No respect
Watching the live coverage of funeral procession for the late and famous radio personality Maikeli Radua (rip), I was very disappointed to see how drivers nowadays show lack of or no respect for our deceased relatives. I mean they have done their part and have fulfilled their task as was designed by the God Almighty. The least we could do as motorists is to just slow down and stop as a token of appreciation and a way to say thank you for a job well done. The dead deserve our respect also. So long Mike. May your soul rest in peace. Pita Soroaqali, Rakiraki
Bizarre tariff rates
It was quite amusing to discover how the United States — more specifically, the Trump administration — calculated those bizarre tariff rates. For any given country, they simply divided the net import deficit by total imports. Nowhere in this formula were actual tariffs considered. This creates an absurd scenario for countries such as Fiji. How can Fiji negotiate a deal with the US when it’s not even imposing significant tariffs to begin with? What the US seems to really want is for Fiji to increase imports from America. But that’s an unrealistic expectation — geographically and economically, the US is not a competitive source for Fiji’s imports. As a result, Fiji is left with few choices. It will have to explore alternative markets for its exports. Ironically, as the US increases tariffs across the board, the burden falls squarely on American consumers, who end up paying higher prices — essentially a tax by another name. This entire situation highlights a deeper flaw in democratic systems: popularity doesn’t always equal competence. The most electable candidate isn’t necessarily the most qualified to run a country. Kiran Khatri, Samabula, Suva
Lautoka market
I believe the Lautoka Municipal Market is the dirtiest of all the municipal markets in Fiji, from cobwebs on the ceiling, dirty fans, flies in fish market, rubbish all over the bus station and the Globe triangle is always full of rubbish. Somehow Lautoka is becoming the dirtiest town in the council because of negligence. One just has to visit the market on any morning and evening to see the rubbish drums full and overflowing. By the way, the smell of urine and the bed bugs is another big problem but the special administrator and the CEO have decided to build new bus bays. Please, at least clean what you already have. Geoffrey Chand, Lautoka
Traffic challenge
The initiative of staggered or flexible working hours, in my opinion, is not bad, but it can displace other critical areas of life’s normality, in my opinion. How long will this be in place? Which categories of employees are being targeted? Is it going to be permanent? It is internationally practised, but it is equally very important, in my opinion, to examine and understand its key potential disadvantages. And I believe, if it is going to be unnecessarily “dragged out”, it would be much better to introduce a railway system. And I am confident, a Suva-Nausori corridor railway construction by China, would be just a walk in the park. Wouldn’t it be a great investment for the Fiji people? Samu Silatolu, Nakasi, Nausori
They need each other
Let’s anchor the Fijian Drua for a while and reset the compass. While the claim has been the need for the 16th man on match days, it is evident that the players need each other on the field more than anything else. Forget about the away record, the Fijian Drua has been struggling to win matches at home. With all the glamour which has been generated, we have got carried away. Before the Fijian Drua sinks, I think some players from the current squad need to be released and the search for new recruits to commence. The idea may have been to develop Fijian players but it is clearly not working. Based on the current woeful trend, I suspect many fans will start to lose faith in the team. Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Who will pay?
Congratulations and thank you for your facilitation of the Fijian public for $7.50 for one visitation per person. I understand it’s the biggest private hospital in the South Pacific and its a business owned private entity. But my question is, after a member of public has been seen by a doctor at the private hospital and the patient needs an X-ray, CT scan, blood test or an urgent life-saving surgical operation, who pays the bills or is it all free to the public like the Aspen Lautoka and Ba Hospital. Service to mankind is service to God. Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadì
