Subscribe
From The Crowd
The unsung heroes
The transformation of education begins with teachers. I allude to powerful quotes by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Scott Hayden, “A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for...
4th October
US commitment to Pacific Islands
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden last week told visiting leaders from more than a dozen Pacific Island countries that the US was committed to bolstering its presence in their region and becoming a more collaborative partner as they face the “existential threat” of climate change. The president addressed the leaders who gathered in Washington for...
3rd October
Greener shipping
Seafarers and maritime workers stood in complete silence at the Suva seawall as a wreath was set afloat to remember colleagues who lost their lives out at sea because of their fidelity to serve the shipping industry. Hundreds turned up to commemorate World Maritime Day (WMD) on September 29 last week. From retired seafarers to...
1st October
Vet corner: The welfare and safety of horses
It’s been raining cats and dogs lately so let’s get some things straight from the horse’s mouth. Horses have many predators in the wild, so to survive, they learned to quickly react to something near they believe may hurt them and to stay away from strange things. This is useful and life-saving in the wild,...
PaCSON and Optus data breach
This week the Pacific Cyber Security Operations Network (PaCSON) organisation held their AGM at the Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH) in Suva. PaCSON membership is mostly made up of Pacific regional governments with some partners. I was invited to a meeting with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) officials attending, to discuss cybersecurity...
Boxing returns with a bang
Bula readers, it’s not every day you can say that you attended an event that exceeded your hopes and expectations, but this is what happened last Saturday evening in Suva when I attended a boxing program. All I can say is congratulations to Lewis Hill Boxing Promotions and a job well done. It was indeed...
Living with fear: Government should listen and learn
In many of my speeches I refer to the atmosphere of fear often felt in Fiji. This week the fear issue has emerged again. The prominent National Federation Party member Richard Naidu told an audience in Suva that the current government rules by fear. Minister Sayed-Khaiyum questions this. He asked at a press conference, what...
Voters and the 2022 polls
Fiji soon goes to the polls for the 2022 General Election. There are two major candidates vying for prime ministership, both former coup leaders – Sitiveni Rabuka (The Peoples’ Alliance) staged the country’s first 1987 coup and Voreqe Bainimarama (FijiFirst) who led the 2006 coup. Both PA and its partner, the National Federation Party (NFP)...
The ‘FICAC’ factor
If there is any organisation in Fiji that hangs over Opposition parties like the sword of damocles, it is the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. It is critical to understand the genesis of this entity, and its performance so far, especially for the incoming new Government that intends to steer our soon-to-be 52-year-old nation back...
30th September
Asia’s new normal – The massive vaccination campaigns that preceded it
Over the past few months, much of Asia – like many other parts of the world – has returned to an uncanny normality. Streets are full of people, schools and universities are open, traffic is jamming the roads, shops are bustling and there is little, if any, social distancing. COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted across...
