Reproductive health
The Fiji Times has been vocal in addressing issues faced by Fijians.
From the WOWS campaign to breast cancer and then non-communicable diseases, childhood obesity, climate change, and rising sea level to name a few.
Yesterday the newspaper ran an article titled ‘Be aware of your reproductive health’ and I’m glad that the message found a willing audience as always.
I agree with the executive director for Reproductive and Family Health Association of Fiji Matelita Seva that cancer will kill more Fijian women if they continued to treat it as a taboo issue, did not talk about the issue openly.
I must thank Matelita Seva for her timely advice that Fijian women must take care of sexual and reproductive health.
She also deliberated that cervical cancer was the leading cancer death in women and that could be prevented if women and girls took themselves in for early detection.
Hence, empowering our women on issues regarding their health is important and I must at the outset thank The Fiji Times for deliberating on such important issues pertaining to the health of women and girls to make them healthy citizens.
On the other hand, our artistic cameraman from the burning west Baljeet Singh captured a beautiful picture of the 2019 Vodafone Sugar Festival contestants.
Vinaka bhai!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Carrying on the legacy
I love and never miss reading those beautiful and heart-wrenching articles written by Harold Koi and it was a delight to read that Koi, who is a sub-editor at The Fiji Times, is a descendant of a couple who worked for George Littleton Griffiths (The Fiji Times founder) when the newspaper was established in 1869.
I believe journalism is in Koi’s blood and this could be the reason he articulately coins those adventurous articles and stories.
Congratulations Koi and please keep shining in the ranks of leadership at The Fiji Times.
I’m happy that my newspaper has solid journalists like you that keep Griffith’s legacy of providing credible news to the readers going.
By the way, thank you Jo and The Fiji Times for the momentous articles from Japan.
I’m sure that rugby fans will keep the souvenir pieces so come 2022 we can take a walk down memory lane at the 2019 RWC!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Not a walk in the park
Thank you head coach John McKee for massive wholesale high-risk 12 changes.
Uruguay is not a walk in the park.
Bad decision.
Gross underestimation.
Big time shameful backfire.
McKee, you lost my respect.
Congrats 19th ranked Uruguay beating favourites 30 – 27.
Disgustingly our hopes totally extinguished yesterday.
The buck stops with the coach.
He ain’t good enough.
McKee should look for a new job, rather sadly, and unworthily.
I am flattened.
Not proud to be a Fijian.
On the day, Fiji Airways Flying Fijians just not good enough.
Grog tasted awful last night.
Tip the tanoa away.
Thanks, John McKee.
Ronnie Chang, Mountainview, Martintar, Nadi
Congratulations Uruguay
Most of us did not see this coming but congratulations to Uruguay, they played with urgency and passion culminating in a well-deserved win.
They capitalised on every opportunity and being a country dominated by football, their goalkicker was impressive.
Fiji clearly underestimated the Uruguayans and some of the field decisions left much to be desired.
We made errors which the opposition turned into points and it was our game to lose.
Such as the team for the rugby sevens world cup, our team on paper was impressive but when it mattered the most we were not able to execute.
If we have to win major tournaments and be a force in rugby we have to have the right people to execute the strategies in place.
Congratulations again to Uruguay, well played.
Sailosi Naewe, Naduru Rd, Nausori
Fijian passports
It is alarming to see the significant increase in the cost of obtaining Fijian passports.
A simple analysis of the global data available for a standard adult passport reveals that we pay far greater than those charged in Mauritius, India, South Africa, China, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Globally, passports are getting more expensive as the security printing industry argues that they are also getting safer.
This is not necessarily a valid argument in my opinion.
On the contrary, technological advancements should have had a favourable impact on the cost of production and consequently on the price of passports.
When compared with a couple of decades ago, Fijians are travelling abroad more often for leisure, work and health-related purposes.
As such, passports must be recognised as an important “commodity” where the supplier holds a natural monopoly position.
Therefore similar to any other essential service or commodity, any revision in the fees/charges should have undergone the due process involving nationwide consultations and also an independent assessment by the relevant agency.
Avishek Narayan, Suva
Rugby growth
The growth of rugby on the global stage is evident in the matches played at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Gone are the days when teams were easy beats and conceded points close to or beyond three figures.
Although there has not been any major upsets so far, tier one nations have been made to overwork for victories.
