The Fiji Times » Opinion

By the sweat of our brows

Many years ago on at least two separate occasions I drove with some friends from Sydney to Somersby on the Central Coast of New South Wales to visit an open air museum and theme park known then as Old Sydney Town, before it was converted into a movie location in 2003. The set up was...

Maui fire | Fiji man hailed a hero in Lahaina

Part 1 Man from Savusavu, Cakaudrove has been hailed a hero in the United States for the part he played in providing assistance during the recent Lahaina wildfire on Maui, Hawaii. On August 8, wildfires swept across Maui and killed at least 97 people, making it one of the America’s deadliest disasters. For weeks, the...

Good fats, bad fats, salt and cholesterol

Fats, oils, salt and cholesterol are all factors that have a significant bearing on our health, particularly in middle to later life. How often do we hear of an untimely death of a close friend or relative from some sort of heart-related incident. A closer look at the factors in our diets may help us...

Care for your mind, body, and spirit

Bula Fiji! Thank you for taking time out to read Bula Vakasaama, a column dedicated dicated to enlightening readers about practical strategies for optimal mental health and mind wellness. Today, I’d like to invite you to appreciate the importance of self-care. Society has conditioned us to put others’ needs before our own, however, it is...

Letters to the Editor | Sunday, September 24, 2023

Rugby World Cup I have a good feeling that the Flying Fijians can go all the way to the top in this Rugby World Cup. The fitness and skills are already there, I believe combined with that, they can “think” their way to the top with the right mental attitude and discipline. Now I have...

Editorial comment | Our meth challenge

The fact that Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew is saying methamphetamine is being produced in Fiji through prescribed medicines that could be obtained from pharmacies should be a concern. While this is known, meth or ice, he said, was not only found in Suva but is also in Vanua Levu now. “So, there...

Cybersecurity | Protecting and defending the use of cyberspace from cyber attacks

Last Thursday (21/09) I was fortunate to be invited to present and be a panel member at Digicel’s Cybersecurity Symposium at GPH. The chief guest was the Minister for Home Affairs and so that set a good platform for the day. Events like these are useful not only for information dissemination, but for networking with...

Disastrous mill upgrade project

The Fiji Sugar Industry suffered a loss of $550 million through its disastrous mill upgrade program of its four mills since its commencement in 2006. And the losses continue to accumulate even today through interests on the borrowed money. This project was financed through an initial loan of $102 million from the EXIM Bank of...

Unveiling the iconic logo | How a WWII fighter pilot helped the Flying Fijians find their wings

One of the great thrills of my life was discovering, when I went to work for the Fiji Rugby Union in 2001, that my boss was Pio Bosco Tikoisuva. I had just turned nine years old in 1977 when I listened to Pio’s exploits as Fiji captain organising the defeat of the British Lions, on...

Across the divide | School reunions | Part 4

Cross-cultural experiences at schools play a key role in helping bridge the divides that separate us and confine us from fully realising and celebrating the delights of diversity in our lives. Last week, I brought to you particulars about the recent reunion at South Taveuni Indian School where I spent the first five years of...

Letters to the Editor | Saturday, September 23, 2023

Stallions out to end Suva’s unbeaten run THE prestigious Inkk Farebrother Sullivan Trophy is at stake as giants of the Skipper Cup and the unbeaten FMF Suva side faces the Cambridge Farm Nadroga team at Lawaqa Park. The Stallions have successfully defended the trophy they value more than anything else against Namosi (23-15) and Naitasiri...

Editorial comment | Raising the stakes

It is good that Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua has come out immediately to allay public fears in the wake of the alleged firebombing incident outside the Totogo Police Station in Suva. It is understandable that what happened would cause concern among members of the public. How else are people expected to respond to...

Can kava mana be exported?

Kava is the ancient drink of Pacific people. Surrounded in custom, and steeped in thousands of years of tradition, it is considered a ‘life source’ for many. ‘Anau Mesui Henry describes kava as ‘being alive’, that you’re honouring it when you’re drinking it ‘the proper way’. “When my family moved to Aotearoa, my mum and...

Letters to the Editor | Friday, September 22, 2023

Rugby in the Land Down Under IT was that Fiji win in 1954 and our tour at the time, that helped to revive the game of rugby in Australia for the spectators, largely because of our carefree and free-flow style of rugby. Isa, but our win this week in the World Cup, might just do...

