Conflict of interest
The Special Committee on Emoluments, which recommended significant salary increases for MPs, was made up entirely of… MPs. Sorry, what? It is concerning that just one political party out of four was able to identify this most basic conflict of interest in their submissions to the committee. At the risk of setting the bar too low: good job, NFP. This is surely a job that belongs to an independent authority. This would not only avoid a clear and actual conflict of interest, it would also make it much less awkward for MPs to explain why they are using taxpayer funds to receive salary increases in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. Daniel Naidu, Suva
Satellite outlets
Might I suggest satellite immigration outlets in all urban centres? Redirect the value of the pay rises for those, “whose who”; toward the implementation and functioning of these offices. If not enough, budget season is upon us. Knock, knock; MOF. No long lines. Getting in that much-needed sleep. Convenience. No difficulty, that is. Not against the wall or behind the bush. MANOJ LAL PATEL, Drasa Avenue, Lautoka
Pay review
So what happened to the promise made during the election about pay cut for ministers and a leaner government? And what about the $10k parliamentary allowance paid to all the MPs? Wasn’t that an increase in pay? Is it fair and transparent for the Special Committee on Emoluments comprising members of Parliament to undertake this review? Isn’t that tantamount to a conflict of interest? SELWA NANDAN, Lautoka
To be an MP
The way the Special Committee on Emoluments is recommending benefits and other perks for parliamentarians, in four years they will all become millionaires. There will be more people wanting to become parliamentarians. Paras Naidu, Lautoka
Wise kid
This guy Wise Muavono is quite a wise kid. I just wish he grows up fast. I would love to see him in Parliament. Sukha Singh, Labasa
Allowance issue
Can the monthly allowance for senior citizens and people with disabilities be increased? Asish Vinay Prasad, Park Rd, Raiwasa, Suva
Raising wages
Raise of wages for Members of Parliament and their administration is all well and deserved. However, I wonder if something on the matter of the bus card allowances for the elderly is in the making too! Hans-Bernd Boernke, Savusavu
Drug woes
It’s alarming to see the increase in drug abuse among youths in Fiji. It’s reaching unprecedented levels, especially seeing this issue making international headlines. Drug abuse is not a new issue, it has been ongoing for years, and every year we continue to see a startling surge in the statistics. Social media and news coverage has played a significant role in bringing visibility to this issue and it’s worrying, obviously. And it’s equally sad to see that we only pay attention when things get out of control — this is a huge underlying issue among human beings. We end up believing that negative events are less likely to happen because we pay attention to the positive ones. But really though, what have we been doing all this while? Are we really lacking resources to address such rife issues among our youths? So many civil societies, youth councils, schools, religious bodies in Fiji are creating awareness on this and yet here we are. We receive massive funding and resources from donor agencies and where have we been using this? Maybe, the message we are giving out is not strong and powerful enough to foster change. Or maybe, we are not creating awareness for the right people in the right space, and at the right time. It would be unfair for me to say that we are wasting time and resources on the wrong things. Maybe we are, but maybe we also need to reassess our situation and divert resource allocation in the right direction? It would be better if we reach out to the grassroot levels and talk to youths facing such issues instead of being extravagant in running expensive workshops. These youths need help. As responsible citizens, let us not be complacent. We can only do so much to address the problem at hand, but we also need to keep trying and continue. Kartik Krishneel Nand, Makoi, Nasinu
