Bread and Butter Issues
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 or
Tag: Opinion
Fiji's Fuel Crisis: The New Normal for Fijians
SUVA, FIJI- Fiji is encountering an era of higher fuel prices, driven by volatile global markets, rising international freight costs, and the country’s heavy relia
Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna - A Visionary Statesman
Few names in Fiji’s history command as much respect and admiration as Ratu Sir Josefa Lalabalavu Vana’ali’ali Sukuna. Ratu Sukuna is widely regarded
'Fijian' in Context
The recommendation by the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) to reserve the term “Fijian†exclusively for iTaukei reflects a deeply rooted cultural perspective, bu
Running with Flair: Turning Fiji’s Rugby Magic into a Global Platform
The power of sport to unite people cannot be understated, nor can its ability to showcase the best of a nation. Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen this firsthand t
Courts, Coups and Constitutional Crises in the Pacific
Yadra Vinaka. Namaste. Kia ora, G’day. yokwe, Mulame, Morning, morning. Thank you for the invitation to speak at your annual convention this morning. In this se
OPINION: Teaching Students Discipline Without Fear
When the Fijian Teachers Association suggests reintroducing corporal punishment (i.e. using leather belts) as a means of discipline in schools, it raises urgent questions
Top cash crop
It seems that Commissioner Tudravu is finally waking up to what the statistics are telling us about hemp production throughout Fiji. In the Fiji Times of 04/09, Mr. Tudra
Cannabis – the way forward
If 45,000 cannabis plants were uprooted in Kadavu then it clearly means that these farmers had a market for a conservative estimate of 2.5 tonnes of product. And we know
Bridging the divide: building Pacific agency in the AI era
Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to be a powerful catalyst of social and economic development for Pacific Island countries. It has the potential to support solutions
Sexual health screening for PALM workers
Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme workers and employers consistently rate healthcare, including access to sexual and reproductive health services, as a prim
Cash is King: Fiji's Bus Transport System Needs Payment Diversity
In the rush to modernise Fiji's public transport system, we've created a divide that leaves many stranded – literally. The recent chaos at Suva Bus Stand, where hu
Education: A Shared Responsibility
Fiji's future is built in its classrooms, but those classrooms are crumbling. Our survey of 107 school leaders nationwide found that 80.4% deem the Free Education Grant (
Fiji's Education Crisis Demands Urgent Action
A quiet crisis is unfolding in classrooms across our country. While officials tout the Free Education Grant (FEG) policy, the reality on the ground tells a different stor
Rumble Grumble
There has clearly been some tension at the top over the last week or so. Don’t panic not the change of Government kind, those days are over, but there has certainl
Fiji and the Donald…..????
We thought it was time to take a break from domestic “navel gazing’ and focus instead on Fiji and its position in the world post Donald Trump taking power.
Elections and Stuff
As with constitutions Fiji has a proud record of sampling electoral systems. Each process has its advocates but apart from our previous Government there aren’t man
Can Fiji’s Electoral System be Reformed within the Confines of the 2013 Constitution?
Many of the major defects of Fiji’s present electoral system could be remedied if there were multiple constituencies. Electoral Law Reform Commission chairm
Constitutions and Stuff
If you thought Fiji had set records in the world of constitutional law, you would be wrong. We have a long way to got to match the Dominican Republic who have had in t
Getting Stuff done
Picking up on our last column’s theme we thought we would stay focused on what is clearly being identified as a core problem .......“getting stuff doneâ€
Making Government WORK
This week around the YB we had yet another of those frustrating conversations about the lack of progress in our medical system. You might recall we highlighted five key m