Editorial: Left in The Dark

Two heartbreaking incidents reported in this issue shake the hearts of every Fijian. They are sad.

One left 400 schoolgirls literally in the dark. The other left a family, including an infant, without power and roof over their heads. The stories are painful. It is a reality when responsibility fails, ordinary people suffer, especially our beloved children.

At the prominent girls’ boarding school, students, teachers and families reportedly endured 17 days without electricity. This is a serious occupational health and safety concern. It is a threat to the wellbeing of the children entrusted to the care of the education system.

The girls are away from their parents. They rely on adults and institutions to provide a safe environment. Studying under floodlights, moving around hostels with torches and enduring prolonged power cut is unacceptable. Especially when Government prioritises child protection and student welfare.

Why did it take 17 days without immediate solution? Did the principal, relevant authorities and stakeholders understand the risks involved? If a contractor was responsible, why was there no urgent solution?

Parents do not send their children to boarding schools to live in unsafe conditions. They send them there with trust. It must be honoured.

The eviction of a family after about 60 years of occupation is another painful reminder of the importance of proper agreements and respect for land rights. Land has owners, and the law governing their use must be respected. Behind every legal dispute are human beings, families. They cannot be ignored and forgotten.

The lesson is clear: avoid negligence, avoid assumptions and avoid delaying difficult decisions.

The law must prevail, but humanity must guide how we handle hardship. The students must be protected. The family and landowners must seek a peaceful resolution. Fiji cannot afford a culture where problems are ignored until they become crises. Leadership about preventing suffering.

A nation is judged by how it protects her children and supports families in distress. Compassion and accountability must walk together if Fiji is to prosper.