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From Fiji Times (27 February 2026) PEOPLE | Inspired for change By Alifereti Sakiasi
CULTURE and civic participation are deeply intertwined according to youth activist Kava Masilagi. With roots in the districts of Itu'ti'u in Rotuma and Nadrau in Navosa, Ms Masilagi grew up in a home where politics and current affairs were openly discussed. As a child, she was never excluded from conversations about national issues or family decisions. She credits this experience for shaping her confidence in public spaces. "I was always included," she said. "That was a really important for me growing up." Although she once considered studying medicine, she eventually pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Politics at the University of the South Pacific, graduating last April. She is now completing a postgraduate certificate in international affairs and diplomacy. Today, she works as an ethnographic officer with the iTaukei Trust Fund Board, contributing to cultural mapping for Rotuma, a monumental task she described as both enriching and deeply personal. Raised by her grandparents on mainland Fiji, Ms Masilagi never had the chance to return to Rotuma during their lifetime. Her grandfather had left the island to work in the Vatukoula gold mines, while her grandmother spent part of her childhood there before relocating. Working to document and preserve Rotuman heritage has allowed her to reconnect with her roots. "It was an experience that really reconnected me to my grandparents," she said. "It reaffirmed the customary beliefs and traditional values I've grown up with." She encourages other Rotumans, particularly those of mixed heritage, to actively reconnect with their culture. "Culture shapes who we are, even when we don't realise it," she said. Beyond cultural work, Ms Masilagi remains active in youth and political spaces. She believes youth participation is trending in a positive direction, with more young people speaking up and engaging in national conversations. However, she urges responsibility, particularly on social media. "Freedom of speech must be exercised wisely," she said, Ms Masilagi also encouraged fellow Fijians to practice critical thinking in the face of misinformation and online scams. Her message to youths yearning for change in the political arena is to get involved and participate in the process. "Making a change involves voting," she said. "So, go out there and vote." From Fiji Times (25 February 2026) Islanders feel ignored By Viliame Qomate While mainland Fiji grapples with a surge in narcotics and substance abuse, community leaders on Rotuma say the island has been largely overlooked in national drug prevention and security strategies. Reverend Samisoni Motufaga of the Rotuma Assembly of God Church expressed concern over the absence of drug awareness initiatives reaching the island's villages and districts. "There's not much drug awareness programs being conducted in Rotuma," Mr Motufaga said, highlighting a gap in the government's community-focused strategy to combat illicit substances. He warned that without preventive measures, Rotuma's communities are increasingly vulnerable to the same narcotics trade affecting urban centres such as Suva and Nadi. Adding to the concern is a lack of maritime security. Despite Fiji's multi-million-dollar investment in a national maritime security hub, Rotuma's waters remain largely unmonitored. Mr Motufaga noted that the island's primary patrol vessel has been sidelined, sent to the mainland for repairs, leaving vast borders exposed. "This leaves the island's vast borders wide open to international drug trafficking syndicates that authorities warn are increasingly targeting remote jetties and coastlines." Local leaders are calling for urgent action to strengthen both community-based awareness programs and maritime surveillance to protect Rotuma from becoming a target for illicit drug operations. |
