LETTER 1: HOW IRONIC. Edward Kumar – Lautoka. The 2013 constitution was drafted by one person but requires 75 per cent of the voters to agree for a change. The 1997 Constitution was drafted by a committee with the backing of the majority of the populace and every voice heard, yet illegally thrown out by a dictator. We the people had spoken and as far as we are concerned, the 1997 Constitution is the only legal document and supreme law of the land. The illegal 2013 Constitution should be abrogated by the President and enforce the 1997 Constitution.
FT: Do you consider the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill a political loss for your government?
PM: It was a great loss because it showed Fiji that the Coalition and the Group of Eleven, were serious about seeking the Parliament’s mandate to change the Constitution of 2013, are serious in our attempt at giving the people of Fiji the opportunity to change their Constitution, which did not get their mandate to be promulgated to their Supreme Law of Governance.
FT: Did you, at any point, view the outcome of the vote as a vote of no confidence in your leadership?
PM: It was only the vote of those who opposed the Bill, a majority of the members of the House showed they have confidence in me as their Prime Minister.
FT: What was going through your mind when you realised that the vote was not in your government’s favour?
PM: I was already two steps ahead – what next, and what after that!
FT: In hindsight, do you believe the Government should have invested more time and effort in engaging the Opposition to reach a consensus?
PM: We did, and I was duped into believing Seruiratu and Usamate were serious when they asked for ‘bipartisanship’ in dealing with important matters in the House.
FT: Would you have supported the formation of a joint select committee with representatives from both the Government and the Opposition, to refine and present the motion together?
PM: Yes, that would have come in the Third Reading of the Bill.
FT: Do you feel that itaukei voters, particularly those who supported the proposed amendment, have been let down by the outcome?
PM: No, they know that those they gave their mandate to, to make the changes, were not numerous enough, to give the ‘yes’ vote to the Second Reading of the Bill to progress it to the Third Reading, for Amendments and other processes to be followed.
FT: What do you think are the political implications of this defeat, both for your Government and for those who opposed the amendment, as we approach the 2026 Election?
PM: It has given all the opportunity to see for themselves, who has been obsessed with politics, and who is genuinely striving for the better governance of the Nation, relying on the power of the mandate given to us by the voters in 2022 General Elections to pave the way for a Constitution given to the people by the people – an autochthonous Constitution, rather than one given by only a few people in the past (even after they are no longer active in politics or are dead) without the ability of future generations of voters and elected leaders to change it – a ‘necrocracy’ (a form of a Government where a dead person, often a deceased former leader or dictator, is recognised as its head or where the government operates under the rules or influence of a dead person).
LETTER 2: WISE WORDS. Tessa Mackenzie – Suva. We have wise words from Dan Fatiaki in his letter Amending the Constitution (FT 8/25) and I hope that all those attempting Constitutional amendment will read them, especially Dan’s advice with regard to the 2013 Constitution: “Let us never forget its origins or assume its legitimacy”. Having done the hard work with the Citizens Constitutional Forum (CCF) and achieved the 1997 Constitution, I have been quietly saying all along: “Let’s go back to 1997. We can do a little revision if necessary. It is now a quarter of a century old.” I leave it to those of you who are much more than quarter of a century younger than this nonagenarian to do the necessary work.
FT: What is your response to concerns about the legitimacy of the 2013 Constitution, given its origins?
PM: Yes, that is the “last point of ‘legitimacy’ ” which we should return to.
FT: Is the Government open to revisiting and amending the 1997 Constitution instead of working within the framework of the 2013 Constitution?
PM: We must first be able to get Parliament to exhaust the avenues available to it, and if all prove futile, then Cabinet can explore the way of a Appeal for a Ruling from the Final Appellate Court of the Land – The Supreme Court.
LETTER 3: STREETLIGHTS IN LEVUKA. Anthony Sahai, Levuka – Ovalau. Some street lights in Levuka, mostly along Totogo Lane, Garner Jones Rd, Church St and Langham St, are not working, including a few up in Baba. Most have been in such a state since 28/02/2025 and the rest, before that. Energy Fiji Ltd (Levuka), has done their part in informing Fiji Roads Authority regarding the issue but as of to-date, nothing’s been done. Subsequently, the two so-called “Special Administrators” should show some concern in following up same with FRA to ensure that the street lights are fixed ASAP. Or are they waiting for something serious to happen along those ‘pitch-dark’ stretches before acting? Someone’s sleeping on the job.
PM: I thank Mr Sahai for raising his concerns, but I wonder if he had also raised the issue with the administrator, and the Provincial Office to raise the issue through their ascending decision processes. The last time this issue was raised, some solution was found, and as soon as the problem resurfaced, he should have gone to the official rather than to the Editor of The Fiji Times!
