Bula Fiji! – ASHNEEL J PRASAD TEACHER SHINAGAWA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN
THIS is my personal note to my fellow Fijians as we mark 55 years of our nation’s independence on October 10, 2025. I was born in an independent Fiji — a word that still feels sacred every time I say it. Fiji. A name that carries the scent of rain on sugarcane fields, the laughter of barefoot children running through mangroves, the ache of loss, and the healing warmth of belonging. It’s a name that holds within it every shade of who I am — love, struggle, pride, and an unbreakable sense of nationhood. Fiji’s history is unlike any other in the Pacific. What makes it so? You might ask. Me. No, not in the self-serving sense — but in what “me” represents. I am the child of many worlds — where the East met the South, where faith met ocean wind, and where strangers built a home out of exile and endurance. My journey with Fiji didn’t begin the day I was born. It began long before, on a sundrenched morning in May 1879, when the first ship of indentured labourers from India arrived on our shores. From that day forward, their descendants would be known as Girmitiyas. Their story began with a lie — and yet it gave birth to a truth stronger than steel: that
dignity can grow even in the soil of deception. The British Raj had promised my forefathers a short voyage to a nearby island — a journey of 40 minutes, they said. In truth, it took over four months across unforgiving seas. They were told they’d work for a few years and return home with wealth. In truth, they worked for almost nothing, and by the end of their contracts, they were expected to pay their own fare home. Many never could. So they stayed. And in staying, they built something eternal. That is where my story — and yours — truly began. But Fiji’s identity isn’t only shaped by pain. It’s also shaped by passion — and if there’s one thing that unites every beating heart across our islands, it’s rugby. I still remember it vividly: Every Ram Naumi, when Fiji played at the Hong Kong Sevens, we’d finish our Ramayan reading at the mandir in Tawatawa, Lautoka — and someone would rush to plug in the TV so we could watch the game together. And during every Fiji match, the streets would go silent — no cars, no chatter, just a nation holding its breath, each person a coach, a fan, a believer. Thank you, Serevi, Ryder, and all the legends who carried our flag and made our childhoods shimmer with pride. Fiji has taught me that love and respect are not just values — they are habits of the heart. In Fiji, Easter and Christmas are not merely Christian festivals; Diwali and Holi are not just Hindu ones; and Eid is not only for Muslims. In Fiji, every celebration is everyone’s celebration. I remember growing up in Kashmir, Lautoka, with my brother — he obsessed over the running lights, and I over the geometric patterns I’d make from the shiny side of old DVDs. Every year, the glow of Diwali wasn’t just a Hindu light — it was a Fijian light. Of course, our story is not without its shadows. In the past 55 years, we’ve seen four coups — two in the same year. I was a boy during the 2000 coup, missing months of school, not yet understanding the politics but feeling the sting of division. Even today, over a century and a half after our forefathers arrived, I sometimes still find myself defending who I am — an Indo-Fijian, yes, but above all, a Fijian. My identity is not torn between two worlds; it is the bridge that binds them. Yes, we’ve achieved much in 55 years — but before we proudly sing “For Fiji, ever Fiji,”
I ask you to pause and reflect: 1. What have you given back to this beautiful land that gives us all so much? 2. Do you still clutch your purse or lock your car door when you see an iTaukei near you? 3. Have you thanked a bus driver, taxi driver, street cleaner, or rubbish collector this year? 4. When you vote, do you vote for a person’s heart — or just their ethnicity? These are uncomfortable questions, but necessary ones. Because beneath the surface, we still wrestle with the quiet poisons of racism, elitism, and sexism — often disguised as tradition or nationalism. Our forefathers didn’t endure ocean voyages, hunger, and humiliation for us to inherit a divided nation. We are not meant to live as strangers on shared soil. We are, and must always be, like the five fingers of one hand — distinct, but when needed, forming a fist of unity. Let these 55 years be our mirror and our manual — a lesson in how far we’ve come, and a guide for how far we must go. When I speak of a better Fiji, I don’t mean one with taller buildings or faster Wi-Fi. I mean a Fiji with kindness in its core, humility in its spirit, and that eternal greeting — “Bula” — said with eyes that smile. As we raise our flag this year, let us remember everything — the good, the bad, and the painful — for all of it has shaped who we are. I am proud of Fiji in its wholeness, in its flaws, in its beauty. I wouldn’t change a thing — except perhaps one wish: to stand once again on the land of my ancestors in Saru, Lautoka, on the morning of October 10th, 2025, and salute the flag as the sun rises over our 55th year of freedom. Happy 55th Fiji Day, my fellow Fijians. May we never forget where we came from — and never stop building who we are meant to be.
IDC opening – VIJAY P MADHAVAN BORRON RD, SUVA
WHY is it that the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Biman Prasad, is officially opening the 2025 FMF IDC Soccer event at Ba’s Govind Park? Is the Sports Minister not available or has the 2026 Elections campaign begun?
Ministry for men! – LUKE KULANIKORO SAVUSAVU
AREH Tavai Bale! Get the Men’s Ministry, because many men are trying to be women yaar! (FT:4/10)
Sukhu Park – ASISH VINAY PRASAD PARK RD, RAIWASA, SUVA
WHY can’t the Suva City Council professionally and effectively rehabilitate the park with immediate effect? Take action now. The drains need to be cleaned regularly, public convenience cleaned and used, cliff area
maintained, rubbish collected efficiently, and the playing surface rehabilitated. The park is simply in a very poor state. No more excuses. Just do the work. I just simply cannot understand how long it takes to plan to do some work.
Prasad’s stance! – RAJEND NAIDU SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
PRASAD defends new appointment (FT 6/10) of two additional assistant ministers to an already bloated government. Prasad defending the indefensible has become a predictable pattern in his modus operandi since his rise to power in the Rabuka Coalition Government. Thinking Fijians know where he is coming from.
It’s all about protecting his own backside or as my Gujerati friend Bharat Jamnadas would say his “paachu”.
New appointments – RAKESH CHAND SHARMA NADI
DPM Professor Biman Prasad should be more concerned with reducing government expenditure on salaries and remunerations in a small nation of less than one million people. With the rising food costs, at least he will be able to give some relief to ordinary people through reduction in VAT to 10 percent. The Cabinet size presently matches that of a classroom with the teacher at the head.
Three or four legged race – RAKESH CHAND SHARMA NADI
IN the late 1960s, as a primary school student at Votualevu Public School, we took part in 3 to 4 legged race. Teachers instructed senior students to join our handkerchiefs with a knot and tie two students right and left ankles as one. We then threw our hands on each other’s shoulders to link- up and support. We would line up and at the whistle, begin to run the race. Boys whose tied legs didn’t synchronise or lacked coordination would tumble down, rise up again and continue the race. The same was done by tying three (3) boys legs. There was more tumbling down, rising and again tumbling due to lack of synchronisation.
If one looks at The Fiji Times from last week, our 3 to 4 legged government has been tumbling all over the place. It’s not surprising that the PM, his ministers and on one issue, the Permanent Secretary has to come up with all sorts of explanations and excuses with The Fiji Times printing them in detail, so that people reading them avoid tumbling down themselves.
Employment scheme – TAHIR ALI HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND
THE Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh has clarified that the PALM scheme is about creating jobs and improving the wellbeing of the family. (FT 12/9) I believe it is the golden opportunity for those desperately seeking jobs with sacrifices in this global crisis. Successful people are not gifted, they work hard with sacrifices for some purpose to succeed. Sometimes opportunity knocks only once on the door. Make the best of it. Work where you are needed most as the torch shines the best in the dark. Hard work pays.
Striking a nerve! – COLIN DEOKI AUSTRALIA
Isa, it seems that some of the articles and letters I’ve written have struck a nerve, judging by a few of the
comments. If that’s the case, I sincerely apologise, not for expressing my thoughts, but if my words have unintentionally caused offence. My purpose has always been to encourage honest, open and respectful dialogue, so that we might better understand one another and live in peace. I don’t claim to have all the answers. My motivation comes from a deep desire to promote mutual respect, empathy and the free exchange of ideas. Disagreement does not mean hostility. In fact, differing views can be immensely valuable when approached with goodwill. I’ll continue to stand by what I believe are the ethical principles of truth, justice, and respect. But always with humility and a willingness to learn. However, if I’ve fallen short in that regard, I ask for your forgiveness. Like everyone else, I’m human and imperfect, but my intentions remain grounded in what I believe serves the greater good in our shared humanity.
Nadi Hospital – RONNIE CHANG MARTINTAR, NADI
HAVING just returned from Nadi Hospital for blood tests in readiness for my next scheduled clinic for prostate cancer etc; and to collect repeat prescriptions, yesterday morning, Monday, October 6, 2025, I found the pharmacy, dressings and injections waiting area very claustrophobic. This “cave like or tunnel” area measures around 4 metres wide and 8 metres long. I counted some 47 patients, people, between 8.08am and 8.42am, all in a congested and confined area. This is most unhealthy, un-hygienic to find the very sick in wheelchairs plus everyone else of all ages “lumped” together. Tolerating coughing and sneezing was not easy. There is no due consideration for senior citizens at all. (It is tougher having been “nil by mouth” from 7pm Sunday). I raise these issues to help improve service delivery. As a caring senior citizen, kai Nadi through and through, I look forward to some improvement to avoid unnecessary overcrowding in a cramped and poorly ventilated confined space. Basic hygiene is badly lacking, in my view. (I have decided to break my long silence). Will Nadi Hospital SDMO, and the Board of Visitors, implement improvements
necessary, please?
Beautiful love story – TAI SMITH LOT 3 NASINU SEC SCH RD., KINOYA, NASINU
THANK you Phyllis Simpson for your article on “Peggy defies the odds”, (FT 6/10/25). I am proud to say that my Aunt Peggy was a very beautiful lady. As a child I overheard relatives talk about Aunty Peggy was sitting at the seawall near the bowling club in Suva when it collapsed and caused Aunty Peggy to be confined to a
wheelchair. The article talks of Aunty Peggy’s optimism and bravery throughout and the support of My Aunty Nora who just like Aunty Peggy was a beautiful person through and through. Thank you to Uncle John Tolcher, who at the time was her beau, a member of the RNZAF and a gentleman through and through who stood by Aunt Peggy and later married and shared many years with her. A beautiful story for a beautiful lady. To all my Movick cousins and extended relatives please forgive me for sharing the little
I know which I gathered by being raised in Tamavua where Aunty Peggy’s family home still stands to this day. I wrote this as I acknowledge how Aunty Peggy got on with her life with determination, courage and bravery which remains an inspiration to us all to this day
