Strict warning
DRIVERS’ compliance and monitoring should have been enforced from day one. Not when government vehicles are involved in accidents then they decide to issue “strict warnings”. Some people must have been sleeping on the job, eh acting PM! AREKI DAWAI, Suva
Bus card worry
It’s rather muddling when on the same headline page of the newspaper, the Minister for Education claims that despite the Government’s provision for free education, a significant number of children remain out of school while the article right next to it tells of the sad encounter of 10-year-old, Solomone Mateisuva, who had his safety put at risk because he was forced to walk home after his bus card was declined. It’s obvious that the only reason his card would have been declined was because it was not topped up! Isn’t that the ministry’s duty and isn’t that a contributing factor towards the kids being out of school? Furthermore, the new bus card system is indeed a worry! Had Solomone been issued with a receipt, it’s highly likely that both he and his parents would have known the balance on his card! So, to be or not to be…and that is the question! Noleen Billings, Savusavu
Rogue officers
I refer to The Fiji Times’ front page article ‘Rogue’ officers (FT 8/2/25). I get a sense from the significant number of current government ministers who were the subject of FICAC investigation and from what has come to light thus far in the controversial appointment of current FICAC commissioner Barbara Malimali that the Fiji Police Force is not the only state institution and institution of society containing rogue officers. Please correct me if I am wrong. Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Unfair dismissal
I believe all workers should join a trade union to protect themselves from unfair treatment by their employer. Dan Urai, Lautoka
Reverse it please
Now it’s 60 years as the retirement age, but they are not entitled to the Free Busfare initiative until they reach 65 years. So, in between, if they die before reaching 65 years, who wins? Please Acting PM and Minister for Finance, we ask you to have mercy for the aged elders of Viti kei Rotuma and reverse it back to the retirement age of 60. Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
$400m untaxed
In a recent article in The Fiji Times, the Trade Minister mentioned that there is an estimated $400million in the transport sector that remains untaxed. I had mentioned in an earlier letter about the benefits of opening the way for a Uber or Grab type app to operate in Fiji. This allows any private car to be used as a taxi. Apart from its normal functions of collecting a fare, confirming the destination and providing location, the app could easily be set up to deduct a minimum tax from every fare and thus bringing that sector into the tax regime. Grab or Uber-like taxis will also ease public demand for available taxi services. Conan Hatch, Nadi Airport
Thank you PM
Thank you Prime Minister for condemning the leaking of Lynda Tabuya’s private video. The perpetrators should face the court. As for the likes of Rajend Naidu, he needs to tone down his rhetoric and consider the situation empathetically and humanely. We, the citizens and voters of this nation are the custodians of our democracy and media freedom. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are not abased. Rakesh Chand Sharma, Nadi
Important issues
So much controversy and so much inside issues happening in our country. Can the Government stand still at a place and focus on important issues such as health care system (it’s deteriorating) and poverty? Even a weekly wage earner for $200 is still counted as living below the poverty line. If sensible people make sensible decisions which is for the betterment of all, than no ordinary Fijians will be struggling. Jaheed Buksh, Korolevu, Sigatoka
BAT Fiji’s investment
Isn’t it ironic that British American Tobacco (BAT) Fiji, which rakes in millions of dollars annually by manufacturing cancer sticks, has joined in the fight to reduce carbon emissions by purchasing seven brand new electric vehicles? (FT 08/02). On the surface, it seems like a contradiction — using profits from a product that contributes to serious health problems to promote sustainability. It could be seen as a form of “greenwashing”, where a company like BAT focuses on a single positive environmental action to overshadow the negative impact of its core business. Nishant Singh, Lautoka
