Silver for Fijiana!
Time has changed. There was a time when most fans only watched the men’s 7s team in action as the Fijiana was not doing so well on the HSBC WRSS circuit. The women’s team barely qualified from their pool into the Cup quarters so fans had lost interest in the women’s 7s team. However, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games changed the Fijiana’s fortune as the girls won bronze medal. There has been no looking back for the Fijiana since then and for the first time in history, the Fijiana has won back-to-back silver medals on the circuit. It was also a delight watching our girls beat giants France, Canada and the USA. After quite some time, fans were waking up in the early hours to watch the Fijiana play. The FRU has done well in promoting women’s rugby and head coach Saiasi Fuli and his assistants, Mosese Volavola and Apenisa Nasilasila, have done well in moulding the girls. My best wishes and hearty congratulations to the Fijiana! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Second final
Congratulations to the flying Fijiana for making it to back-to-back finals. They showed great determination in both the finals, both times bowing out gracefully to the better resourced team, Australia. Accolades to the girls for their performance in the torrid and scorching sun. Their unique rugby style kept the crowd hip-hopping while the camels beamed with admiration! Vinaka, Fijiana. ARUN PRASAD, Dilkusha, Nausori
Fuel tax
Our A-G labelled the suggestion of immediately removing the 20 cents per litre fuel tax as “stupendously stupid”. On the other hand, he says “if tourist arrivals resulted in a hike in revenue, Government would relook at the issue”. So upon the hike in revenue, the so-called “stupendously stupid” suggestion will become a sensible thing to do? Come on, dear A-G, who is being the “bina pendi ka lota” here. Kirti Patel Lautoka
Change and time
There is always a need for change, for to standstill, can mean stagnation. Change is therefore inevitable in any endeavour, person, community or a nation. But change can be about moving forward, it can also be about going backwards. Change can lead to development and progress, but it can also lead to poverty, mayhem and chaos. Change can emanate exogenously, it can also develop endogenously. Change is really a part of the cycle of life that we often hear of. In the history and cycle of human existence, change has really been the driver of all human development. Change is, therefore, about time over a range and time is movement, resulting in overall change. Edward Blakelock Pacific Harbour
Fast drivers
We travelled to Ba on Sunday. We travelled at moderate speed and slowed down when the road signs said 40. On the open Kings highway, we maintained speeds at 80 kph or less to conserve fuel. Then we see vehicles speeding past us and if we were travelling at 80kph, they would have been travelling at over 100 to 110 kph. We wonder why there are so many accidents on the roads. Cars travelling at high speed cannot be controlled at the bends, that’s when they hit oncoming cars. My TD and I had two near misses on our way to Ba. I just can’t understand some drivers. Well, my legs are still shaking and my poor heart just nearly stopped. Allen Lockington Kava Place, Lautoka
Loss of life
December, the month of happiness, joy and merrymaking has just begun. The accident at Naboro is a stark reminder that we cannot let go of our caution and care. We have to be vigilant or such loss of life will mar our happiness. Therefore, I appeal to all vehicle owners to please exercise due care while driving on our roads. Respect other road users. Do not drink and drive! Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
Name change
I was wondering since a number of married women are changing their names on their birth certificates because of a certain entertaining piece of law, what happens when a person’s mother changes her name? Do you have to get your birth certificate updated to reflect the current name of your mother? And while we are trying to get everything to match everything else, we should probably update other details too, for example, residence, other siblings, occupation and so forth. Because really, now the birth certificate is not a document reflecting what were the facts at the time of birth. I commend the Government for putting the name issue above every other issue. Because it is really important that you address members of Parliament by their correct name before you criticise their very existence. Kiran Khatri Samabula, Suva
Team’s performance