LETTER 4: ROAD WOES. Rohitesh Chand of Kalokalo Crescent, Makoi. It was last October when I wrote in the same forum regarding the condition of Vuci Road, and now, after five months, I am once again compelled to write and express the disappointment on the same. While some maintenance was noted to be done late last year, we are back to square one once again. The number of potholes and the partly washed-away side edges are an eyesore. The concerned authorities need to ask some hard questions about their response rate toward fixing the deteriorating road conditions. Are we waiting for someone to lose his or her life due to a road accident resulting from the road condition and then we act? For God’s sake, I hope this does not happen, but I won’t be surprised if it happens. Apart from thousands of road users from the localities, I find it very risky for students of Vuci Methodist Primary, Sila Central High, and Pacific Polytech Vuci South Campus walking along the road to their school and not mentioning about the dismay of people from around the country who come to Raralevu cemetery, that caters for two to three funerals daily. For the sake of our children at least, I am pleading with the authorities to act swiftly, or else, as the frequent user of the road, we might have to escalate this to the line minister and Office of the Prime Minister. If one wants to have a second opinion on the road conditions, please ask the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Professor Biman Prasad, who visited the area a few weeks ago to have a meeting with the Advisory Councillor. Sir, can we see some action, please?
PM: Again, I encourage concerned citizens to go to officials rather than to editors. Would Mr Chand go to a tailor if he wanted a haircut?
LETTER 5: Ajai Kumar of Nadi – Power failure. Some years ago and in response to power recurring blackouts, the previous CEO of EFL Mr Patel angrily said that if people wanted uninterrupted power supply, they should buy generators. Well, I am told that the standby generator at the CWM hospital failed during a critical phase of a surgery so now what? People should understand that generators don’t fail as and when they please, what fails is people. In the hospital case, the organisation and its management structure and attitude of people failed.The hospital should quickly find the root cause of the power failure and rectify at the soonest. If needed, they should invest in battery packs similar to what they threw away recently without using it.
PM: This issue has been brought to the attention of Government, by the doctors involved, and is being fixed.
FT: How does the Government hold energy providers accountable for ensuring a reliable power supply?
PM: We do all the time, but accidents happen, even when there are ‘stand-by generators’.
LETTER 6: Paul Geraghty – USP, Suva, Effective communication. In recent catch-up reading, I came across this gem from the head of a government department (FT 9/1/25, p7): “Moving forward, [the department] aspires to address the challenges to enhance operational integrity and achieve the goals to better adhere to standard practices.” For those who do not speak gobbledygook, I would rephrase this as “we will try to do better”, which is of course what heads of department are supposed to do. This does raise the question as to why many politicians, civil servants, and heads of organisations in Fiji think they have to use fensi language, when most people in the country don’t understand it. Maybe they think it makes them sound clever? It is good that we now have a Learning Institute for Public Service (FT 7/3/25), and I hope it will include in its curriculum courses on effective communication using simple English avoiding gibberish and communicating with the public in the languages they speak, primarily Fijian and Fiji Hindi. That is public service; doing everything only in English is not.
PM: The fault lies squarely with people like Dr Gerahty who still believe in what Lord Macaulay said about destroying Indian culture and customs and making Indians believe that the British language, customs and culture are superior and worth emulating.
FT: What is the Government doing to improve the clarity and effectiveness of public communication from politicians and civil servants?
PM: We are still slogging on. If people are not happy they should go to government officers rather than to the editor of a daily newspaper!
FT: Will the Learning Institute for Public Service introduce training to promote clear and accessible communication in Fijian and Fiji Hindi?
PM: Yes. If they had read what I said at the opening of the Institute, they would have seen that it was one of the reasons for setting up FLIPS.
LETTER 7: Eddie McCaig Suva – Loss of healthcare workers. Why do health workers leave Fiji? Reading local media and a press release from the Minister of Health one gets the impression that with the proposed pay rises this will ebb the tide. Yes, this will bring a smile to those affected but no, migration will continue. Past research has shown that doctors leave for greener pastures, for political reasons, the education of their children, family ties/influences and most important, working conditions. Salaries was always a minor reason. I meet recent graduates and almost all tell me that they are working at leaving, the world is their oyster and they do leave.
FT: What is the Government’s long-term strategy to retain healthcare workers in Fiji, beyond salary increases?
PM: Unfortunately we have very few really patriotic doctors and healthcare professionals like Dr McCaig, who trained in Fiji and dedicated their whole professional lives to the services of the people who paid taxes to finance some of their education and their salaries, but are tempted and drawn to the brighter lights and higher salaries of overseas governments.
FT: We noticed that you have been using a walking stick recently, could you please provide some context regarding your current health or any circumstances surrounding this decision?
PM: I went to preside over a Field General Courts Martial in Lebanon (granted the powers of a High Court judge in Fiji) in 1983, to try a soldier on a murder charge, confirmed by the late CJ Sir Timoci Tuivaga as guilty of involuntary manslaughter, then crossed the Lebanon – Israeli border then the Israeli – Egyptian border to take up my post as chief of military personnel at MFO HQ in Sinai, then on to Command the 2nd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Battalion. I went up using crutches after breaking both bones (tibia and fibula) in my right foot- result of an Inter-Units Rugby match in QEB, I carry two broken collar bones and two titanium knees from two TKR Operations (total knee replacement) because of sports injuries and accelerated wear and tear – so I’m entitled to a walking stick!
