IDC champions
A heartfelt congratulations to the Labasa team for winning the 2024 IDC! Many fans watched the game through Facebook despite the poor network, and we appreciate their dedication. We also acknowledge the hard work put in by the other teams, your efforts are part of this victory as well.
RODNEY CLARENCE RAJ Naleba, Labasa
Babasiga Lions crowned champions
Labasa had the last laugh when the dust settled at Churchill Park on Sunday evening. The Babasiga Lions brought Labasa supporters to their feet as they lifted the Holy Grail of Fiji soccer, after defeating Navua in the dreaded penalty kicks.
Labasa beat giants Suva 3-1 and Lautoka 2-1 but lost to Navua 3-0 in pool play. The men in red and white stripes thrashed Nadi 4-1 in the semi-final and looked hot favourites for the IDC crown, but they were made to work hard against a resilient Navua team which played with pride and passion. The Lions dominated play but could not break through the Navua defence and had to be clinical during penalty kicks to win the prestigious title. Ironically, the winning team had no players in the national team. What a joke!
Labasa president Rayaz Khan is commended as he has led the Lions to four IDC titles. Head coach Master Ravneel Pratap and technical advisor Anginesh Prasad are thanked for their expertise as they guided the Lions to victory. I salute veterans Taniela Waqa and Simione Tamanisau, who are in their 40s, for proving critics wrong with their sublime performances. The duo walked away with the FFA President’s and Golden Glove awards, respectively. Labasa has been winning one tournament per year, a record. I’m a proud fan.
As I conclude, I thank The Fiji Times sports team and Baljeet Singh for the coverage and glorious colourful front-page picture (FT: 21/10)! I thank the ‘Voice of Soccer’ Raymond Stoddart for the lively commentaries. There will never be another Raymond Stoddart! Time for celebration, Labasa!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Our roads
I wish to draw attention to the concerning state of our roads in Fiji, a matter that impacts all of us — residents, tourists, and businesses alike. While our beautiful islands attract visitors from around the world, the deteriorating road conditions are becoming a significant issue that cannot be overlooked.
Many roads are riddled with potholes, which not only make driving hazardous but also increase vehicle maintenance costs for residents.
In rural areas, these conditions are even more pronounced, often isolating communities and limiting access to essential services. Moreover, during the rainy season, the situation worsens, with some roads becoming nearly impassable.
Investing in road maintenance and infrastructure is crucial for ensuring safety and promoting economic growth.
Improved roads would enhance tourism, facilitate trade, and contribute to the overall well-being of our communities.
I urge the relevant authorities to prioritise this issue and consider a comprehensive plan for road repair and maintenance. Our roads are the veins of our nation, and they deserve the attention they need for us to thrive.
Adi Salote Driu Veiuto Rd, Nasese, Suva
Who and why?
The leading composition of the Coalition Government, the People’s Alliance Party, seems to be heading for a “breakaway”, prior to the 2026 General Election.
It is really very sad indeed, in my opinion, to learn straight from the horse’s mouth and just half way through its first governing term.
Who and why, is the million dollar question?
Sometimes, good things fall apart, so better things can fall together. These are things that break our heart, but fix our vision.
Life always waits for some crisis to occur, before revealing itself as its most brilliant.
And every mistake and setback, is an opportunity to make it better, next time. A great leader genuinely cares for and loves the people he leads, more than he loves leading itself – Mahatma Gandhi.
Samu Silatolu Nakasi
Teachers’ saga
Dinesh Kumar writes that teachers migrate for better pay should be well addressed by teacher’s unions (FT 18/10). This brain drain unless stopped will ruin our entire education system.
Quality teachers, quality education with justified pay should address this problem.
Teachers are our assets for the nation building so invest in teachers.
Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Incredible star
After watching last Saturday’s rugby league match between the Fiji Bati and PNG Kumuls, I could not believe my eyes seeing an incredibly gifted player Waqa Blake at centre.
I wonder if the Drua or the Flying Fijians team could try him at centre for their team as the 2027 Rugby World Cup is looming.
Maika Tabukovu Cunningham, Suva
Fake or real
People nowadays are keen to put on make-up to cover the real person that was created by God.
So as the tongue which covered the real person inside.
Faking hides the reality and the fact of life.
And yet most people choose to live by it.
So sad!
Pita Soroaqali Rakiraki
Aussie story
FT used to print a comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles Schulz many years ago (1977). One such cartoon was: Charlie Brown: Tomorrow, the world will come to an end.
Lucy: Marcie says that the world cannot come to an end because it is already tomorrow in Australia.
Charlie Brown: May be we should all go to Australia.
Many a times when I read LTE of a particular writer from Sydney, Australia, I am reminded of Charlie Brown.
Charles Schulz captures in his cartoons the symptoms of the disturbed personality and life becomes a heavy trip without clear answers to our problems.
Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Gross discrimination
I write this open letter to Lynda Tubuya, the Minister for Women, Children & Social Protection to draw her attention to what I believe is the gross discrimination being practised by her ministry against the FNPF pensioners.
Yesterday (21/10/24), I went to the Social Welfare Department next to Kasabia Brothers to claim my $25 bus travelling allowance as approved in the last budget. However, the lady at the reception told me that I, as a FNPF pensioner, do not qualify for the said allowance. I was taken aback and questioned the young lady about this gross discrimination. Her response was that she was merely doing her duty. On further questioning her I was horrified to learn that government pensioners do qualify. I was dumb struck with this kind of warped logic and reasoning.
I need an explanation why I do not qualify? I have served the country as a civil servant for a period of 30 years. If the government pensioners qualify, I do not see any reason why FNPF pensioners do not qualify.
Government pensioners get the cost of living adjustment but FNPF pensioners do not. Why not?
Further, if this was a case of an oversight, could you please liaise with the Minister of Finance, Professor Biman Prasad and get the necessary adjustments made. Failure to do so will force the FNPF pensioners to protest outside your office. To avoid this ugly situation please act post-haste.
I fully trust in your good sense of fair play and justice to all. You have spoken on this subject a number of times and this is your chance to show that you mean what you say!
Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
Where are the problem solvers?
Water woes, educational issues, drug and alcohol abuse resulting in premature deaths, domestic violence, mental health issues, cyber scams and fraud, road accidents and needless deaths, soli issues, rape and child abuse problems, political turmoil and ongoing turbulence, reconciliation issues, recession crisis, national debt and security issues, climate and environmental emergencies, waste disposal and environmental safety management issues, increasing poverty alleviation problems, housing shortages and inflation, brain drain, job losses and employment shortages, serious infrastructure problems, national disaster risk management issues, medical resource shortages, emerging global health and security challenges.
And the list goes on and on.
Whichever administration is in charge will face all of this and more. The crisis will continue. Some of the problems will escalate.
The unrelenting pressures of trying to meet the expectations of an unfulfilled voting public will continue to drive the nation’s negative narrative screaming for quick fixes.
And there’ll be tonnes of disappointment on all sides.
Unless your hands are on the helm of the ship of State with all of its complex problems, the rest of us are just keyboard critics hoping our 2 cents might make a positive contribution to help manage the many problems.
But why are we so negative most of the time by focussing on the speck of dirt on the windscreen rather than taking in the panoramic view of the bigger picture?
Because we’ve got blinkers on and living in and surrounded by a whole world of negativity.
If we continue swimming and basking in it, we’ll come out with a shiny negative tan. That’s about the only positive show of certainty for all of our mountain of troubles.
Maybe we should take another look at the soaring skyscraper of problematic issues from a very different angle and vantage point. It might just be the view to help us find solutions we might never have imagined or thought possible.
So, who are your problem solvers? Where are they right now? And how quickly can you engage their services?
Colin Deoki Australia
Climate change
When will human beings realise that we cannot eat money?
Dan Urai Lautoka
Soda water
I am a constant consumer of soda water for over a year now and it has worked wonders for me. As a gout patient, I am now enjoying life over a year without having gout attack which was once a yearly thing for me. I would like to thank Dr Nailatikau who was sharing his knowledge on a TV show that soda kills acid in our body as soda is an alkaline. I said why not try it as gout is the sign of excessive uric acid in the body. I have proven it. It is my daily drink.
Pita Soroaqali Rakiraki
New party
Enough of forming new parties to split votes! It’s prime time that the iTaukei stand together in unity, form one political party and work together to manage their country! Why the difference? Isn’t the outcome the same?
Noleen Billings Savusavu
He’s still at it!
Although Mahendra Chaudhry is past 80 years of age, he appears fresh and energetic in the photograph (FT 20/10). I remember Shiu Sharan Sharma, Minister for Works in the Labour Coalition Government in 1999 telling us that as GS of PSA, Mr Chaudhry would call his staff down to the headquarter’s gardens for clean-ups. Mr Chaudhry would shake trees and croton plants and collect fallen leaves. At 80 plus years, Mr Chaudhry is still actively shaking up Government and the civil service.
Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
All my fault
This Australian football referee has no interest in a third-rate football competition, with third-rate players and third-rate spectators in a Third World country. Lift the standards in all four areas. Realistically, nothing is going to change for as long as you have grog and suki dopeys who strive to maintain the lowest standards. So, Fijians are kind of stuck. And it is all my fault.
Jan Nissar Sydney, Australia
League teams
Paul Geraghty’s letter (FT 21/10) regarding the Bati team name pronunciation caught my attention. At one stage during the other game, I thought the PNG women’s NRL team was called “The Orcas”, which I thought a trifle odd, so I looked it up to find they were actually “The Orchids”.
Terry Hulme Eastwood, NSW, Australia
Million dollars
Marijuana tops seizure records, while the white stuff rakes in millions.
Dan Urai Lautoka
