country. The food, the weather, the language, the working conditions, the equipment, the working hours, the pay and the bosses would all be foreign to them. I do not blame them if they cannot adjust. I have no doubt that if all the politicians in the Fiji parliament came to work in Australia, they would find it extremely challenging.
Fiji-style Fijian flair does not always work everywhere. Jan Nissar Sydney, NSW, Australia
Stepping forward
While the Constitution and the ERP bill are being reviewed, this is a timely moment for the Government to make it easier for young citizens to step forward in the next elections. The main deterrent for youth entering politics is the risk to their livelihood. Many are unwilling to resign from their jobs and face the possibility of losing the election as well as their source of income. To address this, a legal provision should be introduced guaranteeing a three-month unpaid leave for individuals who have been officially nominated to contest. This ensures that they do not have to sacrifice their employment to participate, and if they are not elected, they can return to their roles without penalty. Since the leave is unpaid, it does not place undue strain on employers. If we genuinely want a representative democracy, we must remove the barriers preventing working people from participating in the political process. Empowering youth to stand without risking their livelihoods is not only fair — it strengthens our democracy. A nation cannot claim to be of the people if its people cannot afford to participate in the elections. Kiran Khatri Samabula, Suva
Big heart
Too much love Jan Nissar. I’m not used to that. Sorry mate, you bit too old for me just like your thoughts. By the way, thanks for the well wishes and recommendation. You seem posed and obsessed with NFP more after it formed the Government. We understand. Oh, I shall commend you on your big, wide heart specially for Fiji and its people. You really got the gift of articulating everything and anything to do with Fiji and its people that I am part of, that too without any drop of sarcasm. Now who is blessed? Keep up the “great work”. Kirti Patel Lautoka
Thank you NTC
I write to express my sincere thanks to the Nadi Town Council Health Department. The public conveniences, (men) at the Nadi Market, closest to the seafood section, is the cleanest I have seen them, ever.
Please convey my sincere thanks to the lady on duty at about midday, Monday, November 10, 2025. Some disinfectant, air freshener and a coat of paint on the doors will make cleanliness, complete. Job well done. Credit is given where it is due. Thank you. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Name change
Fiji’s winless campaign at the FIFA U-17 soccer World Cup has come to a merciful end after being handed mortifying losses in pool play. They conceded enough goals to fill a couple of supermarket aloo baasta (potato sacks). Perhaps it’s time to update the team’s name. The Bula Boys sound friendly, warm, and inviting, which might explain why every team we faced felt so welcome to score effortlessly. Maybe “The Salaam Namaste Moce Boys” suits better — a team fluent in saying hello, goodbye, and thank you for the well taught soccer lesson. Imagine what the outcome would be if our national soccer team ever featured at the World Cup stage. Thank God we never qualify, we are actually saving ourselves from international heartbreak and a lifetime supply of memes featuring the Fiji Football Association and its president who has been at the helm since the dinosaur era. Nishant Singh Lautoka
Kava effects
Fijian kava is typically known for being milder and offering a heady experience that is great for socialising. Solomon kava which soon will be available locally is known for its potent effects offering a harmonious blend of deep relaxation and mental clarity. Unfortunately it does not offer high horniness. Sobo! Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka
Shield for taxi drivers
Perhaps it is time to introduce in Fiji. The relevant stakeholders should look into this for their safety. Try it. Asish Vinay Prasad Park Rd, Raiwasa, Suva
Vanua truths
At least twice recently — including the opening of Suva’s new Fiji Tower building (FT 8/10) — the PM has used the Australian Aboriginal ‘Welcome to Country’ practice of acknowledging native owners of the land with the words “elders, past, present, and emerging”, albeit replacing “elders” with “chiefs and people”. Here it is worth noting that whereas in Australia, New Zealand, and North America such words of welcome, harping on misplaced foreign claims to land ownership, are “notionally redemptive” — to use Simon Winchester’s phrase in Land (2028) — this can’t be said of Fiji where iTaukei own more than 90 per cent of land. So unless the PM was referring to historical internecine land transfer, redemption isn’t called for. Which is not to say the PM or anyone else shouldn’t borrow and adapt cultural expressions. Christopher Griffin Perth, Australia
Drugs and drivers
It is sad to read that the taxi association is linking drug usage to taxidrivers and blaming the long hours of driving. In Lautoka one can hardly find a taxi after 8pm and the private cars (Pari drivers) provide the taxi service to many people. Hardly any taxi are seen at night so blaming drug usage by taxidrivers and blaming it on long hours of driving is simply unacceptable. Narayan Reddy Lautoka
