Across the country, public attention has increasingly been consumed by political disputes, court rulings, constitutional debates, and questions of identity. These matters are important in any democracy, for they speak to accountability, governance, and the rule of law. Yet while the political class debates, thousands of ordinary Fijians continue to face a far more immediate crisis, the daily struggle to survive, a stark reality.
Those are the words of Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua as he says at a time when Fiji stands at a defining crossroads, the nation must ask itself a difficult but necessary question: are we focusing on the issues that truly matter to ordinary people.
The chief says the role of leadership is not merely to dominate headlines or win political arguments.
He says leadership must ultimately be measured by the ability to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
The Bau chief stresses that Fiji needs leaders who are prepared to confront reality honestly, prioritize people over politics, and focus on solutions rather than distractions.
He stresses that this is also a moment that calls for national unity, as in difficult times, division weakens nations while cooperation strengthens them.
Ratu Timoci also says the answer is clear - we have to go back to the land.
He says the three industries that have yet to realize its full potential is agriculture, fisheries and forest.
Ratu Timoci says if harnessed properly, it has the potential to change the economic landscape of the nation but he asks do we have the political will to do it.
He says the provinces need to work with the respective agencies to push it through.
He adds food security must become a national priority - more support should be given to local farmers, fisheries, and small-scale agricultural enterprises, and communities should be encouraged and supported to revive backyard farming, cooperative farming systems, and traditional food preservation practices.
Ratu Timoci says government assistance must become more targeted and sustainable.
He says equally important is the need to invest in employment creation and skills development.
The Bau chief says young people facing unemployment and hopelessness are increasingly vulnerable to drugs, crime, and social instability.
He stresses that Fiji cannot afford to lose another generation to despair.
He further says economic empowerment, vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and rural development initiatives must become central pillars of national policy.
He adds at the same time, the healthcare system remains under immense pressure, and access to quality healthcare continues to be a major concern, particularly for ordinary citizens who cannot afford private medical services.
Ratu Timoci says long waiting times, shortages of medical professionals, and limited resources continue to strain hospitals and clinics.
He also says the growing HIV crisis further highlights the urgency of strengthening public health responses as Fiji is now facing what global health authorities have described as an escalating epidemic.
Rising infections, combined with stigma and lack of awareness, require a serious and coordinated national response involving education, testing, treatment accessibility, and community engagement.
Ratu Timoci says the drug crisis continues to destroy lives and destabilize communities.
He says the spread of illicit substances is not simply a policing issue - it reflects deeper economic, social, and spiritual challenges confronting the nation.
He stresses that addressing it will require stronger family structures, community leadership, rehabilitation programs, youth engagement, and economic opportunity.
The Roko Tui Bau says it is good that the Police and the Military are working hand in hand to address this problem.
Ratu Timoci says for many families, the real battle is not being fought in courtrooms or parliamentary chambers - it is being fought at the dinner table, in overcrowded hospital waiting rooms, in villages and settlements affected by drugs and crime, and in homes where parents are wondering how they will pay for fuel, electricity, transport, and food next week.
The Bau chief says the people of Fiji are not asking for endless rhetoric, they are asking for relief, stability, and leadership.
He adds the situation will worsen before it gets better, and asks what strategies are in place to mitigate this.
Ratu Timoci says today, the global situation has added even greater pressure on an already strained population.
He says the escalating conflict involving Iran has sent shockwaves through the international economy, and Fiji, like many small island developing states, remains highly vulnerable to global instability because of our dependence on imported fuel, food, and goods.
Ratu Timoci says as oil prices surge internationally, the effects are already being felt across the country.
He asks what happens when the oil supplies and everything that is interconnected to it stops.
He then says that perhaps it is time to explore opportunities to determine if there are oil wells out there in the Bligh and Bau Waters.
Ratu Timoci says while there are subsidies announced for bus fares and electricity tariffs, people will be affected through the costs being passed on to the consumer in terms of the cost of goods and food items increasing and is a direct threat to household survival.
The Bau chief says families are now being forced to make painful choices between paying bills, purchasing groceries, or meeting school expenses.
He says the reality is clear - wages have not kept pace with inflation a big ask on businesses both big and small.
Ratu Timoci further says poverty is no longer confined to isolated communities; it is becoming increasingly visible across urban and rural Fiji alike.
The Roko Tui Bau says the people of Fiji deserve more than promises - they deserve decisive action, compassionate leadership, and a national agenda grounded in the realities of everyday life.
He says the people are asking not for political theatre, but for hope, stability, and a future they can believe in - and we must rally together as Fijians.
