Billboard message
WHILE travelling from Nadi to Navua on Wednesday (12/09), I saw few billboards saying “Reject politicians who divide us”. This really confused me. I believe there are seven registered political parties in Fiji. All these parties have followers. During this election season all party leaders are trying to grab votes to win. My concern is all these leaders are dividing the people and if we reject all of them, then who will go to Parliament? VIJAY MAHARAJ Navua
Bushfire threat
AT around midday on Thursday, I got a call from a friend who lives in Tuvu just outside Lautoka on the way to Ba. He said there was a huge bushfire in his area and it was a threat to homes. He asked me for the Lautoka fire department’s phone number. I suggested 919, 911, and 000. He claimed he had tried all of them with no answer. I post a question asking for the Lautoka fire department’s phone number and guess what, all said the same thing 919, 911 and 000. No one knew the landline number to the fire station. I left it at that and after a while a friend who had gone to Tuvu to assist, posted that the Ba fire brigade had responded to their call. Tuvu comes under the jurisdiction of the Ba municipality that is why they came. May I just say that the Lautoka fire station is just a few kilometres from Tuvu. What if the fire had been bigger and engulfed the homes, would they say, “Isa sorry that’s Ba’s problem”. With the dry season, all bush land are fire hazards. But a big vinaka vakalevu to Joji Cakobau and the Ba fire brigade crew members who heard the call and responded. How far did the fire engine travel from Ba? And to the fire authority, location is something to think about — common sense should prevail. ALLEN LOCKINGTON Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Day for democracy
DEMOCRACY is a universal value based on the freely spoken and expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems in all aspects of their lives. Evolved over centuries, democracies share many common features but cannot be reduced to a single model. In short, democracy pertains the idea that everyone has the right to have their own beliefs, and to say and write what they think. Theme: Democracy under Strain: Solutions for a Changing World. Yesterday, September 15, was International Day of Democracy and was an opportune time to look for ways to invigorate democracy and seek answers to the systemic challenges it faces. This includes tackling economic and political inequalities, making democracies more inclusive by bringing the young and marginalised into the political system, and making democracies more innovative and responsive to emerging challenges such as migration and climate change. While also celebrating the positive values of democracy, the International Day of Democracy will also offer an opportunity for a review of democracy in the modern world. NEELZ SINGH Lami
Water help
WITH the current hostile weather severely taking a toll on thousands around the dried up country, can bottled water companies duly assist the most helpless and the vulnerable by providing them with this basic necessity? Probably consider halting or decreasing exports in order to sustain the escalating local demand as part of your social corporate responsibility? Fiji first please! … Baaki duniya baad meh. NISHANT SINGH Lautoka
