Fijiana 7s needs shake-up
The performance of the Fijiana 7s needs a shake-up. When Saiasi Fuli was in charge, the Fijiana 7s showed some brilliance, but then the girls faltered as the season progressed.
I remember vividly the Fijiana 7s beating Australia 14-12 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in what was the biggest upset of the Games. The Fijiana 7s lost to the Black Ferns 22-17 in extra time and went on to beat Great Britain 21-12 to finish third in the Olympics meet.
However, in the last Olympic Games in Paris, the Fijiana 7s lost all their games. They lost 17-14 to Canada, 40-12 to China and 38-7 to the Black Ferns. Brazil added salt to our wounds with a 28-22 win. We finished 12th in Paris after losing 21-15 to South Africa. Fuli stepped down and in came Ratu Timoci Volavola, but the performance has worsened.
In Dubai, the Fijiana 7s lost to Ireland 30-12, Australia 42-7 and China 15-14. The side lost again to China 24-7 in the nineth place semi-final and then to Spain 22-5, finishing last in Dubai.
In Cape Town, the Fijiana 7s got thrashed by the USA 31-0. In their second pool match, the Fijiana 7s got beaten by Great Britain 22-5. The team managed to win their match against Brazil 22-19 but lost to China again 14-12. I urge FRU to carry out a SWOT analysis on the dismal performance of the Fijiana 7s. We need to get things right!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu.
Respect for Fiji
The British Lions, Italy, Scotland, Japan and many others have all played international rugby test matches against Fiji in Fiji. And it is heartening to note that Scotland will be playing Fiji in Fiji in July, 2025.
However, it is sad and disappointing that two of the world’s rugby superpowers and our closest neighbours in New Zealand and Australia who normally consider ourselves as members of their Pacific family have never considered Fiji as good enough to agree to play test rugby against us in Fiji.
This is despite the fact that they have been playing against Fiji for over 100 years and some of these matches played in their own countries. The most recent is the Fiji/New Zealand rugby match played in the US last June supposedly to improve the sport in the biggest economy in the world. What a joke! And Fiji and the interest of Fijians? They obviously were considered even with Fijian Government’s involvement but not considered to be that important to have the test match in Fiji.
As always with world rugby involved, we in Fiji are kept in the dark and we should accept whatever they decide supposedly for our interest without any question.
Now that we’re in the 21st century, we in Fiji demand that New Zealand and Australia in particular should give Fiji the recognition and respect that it deserves by playing rugby test matches against Fiji in Fiji. The Fiji Government should include this as an agenda item in their next high level dealings with their Governments.
Fiji should also as a matter of priority directly approach the South African Government to request rugby test matches between the two countries in their respective countries. I believe Fiji can expect a greater appreciation and respect from them compared to the type of treatment we have been getting from our immediate neighbours.
SAVERIO BALEIKANACEA, Delainavesi, Lami
Newfound freedom
It would appear to me that since the last election when Fijians found their freedoms after 16 long years of “oppression”, personal prejudice and personal opinions by those in power is the basis of all new laws.
I believe the elite and those who are in positions of influence have taken this newfound freedom to mean they can make laws based on their personal prejudices and opinions. We are already seeing this not just by what politicians are saying but by village chiefs as well. We are seeing this arrogance almost daily at the highest levels. Isn’t this new found freedom just great? I have always maintained; the people of Fiji are truly blessed. May I add, no one else in the world is as blessed as Fijians.
JAN NISSAR, Hiroshima, Japan
Nothing has changed!
During the FFP’s governing era, most of the current government ministers and senior government officials including some prominent legal eagles, vehemently decried the hosting of conferences, seminars, symposiums, conventions, meetings, etc, at lavish resorts and hotels.
However, nothing seems to have changed over the past two years.
Recently, the 26th Attorney-General’s Conference was held at the 5-Star Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort at Denarau.
Was it a necessity to have it at such a venue?
A school hall somewhere in Suva or Nadi could’ve been pre-arranged/organised as it’s the school holidays or even a tent erected at the Albert Park precinct and pay for your own meals and drinks. Imagine the thousands of dollars that could be saved and better utilised elsewhere. Sa sega tu mada mehn !
We have four-legged banded iguanas living in the forests on some of our maritime islands including the invasive iguana on Taveuni.Subsequently, we do have 2-legged chameleons (a lizard which has the ability to change colours to suit the environment) walking the corridors of power.
Shame.
ANTHONY SAHAI, Levuka, Ovalau
Diabetes issue
Diabetes has been the subject of the Government and NGOs’ attention in awareness programs to curb the current trend which has put Fiji as one of the highest recorded populations in the world which suffer from this disease.
Other than awareness, one sure way to convince people to change their lifestyle is to compel them to become aware of the level of sugar in their blood and this can only be achieved through regular blood tests with glucometers.
If Government assists registered diabetes patients and makes these glucometers and its test strips more affordable then this would be a step in the right direction to compel sufferers to change their lifestyle to avoid the extreme results of amputations and untimely demise.
Food for thought for Government.
EMOSI BALEI, Suva
Stop it!
The FICAC Commissioner has stressed that it is illegal for civil servants and government entities to ask for Christmas donations and food.
