A moment to cherish!
What a moment it will be when the Fiji Water Flying Fijians will join the elite rugby nations to take part in the new global competition — The Nations Championship, a new top-tier international competition, which is set to launch next year. This means Fiji is set to rub shoulders with the giants participating in the Rugby Championship (the All Blacks, Wallabies, Springboks and Los Pumas) and Six Nations (Wales, England, Scotland, Italy, France and Ireland).
Fiji will host the Dragons, Roses and Bravehearts, while we will play away against the Les Bleus, Ireland and Gli Azzurri. I’d love to see England and Wales play here in Fiji. Scotland lost at the HFC Bank Stadium this year to Fiji 14-29. The Flying Fijians are ranked eighth in the latest rugby ranking, and they deserve that spot, after the tremendous efforts put in by the boys against England and France. We lost 18-38 and 21-34 but the boys won hearts of fans and rugby lovers. There were a lot of positives from both matches. While we led England at one stage, we dominated statistics against France. The historic Nations Championship will be a great build-up to the 2027 RWC 15s. Fiji is guaranteed six quality matches. Hence, there is a need to march into camp early, get a full squad together, build a cohesive structure and work on the set pieces and a deadly combination. We are blessed with a wealth of talents- players who are laced with speed and power. We just need the right structure and consistent performance. Our participation in the Nations Championship will ensure better preparation, stronger combination, higher confidence levels and ranking and the ability to attract potential investors and sponsors. The Nations Championship is the perfect blueprint to unearth raw materials into stars. This, I am adamant, will make Fiji a global threat and a force to reckon with come the 2027 RWC tournament. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Loss to France
It appears to me that the loss to France last weekend by the Flying Fijians was not because of the fault of the referee this time. There appears to be a general consensus that the loss was due to ill-discipline, lack of skills and fitness. Fiji-style Fijian flair was not good enough, or perhaps they just did not pray hard enough. Fiji rugby fans should realise the reality is none of the losses Fiji suffered in the past was because of the referee. It is always because the better team won on the day. Whenever Fiji has won, that was because it was the better side on the day – not because of the referee. So, get rid of this mentality, culture and tradition that it was all the referee’s fault when Fiji loses, acha… kerekere mada. Jan Nissar Lautoka
Road fatalities
The road fatality statistics for the Western Division for the period August to October 2025, are shocking, to say the very least. The West tops the country’s numbers with 12 fatalities. These are 12 deaths far too many. Why did they occur? Enough has been said about poor, dangerous, reckless and careless drivers. The million dollar question is: “How did these drivers get their licences in the first place? Something is seriously wrong, to begin with. The insufficient numbers of trained and qualified traffic officers along the Martintar-Denarau Bypass roads allows offending drivers to keep getting away. Am I wrong? Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
New Education Bill
All schools need discipline for maintaining order within their boundaries. I believe that it is rarely enjoyable, but almost always profitable. The consistency to help, improve, correct, prevent and not to punish, humiliate or retaliate. If we do not embrace discipline, the world will do it for us, in my opinion. And that is where we are, right now. Bill Hatch stated that disregarding the “biblical” version of discipline, we will suffer the consequences. As a matter of fact, discipline has to begin right at home. Not in schools. Just study those who have practised it. I am certain the “system” has been for the cart to drag the horse. It will always be in an agonising “reversing” mode. The Bible never fails. Never was and never will. Samu Silatolu Nakasi
Train teachers and parents
The Fiji Times‘ timely news that Fijian teachers “need training to discipline children” (3/11) is true but I see there is also a need to educate parents in partnership for further progress in education. I believe parents have a major role to supervise, to discipline children from home to school. With a psychological and humanistic approach, teachers, parents and education stakeholders will be able to understand children as every child is our hope. Praise good behaviour rather than punish misbehavior. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
A share of seats!
