Primary schools IDC
AS the primary schools IDC concluded in Lautoka, a new generation of stars stamped their mark and impact at Churchill Park.
In a tough battle, teams fought for supremacy.
While some players enjoyed their maiden trip to the Sugar City, some parents also forked out to accompany their son(s) to Lautoka to provide morale support.
Making the journey to Lautoka for teams such as Taveuni, Seaqaqa, Savusavu and Labasa had been tough but I commend the teachers, parents and sponsors for making the eventful journey possible.
As I conclude, I thank the executives of Fiji Primary Schools Soccer Association (Dina, Kamlesh, Nagaiya and Ramesh) for taking the initiative to host a tournament of such magnitude.
On the other hand, the Ba U12 side led by the coaching staff Timoci Seru, Rajnil, Arvind, Vimal, Naushad and Avnil had the last laugh as they won the U12 title beating Labasa 1-0 while Suva led by teachers Raneel, Sanjay, Rabneel and Para beat Nadroga for the U14 title!
To The Fiji Times, thank you for the colourful coverage!
To Fiji One, thanks a million for the historic coverage of the primary schools soccer this year!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Semi-final showdown
THE Fiji Airways Drua will carry the hopes of the nation when they take on the Canberra Vikings in Lautoka today.
Despite the inclusion of some Fijian boys in the Vikings, I think the Drua gallants have enough prowess to overpower the visitors in front of their diehard home fans.
Seruvakula has certainly shaped the boys very well this season and hopefully they play to their game plan come the semi-final showdown.
Will the nippy Frank Lomani play his magical game or will it be the blazing speed of Waqatabu?
It will all come down to the battlefield as the dust settles at Churchill Park in the Western territory.
Raynav Chand, Nakasi
Talanoa session
THE Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, and his delegation have been travelling all over Fiji having talanoa sessions.
The definition of a talanoa session is to sit and talk.
Yes, nephew Manoj is spot on, how about the politicians sit and have a talanoa session.
Have a cuppa tea, or juice, or water or a tanoa of kava.
Just have a talanoa session and no war of words.
No politics will be talked about.
I can mediate.
What say gang? (Gang meaning friends and anyone who is willing to attend).
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Switching allegiance
IT saddened me to read that our teen sensation, our future prospect in weightlifting and our gold medallist from the 2018 Commonwealth Games Eileen Cikamatana is thinking of switching allegiance from her country of birth because of the impasse between Weightlifting Fiji and Levuka Weightlifting Club.
I had written earlier and requested the two parties to come to the dialogue table and resolve the impasse for the betterment of weightlifting, but so far nothing has eventuated.
I must, at the outset, request for cool heads and a talanoa session for the way ahead.
When Eileen won gold in Gold Coast, I congratulated her through my letter.
I remember reading articles in our newspaper singing songs of her achievement.
Apart from winning gold in Australia, Eileen has also won gold at the Asian Indoor Games, Oceania Championship, Pacific Mini Games and the World Youth Games.
I can never dream of losing such a talented youth and I plead with those in authority to put aside their personal interest and look into the welfare of our budding star.
This is one of the reasons I have always said that those in administration must have contributed as a player in that particular field.
While I applaud The Fiji Times for highlighting Eileen’s plight, I urge Eileen to think about her decision of switching allegiance.
On the other hand, one must not forget that the Levuka Weightlifting Club under the guidance of Jo Vueti has been instrumental in producing gold medallists at international and local weightlifting competitions.
I await a positive outcome and I request the parties for a talanoa session to solve this impasse for good!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Area of beauty and peace
IN our area of Wailekutu, Lami we are frequently seeing the destruction of habitat and environment, rezoning with detrimental impact, major earthwork and pollution on the people.
Yet many residents still hang in there with the knowledge that this is an area of beauty and peace. Is one of our last bastions of spirituality, beauty and tranquillity (The Nazareth Prayer Centre) to be scrutinised by developers under an EOI called for by the property officer at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese?
I do hope and pray we are not looking at another David and Goliath battle.
Catherine Morgan, Uduya Point
Alcohol and cigarettes
WHILE most of the political parties are intensely advocating along the lines of building a better Fiji, I almost chocked on my breakfast after reading that a contesting party born yesterday has promised to reduce the price of alcohol and cigarettes (FT 19/10).
Are they serious? How would this questionable strategy benefit our nation? What’s next?
Legalise weed and crystal meth?
I won’t be surprised if the party in question receives a good hiding when votes are finalised.
On a different note, I am all for the re-introduction of the death penalty, as justifiably proposed by another party.
Nishant Singh, Lautoka
Number 666
SO 666 was bypassed in the allocation of numbers.
Superstition?
I know of a few who that number would go well with.
Allen Lockington, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Media’s role
THE role of the mainstream media is crucial for political parties in the coming 2018 Gerenal Election (FT 8/10 and FT 19/10).
We know The Fiji Times takes that role seriously by giving contesting political parties an even chance and fair democratic space to explain their political platform to the voting public.
In other words, it provides a level playing field.
What other mainstream media in Fiji does this?
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
For justice
YADRA vina.
Tu, if you keep campaigning for a whipping for rapists and murderers only, you might just get elected.
I will go with the whipping but not death penalty.
For I echo Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “There is no justice in killing in the name of justice”.
Manoj Lal Patel, Lautoka
Break the cycle
DOMESTIC violence is the most common form of assault in Fiji.
Let’s not have our children growing up believing that brutality is normal. Let’s break the cycle of violence.
Stop the violence now.
It ends with me.
Jioji Cakacaka, Nasinu
On a mission
AS we count days to the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens 2018, our women reps will be flying Fiji’s flag in Colorado against Canada, France and Ireland in pool play.
Ro Dovi, the coach of the Rewa team, is in charge of the Fijiana and I hope that he will use his chiefly status to inspire our Fijiana and restore lost status.
My best wishes to the side as they face an uphill battle in Colorado against big names.
Aim for the skies Fijiana!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
The difference
THE difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician thinks about the next election while the statesman thinks about the next generation — James Freeman Clarke.
Wise Muavono, Balawa, Lautoka
Shrimps import
I WAS a member of parliament in 2004 when I learnt that $20 million worth of prawns or shrimps were imported annually from Kerala, India.
I was therefore surprised when the Minister for Fisheries announced (FT/19/10/18) that Fiji still imports $24m worth of prawns or shrimps 14 years later.
Yet we see locals everyday selling prawns or shrimps on the roadside.
What’s amiss?
Dan Urai, Lautoka