THE negative comments labelled at our men’s below-par performance in their first two pool games against France and Spain on social media is foolish, stupid and absurd. A lot has also been said by fellow writers in this column (Letters to the Editor, FT 04/12) and everyone is entitled to their personal opinion. If you are not a true Fijian at heart, you will pass negative comments against the team whenever the results don’t go to our expectation. Win or lose, my loyalty for Fiji still remains intact in my heart. If you are someone who has worn the same national rugby jersey, you will never pass any negative comments against any Fiji team at any time. These 7s boys don’t owe us, Fijians, anything to win all their games. Their selection to don the national jersey, whether in 7s or 15s, was through their hard work, dedication and sacrifice by training and pumping iron while you sit in front of your TV and ridicule them for not winning those two pool games. Where were you when they were struggling to make it to the national team? Did you ever stop your car and ask them for a ride to the playground they were going to train at or even buy them water or energy booster drinks after they finished their physical training in the evening and seeing them walking home? We, supporters, never even give a single cent to them to buy their sports gear or even pay for their bus fare to go home. So whenever they lose, supporters have no right to ridicule them because they are not accountable to anyone except their good records of securing an overseas contract. Even the great Ben Ryan in his Twitter message on Saturday 04/12 said, as I quote: “Relax mada. They didn’t do as well as you all wanted them to. The staff and players are giving their best and sometimes it doesn’t work out. They will learn from it and bounce back. Have faith. Fiji play the game like no other – don’t worry – Fiji have many performances in the future”. Unquote. This came from the first 7s rugby Olympic medal-winning coach for Fiji in 2016. If Ben said these comments clearly, who are these wannabe overnight Fiji coaches who want to ridicule our 7s men’s team? On the same note, massive congratulations to our Fijiana women 7s team, double silver medal winners. Why don’t you change your career by coaching a team from your neighbourhood at our local 7s competition to prove your point or otherwise, relax mada. Jioji M. Cakacaka Tadra- Votualevu, Nadi
Mickey Mouse event
Apparently, there was a Mickey Mouse 7s tournament in Dubai for the past two weekends. Big news in Fiji with the endless pages in the newspapers and live coverage on Fiji TV stations, not to mention all the second-rate letters in this column. In Australia, no one knew about these tournaments. No coverage in the papers nor any of the free-to-air TV channels. We, Aussies, know what is not important. So, are Fijians creating their own hype about this silly game as an escape from their daily problems? Personally, I believe if they stopped grog-doping themselves by the bucketload, a lot of their problems would be solved. Not sorry to “rain on your parade”. Who says there is no freedom of speech or expression in Fiji? Jan Nissar NSW, Australia
Money hole
The famous $56m hole that would be reflected in Government finances as a result of doing away with the 20 cents per litre fuel tax would, by now, have been aptly covered many times over by the budget assistance kindly provided by Australia and New Zealand. Could we then ask our learned Minister for Economy to remove this tax, please? The benefits would have far reaching advantages to the economy at large. Emosi Balei Suva
‘Drama queen
‘ THAT “drama” queen has natural good-looking eyes and reasonable feelings who shows she cares for the people. Roll on, madam, hope to see you as our next PM! AREKI DAWAI Suva
Teachers’ sports
Congratulations, Rewa teachers for reviving teachers’ sports once again (FT 6/12). The picture speaks volumes with FTU general secretary AD Singh, who is a veteran Rewa player and a good sportsman, with a heart for all Fijians. Best wishes and keep the ball rolling. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
FijiFirst policies
Seriously, does the A-G really believe that his Government (FT 6/12) has been consistent in the policies they put out? Dan Urai Lautoka
TV access
The A-G has made many speeches stressing the importance of people being connected and having reliable information available to the people of Fiji. We still have the virus, we are in the hurricane season and the election is coming. So what has the Government done? Removed the free-to-view TV access for many people. Walesi claims it’s free but, I believe, that is only the box. You still have to pay for the aerial and installation! I believe, given that Walesi is State-owned, it would seem that keeping people connected is less important for the Government. Steve Illingworth Valelevu, Nasinu
Potholes
Shamal Chand’s struggle with potholes and fuel price rise (FT 4/12) seems to stay indefinitely in this COVID-19 world. A frustrated driver once said, it is easier to avoid potholes than politicians. They create shortcut, tarsealed roads to save fuel. I hope Kuku Rd, Mr Chand’s concern for long, is finally maintained with less potholes. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealan
Savusavu water
Can the authorities and the minister concerned please look into this long-standing problem that each and everyone here faces. It’s long overdue. Now, we are in the rainy season. Again, the bottled water will fly off the shelves. But the minister and the relevant authorities won’t give a thought. Sharif Shah Savusavu
