Letters to the Editor | June 15, 2024

Keep them honest

There is a political term in Australia which goes “Keep the bast@#ds honest”.That is the job of a strong Opposition, which is the alternate government. Fiji needs a snap election now. There are political parties that did not win a seat in the last election that could well win in the next election and those members of FijiFirst who have been left rudderless could join them. A government of national unity is not the answer as there will be no checks and balances. And by the way who is looking after the interests of the people while all this is going on? Oliver Vinod, Sydney, Australia

Mandate for strike

A colleague shared a media link in our Viber chat group reporting that the Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) has submitted a notice to the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, as well as the Ministry of Education. According to the media article, the hearing for this matter is scheduled for July 6. We commend the general secretary of FTU for taking this bold initiative. However, the timing of a strike action is questionable given that the national budget announcement for 2024-2025 is set for June 28. Given the strong possibility of the 17 terminated FijiFirst MPs shaking hands with the Coalition Government, it is expected that the proposed budget will pass with minimal objections.  Consequently, there may be no provision for a pay increase for teachers in the budget after all, as the finance minister has not committed to any agreements with the teacher unions. Thus, one has to wonder if the strike will achieve anything at all. DINESH KUMAR, Ba

Community policing

Given the high rate of crime and spread of hard drugs like ice and methy, is it an appropriate time to invest more into community policing initiatives. While we have high hopes on our police force, there is only so much our officers can do that a proactive approach from communities is essential. With due respect, community policing starts from our homes, in our families, which is the basic unit of society. The pressure on parents and guardians has changed significantly in the past 30 years which calls for new approaches to combatting crime and the drugs situation. If we can spend so much time on social media in a week, it does not hurt to spend a few minutes in a week or each fortnight on community policing. After all, social media takes up much of our time and effort in a week, that it is almost like being addicted to an illegal drug. Like they say, everything begins from home. Floyd Robinson, Micronesia

Step-up

Can anyone step-up to fully-protect the bat sanctuary in Nakanacagi in Dreketi? It seems to be left to the National Trust of Fiji. Recently a fire ravaged the heritage-listed Old Levuka Hospital, another part of our culture and heritage lost to carelessness. The free-tail bat roosts and nests in the Nakanacagi cave; the only site for this bat in the world. A sanctuary should be just that: free from outside influences but instead these very vulnerable creatures have to cope with ongoing development, grazing, erosion, deforestation and if that isn’t enough, an access road running through it! Fiji has six species of bats of which five are threatened or critically endangered. Not a very impressive track record. Could we perhaps have some other more responsible organisation to protect what we still have before it’s too late?  Is there not a government ministry ready to offer more protection than what the National Trust of Fiji is currently doing before it is too late? Julie Sutherland, Delainavesi

Delainavesi || june15p8 || Keep them honestThere is a political term in Austr