At this growth rate, it won’t take long for new names to start appearing on the William Webb Ellis trophy.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
No fear
Radio announcers from a certain station were telling people not to fear (25/9/19).
Before advising people not to fear, find out from political leaders why they need ‘armed’ bodyguards in peaceful Fiji.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Big thank you
A big thank you to captain Smith for being part of the group that managed to remove the abandoned eyesore vessel from Marine Drive foreshore.
The vessel MV Gotta Go Fiji was going nowhere after Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Finally it has been successfully removed and the Ratepayers Association of Lautoka would like to thank captain Smith and his team.
Vinaka captain!
Narayan Reddy, Lautoka
Our team
Did I hear right that this is the best ever prepared team?
Well the results after two games doesn’t say so.
Why field the reserve team when the RWC is only for the best against the best.
I believe our coach relied on their previous match in which they got a thrashing from our team.
This is the World Cup mate!
Of course it’s the end of the world.
Usaia Tagi, Delainavesi
Still analysing
Looks like John McKee is still experimenting with the Fiji rugby team.
Hopefully he gets it right in the next two games.
Anyway congratulations Uruguay.
Sukha Singh, Labasa
Fijian identity
I PROPOSE to simply define a Fijian as someone with an exceptional sense of humour.
Someone who can crack red hot spicy jokes (more spicy than Southern India’s curries).
Someone who enjoys making fun of himself… or herself (for women or those who prefer to identify as such).
Someone who even enjoys making fun of other people in a friendly way, tavale style.
Someone who never gets angry because the humour is too spicy.
I believe anyone with anger problems or a tendency towards tantrums should be stripped of his or her citizenship, no matter his or her administrative place of birth, including Fiji.
Perhaps immature people should be expelled to… I don’t know… France?
Is that too spicy, Mr Editor-in-Chief?
Mathieu Pelletier, Sigatoka
Yato incident
Voices from the highest corners of the rugby world are adding their weight to the concerns.
However, the Wallaby coach is a “little disappointed” with Fiji’s decision to refer the Yato incident because it isn’t “in the spirit of the game” (rugby.com.au).
He is failing to acknowledge that if rugby laws were applied correctly last week, they were surely headed for a humiliating night in Japan.
Some of the notable views have also made it clear that smaller rugby nations are at the receiving end in such cases.
It is strange that when a player from a smaller rugby nation appears to have infringed, the commentators dwell on it and make their decisions before officials do.
It is even more stranger that when a player from a smaller rugby nation appears to have infringed and is missed by officials on the ground, the replays of the incident “mysteriously” continues on the big screen for attention.
These incidences become the difference between progress and elimination.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Spirit of the game
Australian coach Michael Cheika crying “not in the spirit of the game” with Fiji’s referral of Reece Hodge to the citation commissioner highlights a surly and mean-spirited character so highly desperate of his winger’s availability it obliviated his good senses that his utterances were “not in the spirit of the game”.
In any case if referral is “not in the spirit”of the game then why is it on the WRU books as part of the grievance procedures.
Seems he was not paying attention when referee’s boss Alain Rolland advised before the games of zero tolerance to high tackles.
Reece Hodge’s contact was a high shoulder charge with his arms pointing to the ground.
Just because it was not mentioned in the immediate aftermath of the game does not mean Fiji had abdicated its rights to the process.
How so very patronising of the Australian coach to expect as much.
Mr Cheika should consider himself very lucky because had the match officials not played favourites then Mr Cheika could very well be looking for another job now since Fiji beating the much vaunted Aussies was then well within the realm of possibilities.
But we will never know now, will we?
How could we when Fiji was facing the Aussie team plus three match officials in addition to the match TMO?
Mareko Vuli, Delaidogo Settlement, Wainibuku Rd, Nakasi
Wake-up call
The nightmare of a performance is a wake-up call for the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians.
I had thought that the match against the Los Teros was an opportunity for those players who missed the Wallabies encounter to impress John McKee but unfortunately some chose to throw the towel.
In a demoralising performance, players were slow to the breakdown, individualistic and missing first up tackles.
With an already slow delivery from breakdowns, matters were made worse by the flat attack.
Just after half-time, a penalty was won by Fiji.
Behind on the scoreboard and with a dominant scrum, kick at goal was chosen.
Decision-making?
As for the massive handling errors, can we make the forced off-loading tactic illegal?
It’s time to pick up the pieces.
Boys, keep possession and relentlessly continue attack in waves.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