Despite her stern warning, I believe one organisation here in the West has sent out an email to various clients requesting for contributions to fund their Christmas festivities.
Did they not get the memo? Or did this organisation in question simply chose to disregard FICAC’s firm directive?
I strongly urge FICAC to follow up on this specific instance and possibly take action for their lack of adherence and to ensure compliance with the rule. This shameful practice of begging the public for funding must stop.
Go source your own dalo, chicken and vuaka.
NISHANT SINGH, Lautoka.
Ultimate thievery
With an unbelievable quizzical state of theft in the country, one of my mates has shared the ultimate thievery act.
Upon returning home from a busy Saturday CBD, one realises that his underwear is gone.
Not from the clothes line. The one which he had worn to town.
MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF, Natabua, Lautoka
Mice will play!
This week, LTA enforcement officers and police were out around Lautoka City advocating the road safety message with their pens.
However, they were not seen around in the evening and late hours of the night. Habitual mindset of illegal drivers, drive around any how.
A truck driver double parked on the road to buy booze saying who are you?
Meanwhile, a private car loaded seven passengers and made a U-turn before driving off.
By the looks of it, when the cat is away, the mice have the field. Thank you LTA and police, don’t give up. Old habits die hard, eh Nishant Singh!
NAVNEET RAM (TD), Lautoka
Arriving on time
Colin Deoki wants the PM to ask his parliamentary colleagues why they arrive late at official speaking engagements (FT 11/12).
I can tell him why. It’s a lack of respect for ordinary people and an arrogance of power and an inflated sense of self-importance.
I remember the same thing used to happen routinely at Fiji Football organised soccer tournaments. And it was for the same reason.
RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia
Rip off!
I received an envelope from our friends from abroad with some contents worth $36 together with freight costs. I paid $10.95 to customs and $5.80 to the post office to retrieve the envelope.
Being an unemployed senior citizen, the total charge was a rip off in accordance with the envelope. The relevant ministry should seriously consider such costs which vulnerable citizens have to bear.
DAVID SUSHIL LAL, Malolo St, Lautoka
Multiple coups?
Violence against children costs $460m — study (FT 11/12). Is there any study on the cost of the violence and setbacks of our multiple coups?
That would make an interesting and illuminating study and warn us not to go down that path ever again if we want our country and its people to progress.
RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia
Harmful scenario!
I thank Conan Hatch for joining the club, so to speak! And a very special thank you to The Fiji Times for giving his letter the headline — Discipline crisis — for that is exactly what we have on our hands; and it should be on our consciences, too.
I received a letter the other day which made the salient point concerning this issue, that today, in the main, the world’s governments mostly comprise younger people — young men and women who have little or no experience — whereas, in days gone by the people we voted into office on our behalf were older: people with experience who had no need to make a mark on society. Today’s authority has been passed to young people who have yet to make their mark and so come up with harebrained schemes without giving thought to the consequences.
I recently read Descartes’ Error – Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain, by Antonio R. Damasio: Professor of Psychology, Philosophy and Neurology at the USC — adjunct professor at the Salk Institute — winner of many awards. I confess it is not an easy read, but well worth the effort.
He has this to say . . .
Early in development, punishment and reward are delivered by parents and other elders and peers, who actually embody the social conventions and ethics of the culture to which (they) belong. In Germany and the Soviet Union during the 1930s and 1940s . . .in Cambodia during the Pol Pot regime . . . a sick culture prevailed upon a presumably normal machinery of reason, with disastrous consequences. Adding that he fears sizeable sectors of society are gradually becoming tragically similar.
He states further . . . If the proposed solution to individual and social suffering bypasses the causes of individual and social conflict, it is not likely to work for very long. It may treat a symptom, but it does nothing to the roots of the disease.
Damasio stresses: One of the most distinctive human traits is the ability to learn to be guided by future prospects rather than by immediate outcomes, something we begin to acquire in childhood. If we are permitted to acquire it, that is!
Most pertinently he claims . . . Lack of reward can constitute punishment and be unpleasant, just as lack of punishment can constitute reward and be quite pleasurable.
I have written many times on the loss of a parent’s right to discipline their child and I commend all of those who, few though they may be, have the sense to see the harm we are doing to our children.
SUE CAUTY, Pacific Harbour
Blood shortage
Recently, an elderly relative was admitted to the Acute Surgical Ward at the CWM Hospital in Suva due to a sickness which required her needing a blood transfusion.
My concern here is when a patient needs blood, the blood bank will not release blood to the patient until donors are found and donate to the patient due to the existing low levels of blood at the blood bank. To my knowledge, this has been an ongoing problem for many years.
A possible solution is if the Army, Navy and Police, etc., were able to donate a pint of blood each. That would lead to a significant boost to the blood bank at the hospitals around the country. Is there sufficient storage space at the major hospitals?
In saying that I would like to say a big vinaka vakalevu to the donors who came forward and donated upon our request. Not forgetting the hard-working doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff at the Acute Surgical Ward and the hospital in general. Much respect to you all.
Lastly, could the Health Minister please look into this matter which will benefit our people who are in dire need.
DEREK FONG TOY, Navua.