Political party
Be grateful that FijiFirst, as a political party was voted out by the people of Fiji. Can’t imagine the mess we could be in if they had continued to rule. Dan Urai Lautoka
Poll, girmit, streetlight
Modern girmit
The Assistant Minister for Health says that the PALM workers in Australia (FT 10/11) are treated like girmitiya. First and foremost, the PALM workers are none of his business as there is a minister and Ministry of Labour which oversee that portfolio. So what’s his business to address the workers? Be that as it may, there is, however, no comparison of the Indian gimitiya, which is what I presume the minister is referring to, to those currently working under the PALM scheme. Those under the PALM scheme voluntarily joined the scheme to earn money and improve their livelihood whereas those from India were largely rounded up and duped into coming to Fiji for a better lifestyle. How can the minister compare a cramped boat ride of three months from India to Fiji to a five-hour flight from Fiji to Australia? How can he compare adults from India separated from their families to the whole family of PALM workers joining them in Australia? I can go on listing many differences but the point I would like to make is that I believe, some of the workers under the PALM scheme are lazy and do not want to work hard. Added to this is the social structure supporting the malua fever that is so predominant in society. Moving forward, I suggest to the authorities to stop pampering the workers and instead tell them to earn their dollar. The path to a good lifestyle begins with hard work so they should stop whimpering. If not, they have a choice to quit the scheme and come home. It’s as easy as that. Ajai Kumar Waqadra, Nadi
Girmitiya references
Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa says some of my Fijian brothers and sisters work like girmitiya under the PALM scheme. Wait, what? Girmitiya type working conditions are unimaginable by this generation and the immediate past generation. Those before might have had memories. But for Ravunawa to listen to some of the PALM workers’ plights and himself draw a picture of the girmitiya, it means that the struggles of my forefathers are not forgotten. The word Girmit is a hybrid derived from the word Agreement, and Ravunawa is spot on with his description. Ravunawa’s description is actually raw and honest, and I don’t think he could have described it any differently. My girmitiya forefathers built this country, raised industries from dust and became Fijians, as most chose not to return to India. Our Fijian girmitiya under the PALM Girmit will almost certainly return to Fiji, of course while harbouring dreams to remain there and contribute better to the economy there, and support families here via remittances. Why not? Legitimately of course. The various girmitiya around the world today have technology and social media access and can tell their stories of pain, cruelty, deception and struggles at the hands of their masters. Imagine the situation of my girmitiya forefathers. They have given us proud identities as resilient Fijians. Or, Indo-Fijians. It was always the correct decision to have a public holiday as a tribute. Donald Singh Suva
Regional voting
To make voting a fairer representation of all areas throughout Fiji at the 2026 General Elections, we should move away from the single voting constituency that we have under the 2013 constitution. The required minimum threshold to enter parliament should also be amended to reflect this change. Instead, we should have regional voting constituencies similar to old models but without any connections to racial voting as per previous constitutions. Voting this way will allow voters to choose candidates based on merit and on connection to their region. The constituencies should simply be Ba Rural, Ba Urban, Lautoka Rural west, Lautoka Urban, and similar throughout Fiji. Smaller parties and even independents will be able to enter parliament and give democracy a bigger voice. Having a single super constituency forces voters to choose candidates that might not have any strong connection to their region and hardly any accountability for regional problems. Who will we contact when there are complaints about government services in Yasawa or Nadi or Lautoka or Labasa or Korovou or Levuka and we have had no proper response from government officials? If we had a regional elected official, we can hold that official to account at the ballot box. I hope this happens before the next General Elections. Conan Hatch Nadi Airport
Levuka streetlights
Most of the solar streetlights installed around the municipality of Levuka earlier this year, “works one minute and off the next”. The FRA paid contractors would travel all the way from Suva to fix same and a few days later, it becomes inoperative again and the cycle continues. Such has been the norm since installation. I understand those solar streetlights cost approx $200-$300 and FRA should actually check the quality of such. Subsequently, I’d bought a $35 solar light from Vinod Patel in February this year and till to-date, it has been working fine without a hitch. Apparently, no one seems bothered in Levuka nowadays. Sivia na moce boko. Anthony Sahai Levuka, Ovalau
