Future world champ in the making
I have a feeling that boxer Winston Hill can become a world boxing champ after his latest win over a New Zealand boxer. So the next fight should be with a top ranked Australian welterweight boxer or even the current Australian welterweight champ. Cus D’Amato told Mike Tyson that he would become the youngest heavyweight champion of the world when Mike was 13 years old. I also like to tell Winston Hill that one day he also will be a world welterweight champ. Sukha Singh Labasa Knockout win After all his boasting New Zealand’s Dylan Archer sitting on the ring floor with the look of a stunned mullet after being knocked out by Fiji’s Winston Hill (FT 6/11) shows things don’t always pen out as planned or predicted in boxing as in life. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
A lot of sense
Like him or loathe him, Savenaca Narube’s ideas make a lot of sense. If this government’s as progressive as I understand them to be, please give Mr Narube the job of helping transform Fiji’s economy. His ideas may come across as radically different. But they’re ideas with legs that could lift Fiji out of the economic quicksand it finds itself in. No point pointing the finger at the previous administration. They’re done and dusted. Moving forward requires a new mind-set. And he’s offering his services because his heart’s in the right place for the nation and people of Fiji. If this administration is comfortable taking constructive criticism on the chin instead of going into defensive mode, it will serve the greater purpose and good for everyone. Colin Deoki Australia
Travel allowance
You multiply $3000 by six days offshore for one trip only and that equates to $18,000, but imagine if he travels twice a month and your guess is just as good as mine. For overseas trips I believe our Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka gets $3000 a day. I believe FijiFirst leader and former PM Voreqe Bainimarama was getting the same and Fijians complained, so what? That’s their entitlement. Those are the perks for our PM although it looks excessive, but it needs special approval and I suggest that our PM Rabuka to travel as often as suitable offshore as he might be able to surpass his PM’s salary annually. Tukai Lagonilakeba Nadi
Media plays critical role!
While welcoming the regional media to Rarotonga to cover the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, chairman and Cook Islands PM Mark Brown alluded to a vital message (ST 05/11), “Media just doesn’t report — the media also provides a platform for people to be able to provide an opinion. The media is powerful in getting that message across — more so today in the advent of social media. Today, I am really pleased to see media outlets from all over the Pacific here to cover the forum — it is you who we will rely on that will make sure that our Pacific voices are heard and broadcast and published.” I salute the brave PM for making such a bold statement. Wishing Anish Chand and media reps who are in Cook Islands to cover the meeting, all the best! The pen is mightier than the sword! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Churches’ role
I reiterate the call made by our Attorney-General in calling for the churches to seriously look into the issues of our women and girls being sexually abused in homes by family members as captured in your FT 26/07/23 (Page 3). My only concern and hope is that the church engages professional service providers such as FWCC to carry out this awareness for its members. Inclusivity of young male members to be part of the training or talanoa is important. Training is an effective tool of raising awareness and additional plea if all churches irrespective of our different denominations include SGBV as part of this year’s strategy and beyond! Jioji M Cakacaka Carerras-Votualevu,Nadi
EFL’s daily excuses
Power outages and power outages Defeating the people even with ages No one can live peacefully If power outage is in our homes sparingly! Everything goes black, It seems as if we are in a sack, Nobody can watch soccer or rugby match, Even if it’s a goal or a catch! TVs, lights and refrigerators are out, Because of power outages, there is a blackout. The streets are without lights, dark and lonely, The street dogs are barking mourningly! Internet and games, what everyone wants to play, Because of power outages they have to play with clay. Power outages have made our lives terrible, No one wants this moment to be cherish able! YASHNEEL KUMAR Paipai, Lautoka
Diwali – the festival of lights