Editorial comment | Looking to the future

Finally, we have some attention now firmly focused on identifying major challenges in our education system. Education Ministry permanent secretary Selina Kuruleca has revealed that while 99 per cent of students complete primary school, approximately 20 per cent of these students will drop out of school between years 8 and 12. If that wasn’t bad...

Turtle conservation | Urgent action needed for Fiji

New preliminary research findings highlight persistent and alarming rate of ongoing sea turtle harvesting, which directly contradicts the welldefined regulations prohibiting this practice. A troubling trend that warrants immediate attention. The findings identified major harvesting hotspots in the provinces of Lomaiviti, Macuata, Kadavu, and Bua. The turtle, also known as vonu or ika bula, holds...

Letters to the Editor | Thursday, September 21, 2023

Men of the match MY men of the match are Simione Kuruvoli who booted us to an historic victory, and Levani Botia the Jackler and never say die battler, who won for us those crucial turnovers, on a day the Aussies will rue, when the coconut tree squashed the kangaroo! Edward Blakelock, Admiral Circle, Pacific...

Editorial | Addressing our sugar woes

It is encouraging to hear Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh talk about the need to address problems faced by our sugar cane farmers. He believes there is a need to do this if the industry is to be revitalised. A collaborative approach, he said, is being encouraged to ensure the advancement of the industry. He...

Sinking islands

On a tiny island in the Caribbean sea, hundreds of people are preparing to move to escape rising sea levels that threaten homes. Carti Sugtupu is only the size of five football fields but the island, off Panama’s northern coast, crams houses together with barely an inch to spare. Some homes jut out to the...

Letters to the Editor | Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Masterpiece in motion 69-year drought broken! Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones is in the spotlight as the ferocious Flying Fijians left the Wallabies RWC hopes hanging by a thread and recording their first win in 69 years. The Wallabies face a win-or-die Pool C clash with Wales in Lyon after they were battered in the...

Editorial comment | All for Fiji

Have you ever thought about the support for the Flying Fijians? The fan base that is! Think about it. Who can ever dispute where the hearts of Flying Fijians fans lie! A video is trending on social media. It shows a group of Fijians on their way to watch the Flying Fijians, obviously against Wales...

Pacific families feel the strain | The ‘painful dollar’ of Australian farms

The evenings are always the hardest for Nai Misipeka. Alone with her five children, after cooking and cleaning, she puts them to bed. With Fiji four hours ahead of Western Australia, the time difference means by the time her husband John gets off work their conversations are almost always tinged with sadness. “When he calls...

Letters to the Editor | Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Great coach, great team, great win Patience is a virtue. When we lost to Wales last week, everyone from the players to fans were angry and devastated, but if there was one person that showed no signs of panic or agony it was our national coach Simon Raiwalui. During his post match summary he was...

Editorial comment | A powerful statement

Powerful! Dominating! What a game! That 22-15 victory over the Australian Wallabies at the Rugby World Cup in France was like an injection of enthusiasm and confidence for Fiji as a nation. It is difficult not to be swayed by the outpouring of emotions yesterday. It is difficult to not be swayed by the feeling...

Celebrating Hari Malaysia. A feast for the senses at the iconic Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji

HARI Malaysia, more commonly known as Malaysia Day is commemorated on September 16 every year to mark the establishment of Malaysia. This iconic date is synonymous with uniting Malaysians across the globe. With the theme of “Determination in Unity, Fulfilling Hope” for the 66th National Day and 60th Hari Malaysia this year, let us venture...

Letters to the Editor | Monday, September 18, 2023

Overworked doctors AS a regular SOPD patient, on a very recent visit for prostate and kidney scans, I learnt, in passing, a GOPD doctor handled some 200 patients during his shift. As a caring Nadi retiree, as a voice for the silent majority, I respectfully share this matter with the Minister for Health and Medical...

Editorial | Startling revelations

There are stories that need to be told for the sake of transparency and for the sake of the nation. Then there is the bit about law and order, and adherence to the rule of law. So when Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) general secretary Felix Anthony finally opened up about what he went through...

Opinion

Tonga’s rusting iron avenue | 30,000 abandoned cars