Simon Hazelman tribute
John Kamea, you brought back a flood of precious memories and tears as I read through your carefully chosen words, penned to the detail in The Sunday Times of January 1. Thank you for such a worthy tribute to my late husband, Simon Hazelman, and thank you Fiji Times Ltd for showing your appreciation of Simon’s contribution to the Letters to the Editor column of your newspaper. There couldn’t be a better farewell for Simon. I only wish that he could be here to see for himself the respect he has earned! Noleen Billings Savusavu
Message of hope and unity!
Honourable PM delivered a powerful speech. His message was simple and to the point. He reiterated the need to have hope and trust each other that 2023 would be a year of revival, awakening and renewed spirit. He urged Fijians to commit themselves in working together to address the enormous challenges. He said that self-sacrifice must be made so we could re-discover the spirit of togetherness as a family, community and as a nation. His story about the tired looking woman, who told him that she was homeless, touched hearts. I’m thankful that he pledged to continue welfare and development assistance already in place, and to bring in new ones. He shared his government’s goal — to increase the national wealth so that everyone benefitted — the homeless and all the poor, housewives, children and young people, villagers and farmers, workers, civil servants and professionals, business owners, the sick, investors, elderly, prisoners and veterans. He spoke of unity — the harmonious coming together of diverse communities with their different origins, cultures and languages. Vinaka vakalevu honourable Rabuka! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Happy new era Fiji
Governed with love! Oh, what sweet music to the soul. You kept the faith. They did say, “one day Mafatu!” Congratulations Team Fiji. I’ve gone way past the stratosphere now. I’ll tell my granddaughter Lani, “Once upon a time in a place far far away; your ancestral home, I left my broken heart …only love could fix it. You can dance now makubuqu, and so can your parents, you all probably have never heard this before, dance to the sounds of the drums of freedom. Keyboard drop (now freely in the hands of you professionals). (Dedicated to our young and future generations) Edward Herman Chandstone Centre, VIC, Australia
Incongruous episode
When I processed the front page (top half) of The Fiji Times (02/01), I think I went through all of Harry and Marv’s encounters in the Home Alone series. To make matters worse, they all happened at once. Imagine my fragile condition on just the second morning of the year. It will take a while to fully recover. Messiah, I am lying on the ground and begging (both hands clenched together). Please no more of such stuff. My health really matters to me. I would love to live for more than a hundred years. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Do not resign
The former prime minister and now the Leader of Opposition’s call to civil servants, permanent secretaries and others to stay strong and not to resign from their positions even if they are intimidated and bullied by the new government (FT 2/1) sounds like a case of pot calling the kettle black. But we all know who he is trying to protect. Was the same level of fairness and empathy shown by his government to former Acting Commissioner of Police, former CEO of Fiji Revenue & Customs Service, former Solicitor General, former CEO of Bureau of Statistics (to name a few) who were forced to resign? What about the duly elected parliamentarians who were forcefully removed in 2006? And I believe so many civil servants who were made redundant and not given a fair compensation. And for God’s sake please do not talk about due process being followed in their appointments. We are not fools. SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
Crush FFP
FFP don’t deserve to be registered as a political party because their ideologies are authoritative, and dictatorial. That is their legacy? There is no positivity in your ruling legacy if Mr Bainimarama or Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is reading this letter somewhere in Australia. I hope the Australian Government deports you two from Australian soil for creating inciteful remarks against this new coalition government, which we the people of Fiji love very much. As united Fijians we should crush every bit of their connections in Government before we can be really free from the 16 years of tyranny and dictatorship. JIOJI M CAKACAKA Tadra, Votualevu, Nadi
Leader of Opposition
Interesting comment made by Voreqe Bainimarama calling on the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his ministers to follow the 2013 Constitution and the law. Following this call, Mr Bainimarama is also calling on civil servants, permanent secretaries, all those appointed to various boards, commissions and independent bodies to stay strong and not resign from positions for they have been appointed through a due process for they have skill sets, know how, knowledge and acumen to contribute to organisations they work in. (FT 02/01/23) First and foremost, I would sincerely ask the Leader of the Opposition Mr Bainimarama to come to Fiji and to make his call worth listening to. Speaking on such issues of importance for Fiji from another country far away is like a toothless dog barking. Secondly, Mr Bainimarama now seems to give attention to civil servants, permanent secretaries, and those appointed on various boards and others. During his time as the PM of Fiji, did he give the same attention to these people? How dare that only now as an Opposition Leader he seems to care. Taste your own medicine Mr Bainimarama, the new government should not be obliged to work with people you appointed to positions because I believe the reality of the matter is that you appointed them to serve you and the FijiFirst party and not Fiji and its people. Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Bainimarama’s comments
When I heard former PM and now Opposition Leader Voreqe Bainimarama say “he [Rabuka] and his 29 ministers and assistant ministers believe that being in government they can do anything they like, they believe they can remove or appoint anybody they like from the civil service, boards, and commissions and diplomatic positions without following the Constitution or the law” I though he was talking about his own government. It felt strange, almost perverse, to hear Bainimarama say that to castigate the new Rabuka government when for 16 years in power I believe that was essentially the modus operandi of his government. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
True to promise
I deeply believe the new Government has been true to its promise as they were campaigning before elections. Right from lifting the travel ban for Professor Pal Ahluwalia and Dr Padma Lal to being very realistic and advocating approaches that are conducive to fostering open and honest discussions on issues that are affecting all of us. I believe it is not far that we will be able to proudly say that we are living in a real democracy. Pranil Ram Votualevu, Nadi ‘
To do’ list
In my observation, New Year’s resolution is a “to do list” for the first weeks of January. Hahaha! Blessings be upon thee for the year 2023. Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka
What can I do?
Last time I asked the FijiFirst “what can I do?” The FijiFirst did not reply but one Jan Nissar asked me to stay away from FijiFirst. Now I again ask the new coalition government, is there anything I can do for you? Jan you can reply if you want to. Sukha Singh Labasa
Bitter, better
Don’t be bitter, be better. Creating drama just to be noticed. Loser! Oh, there are two sides to every story; don’t be a jerk in both of them. Happy 2023. Manoj Lal Patel Drasa Ave, Lautoka
Constitution
An interesting piece of advice to “follow the constitution” from our new Leader of the Opposition. I wonder how often he followed the Constitution in the past 16 years including the removal of the elected government in 2006. BHARAT MORRIS Rifle Range, Vatuwaqa, Suva
Of contrasts
Page 2 of yesterday’s FT (2/1/23) has a picture of PM Rabuka and Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, in Bau. The bold header of the article above it says ‘Follow the Constitution’ where the former PM Bainimarama, in a video is giving advice to the incumbent. The picture here was of a vanua visit, so wonderful to see. It contrasts mightily with a visit to the island some years ago by armed personnel. Moses Fong Suva
Wanting change
Change has finally happened and most people wanted change, now let change things which affected our livelihood and do right starting from Government, local government and all government departments. Goeffery Chand Lautoka
Great reforms
Great reforms are best enacted with regime change. Dan Urai Lautoka