From the proposed 25 seats for women, do you think 12 should be allocated for the LGBTQ community? I am sure the women population would gladly accept. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Acting PM
Sukha Singh wonders why the Deputy Prime Minister is not appointed as an acting Prime Minister (FT 18/11). The only possible reason could be that the Prime Minister is testing the leadership calibre of various ministers for future grooming to pass on the leadership role. We should not be surprised if the Minister for Information is appointed an acting Prime Minister on Rabuka’s next overseas visit. BHARAT MORRIS Rifle Range, Suva
Stray dogs
I believe many fellow Fijians understand Dewan Chand’s frustration with the stray dog problem in the country (FT 18/11). Another big problem is the fat cat politician problem for a small island nation. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Corporal punishment
As the debate on this issue continues in The Fiji Times LTE, I feel it’s not wise “to harness an unwilling horse”. It will kick you instead. Teachers be aware of the OHS regulations – duty of care is in place. Safety first to save your job — the noble profession. Child our hope to serve before self. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Right to the point!
Sister Teresia Tinanisolo recalls the Rabuka era coup at Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearing (FT 11/11). She was right in pointing out to coup executor Mr Rabuka that he should confine his military marching to the barracks and not the streets of Suva. She spoke truth to power with the courage of her religious conviction. Mr Rabuka and his military men were not in their professional lane in the 1987 coup and the rest is history, the lingering consequences of which we are still regrettably facing to this day. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Bullying and pensions
Culture of bullying
The bullying culture has long been prevalent and is still rearing its ugly head. Unfortunately, it seems a long way to go before it’s extinction but it’s not impossible. Let’s go and check the previous records of bullying, especially in schools. There are different types of bullying that have affected many children in different ways. That is not new and a pathetic situation that leaves some students traumatised for a long time. Yet we have it out there on the open sources for people’s knowledge with less action to curb this ugly disease called bullying. We do realise that with no corporal punishment, behaviours do become an issue for “some” but that is not justification for bringing it back. Parents and teachers both play equal roles in shaping a child in their own capacity. The new Education Bill 2025 has some strict measures imposing fines that can help the behavioural pattern of kids to some extent. It’s high time we had such strict measures. Those students bullying other students should simply be punished in a way that deters them in the future. Some students have problems at home that is hard for them to cope with thus they take it out in other ways on other students, definitely not something to accept but proper counselling can help. No matter what, we are dealing with humans here and they should be dealt with accordingly. Parents and teachers’ collaboration is very important. Students think differently and moulding them with the right balance is vital. We cannot afford to see our young minds shattered and their families suffering because of other mischievous children’s dangerous behaviour that even goes to the extent of bodily harm. Those students should be named and shamed with appropriate strict punishment. Period. Kirti Patel Lautoka
Party manifesto
Prior to each general election political parties indulge in producing colourful, glossy and impressive manifestos. The attempt is to convince the voters to choose them against their competitors. Thus all flowery carrots are on display. The Peoples Alliance Party also produced a very impressive manifesto in which they promised to revoke all draconian decrees passed by the FijiFirst government of Bainimarama. Thus restoring all fundamental human rights as universally accepted. As the People’s Alliance won majority seats and formed a Coalition Government, we were delighted that democracy would prevail in Fiji under the new leadership. As the first act of liberation, the government repealed the MIDA Act to allow for free speech and expression. It was a heyday for journalists as euphoria swept the country. FNPF pensioners formed a core group with the view to ask the Government to restore the FNPF pensions which was arbitrarily reduced by the Bainimarama government. The Act violated the fundamental rights of the pensioners. I believe it was clearly illegal and ultra vires. We had a series of meetings with the former minister of finance, Professor Biman Prasad and as a result our old pension rates were restored. Pensioners are ever thankful for that. The pensioner core group also had meetings with the former attorney-general, Graham Leung and the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. All agree that gross injustice has been inflicted on the FNPF pensioners. We also had a very depressing meeting with the FNPF Board. We were categorically told that the fight of the pensioners was with the government and not the FNPF Board. The negotiations have dragged on for over 18 months and no one seems to be talking about the pensioner issue. What has gone wrong? Why such deafening silence? Why hasn’t the Government revoked the draconian Decrees 51 and 52 and associated clauses in the 2013 Constitution? We challenge the leadership of the Peoples Alliance to honour its commitment in its election manifesto! Please wake up to strong discontent simmering below the surface. It could become counter productive for the next elections. We have every trust that the Prime Minister will do the right thing by finding a solution to the FNPF pensioner issue. Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