Diwali, the largest Hindu festival of lights, is also known as Deepawali in Sanskrit deep = light and awali = rows). Therefore, Diwali is a celebration where rows of lights are lit on the darkest (Amawasya) night. Diwali 2023, on November 12 will be unique in the sense that it is being celebrated in the shadows of the Hamas-Israeli war. However, this has not dampened the human spirit of hope, resilience and the desire to celebrate life. India is a vast sub-continent and there are variations in celebrations of Diwali from region to region. Through the passage of time the reasons have been blurred but the most commonly held beliefs are that the people of Ajodhya celebrated Diwali to mark the return of Lord Ram to his capital city after 14 years in exile and having vanquished the evil king Ravana. The other common belief is the emergence of Goddess Laxmi from the ocean of nectar during Samundra manthan (churning of the ocean). She is venerated as the goddess of wealth. Hence Hindus worship her for material success and happiness. In the south Hindus celebrate to mark the killing of Narkasura, a demon, by Lord Krishna. Some say farmers celebrate to mark the end of the harvesting season. Preparations for Diwali celebrations start at least a month before with cleaning of homes and compounds. A fresh coat of paint and repairs are carried out. But more importantly many devout Hindus start fasting, praying and singing bhajan (holy hymns). They abstain from eating meat, drinking alcohol and from sex. New utensils are bought, new clothes are bought and people invest in jewellery as well. Women make colourful rangoli at the entrance of the house to welcome Goddess Laxmi. On the day of Diwali a hive of activity takes place from dawn to dusk. People get up early to start cooking traditional dishes and sweets for the occasion, farmers bathe their cows and bulls, collect flowers for the evening prayers, last minute rush to ensure that everything is perfect. Houses are decorated with flickering lights or traditional diya (earthen lamps), balloons are hung. At 5 or 6 in the evening the prayer starts and it lasts for an hour. Thereafter the lights are lit and the sky explodes into a myriad of firecrackers. The faces of people explode with smiles and happiness. There is jubilation all around. Food and sweets are distributed to friends and neighbours. Many hop in their cars and go out to see Diwali lights. But symbolically it is the reawakening of the inner light of truth and justice, love and forgiveness, share and care. With Diwali comes the end of Hindu year and the New Year begins. Old accounts are closed and new ones are opened. Thus despite all obstacles life rolls on! May I wish all Fijians a very happy and prosperous Deepawali. Dewan Chand Donu Place, Namadi Heights, Suva
Info overload?
I got to thinking about something the other day. If we as a species have been hunting, fishing, playing music and telling stories for countless generations why have some of us stopped? Oh, that’s right, I forgot. We’re living in the digital age or sometimes what’s commonly referred to as the information age. Does that mean we’re digitally disrupted with information overload? Colin Deoki Australia
Tragic incident
There has been an emergency urge, relayed by the Government against domestic violence after the Narewa tragic incident. I think that the “root” issue has to be resolved within the family. When any husband or wife does not understand each of their individual roles, the family unrest will always exist within. It will begin from the top, infiltrate and dismantle the entire household. Majority of us are so concerned and focused towards external matters, rather than within. The Bible says: “He who loves his wife, loves himself.” Samu Silatolu Nakasi
Waqavuka
Finally, Andre Viljoen addresses the Waqavuka Financing matter (FT 6/11). Why did he not clarify the situation when initial inquiries about Waqavuka arose? What or who was preventing him from speaking at that time? People found it hard to believe the man who was coming forward with the reality of the matter some years ago. SANJEET PRASAD Mani Rd, Bulileka, Labasa
No mining
The Fiji Times article “No mining in Namosi yet” on November 5, 2023, was timely and acutely informative and shows the differences between permits for exploration and mining. The article calls attention to the benefits of exploration for the landowners and begs the question if the landowners don’t or won’t permit mining, why do they allow exploration? Geoff Taylor Savusavu
Wrong side
Rakesh Chand Sharma is right in reminding us that “Western European powers appeased Hitler until it was too late” (FT 6/11). Now they are appeasing Netanyahu who I believe is hell-bent on genocide. See in the same edition of The Fiji Times the article “Blood on your hands!: Protesters march in major cities to demand Gaza ceasefire” (Reuters FT 6/11). Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Road safety
The Fiji Times editorial with the picture of the bus involved in fatal accident (FT 5/11) has a message for road users. Accidents happen and at times it is too late to save a life. Everyone’s responsibility for safety using common sense matters. Road safety rules are your best tools. Save yourself and save others Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
