FAME awards
Congrats to Anish Chand, Vijay Narayan, the Navtarang team (5-6) segment and the rest of the award-winning recipients. Keep going forward with the same determination. There are many who listen and read to be well informed and entertained. Hard work does pay off. Kirti Patel Lautoka
Chand’s courage pays off!
I allude to this powerful quote by Amy Goodman, “Going to where the silence is. That is the responsibility of a journalist: giving a voice to those who have been forgotten, forsaken, and beaten down by the powerful,” as I read Anish Chand’s story titled ‘The RFMF story’ (FT: 09/12). Seasoned journalist and managing editor Digital, Anish Chand, has a lot of followers because of his stories and articles that take a lion’s heart to pen. Chand, who was named Journalist of the Year, walked away with the Print Journalist of the Year award for his exclusive TheLens@177 interview with Military Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai. The story gave Fiji’s public a critical insight into how close Fiji came to a constitutional crisis in the aftermath of the 2022 general elections. Those who read Chand’s stories will know that they shed light on critical issues. They are well researched and place value on integrity and accountability. Chand has been a senior journalist and had a lot to deal with, during the previous government’s tenure. He braved a lot to be where he is today. Despite falling victim to some people’s personal agenda, Chand’s writings reflect his courage and fearless attitude which journalists must possess. We need journalists like Chand who keep people in authority on their toes and write fearlessly on social and economic issues. Chand won hearts after interviewing Ro Kalouniwai. Chand is an inspiration. He is the pride of Rakiraki and The Fiji Times. Chand is an inspiration to budding journalists. His standards are high and worth emulating. I congratulate the warrior from Ra, and I thank him for his service towards the newspaper that many read. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Street dwellers
Nice one Narayan Reddy, Lautoka (FT 9/12/) re: street dwellers. This was my take on it about a month ago in The Fiji Times. Feeding them on the streets should not be encouraged. I am suggesting that the different environment be dormitory accommodations as opposed to homes to start off with. Where: They will feed themselves by cooking their own meals;
- The food stuff to be provided by generous supermarkets, charitable organisations, faith based organisations, business houses, Government and other donors;
- Do their own laundry and other housekeeping etc;
- The Government to provide trainers and educators to train and educate them so that they are ready to be employed;
- Faith based organisations to visit them regularly for spiritual teachings; and
- Once they are in employment they be encouraged to move back to their homes or their own accommodation. Not back onto the streets. Vijay P Madhavan Borron Rd, Suva
Hospital visiting hours
Aspen Lautoka visiting hours are from 12pm to 2pm. Many people are finding it hard to visit their loved ones in hospital because of a lack of parking available and to add more suffering, the security checks on every individual for visitor’s pass. I am told the Aspen staff occupy the visitors’ car park and many people don’t get a parking space to visit their sick loved ones. I fail to understand why people need visitor’s pass during visiting hours. It is just time consuming, frustrating and the line gets bigger every day. Can Aspen and the Ministry of Health look into this? Narayan Reddy Lautoka
Back to the past!
I believe apartheid has been an entrenched and accepted part of Fiji rugby since its establishment more than 100 years ago. Apartheid, I believe, is an entrenched and accepted feature of the GCC since its establishment more than 100 years ago. Now, I believe, there are moves to entrench apartheid in the Constitution of Fiji. It is a natural progression, I guess. What I find interesting is that when the first nations people own more than 93 percent of the land and make up more than 75 percent of the population, why are these things required in the year 2025? Will this change bring them out of poverty, or are these distractions being created for political purposes and people are jumping on the bandwagon once again. What was achieved when they jumped on the bandwagon in 1987 and in 2000? What is there to show for it? Promoting racism while praying and fasting in the present age will not solve any of Fiji’s problems. Neither will be blaming “others” as the members of the GCC seem to be doing. Guess who they should blame? While the rest of the world is moving forward, Fiji, being a very special country, is moving forward back to the past, and proudly so. Jan Nissar Prayagraj (where the mighty Ganges and Jamuna rivers meet), India
By the way
Average life expectancy rate in Fiji is between 65-67 years, I believe. I see people of 60 years age advertising, seeking life partners. By the way, should we continue to call it corned mutton or we modify it to mince mutton, or mutton paste. Ashis Kumar Ba
Neglect of duty
We never fail when we try to do our duty, we always fail when we neglect to do it —Robert Baden Powell (Today’s thought quote FT 9/12). Reading The Fiji Times report ‘Nine years on, still no school for children’ in the same day’s paper is a good example of State neglect and failure to do its duty. It’s a shameful neglect of duty. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Education vs soccer
Two Lautoka players, Sterling Vasconellos and Valeni Rasorewa have been selected into the Bula FC team for professional football. Sterling didn’t finish his Form Seven exams because he was on soccer tour with the Bula Boys and now 17-year-old Rasorewa will have the same fate. The Minister of Education really needs to look into such cases where youths dropout from school for soccer. Imagine life after soccer for these boys. They will be joining the likes of many more forgotten heroes who roam the streets of Topline every day. Fiji FA should understand that education which is paid by taxpayers of this country. Joseph chand Lautoka
Pointless meeting
It makes interesting reading that a regional group including the Aussies, Kiwis and a Fijian will be going to Dharamshala in India where they will meet the Dalai Lama who runs some Tibetan government from exile. What a pointless meeting! Even the Aussies and Kiwis are running out of ideas it seems. Donald Singh Suva
Fiji boxing
The standard of boxing in the country is heading in the same direction as Fiji soccer. Into the abyss. Sobo! Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka
Legend in his mind
Perhaps Jan Nissar isn’t aware that PM Modi is the only head of state in this world with a 78 percent approval rating. Only under Modi’s watch, monthly food rations reach more than 800 million people. I believe that the Uber/taxi/ tuk tuk and hotel workers are scared of your Turkiye ancestry as you claimed in FT. They agree with you and say things to please you for more jobs as well. Rakesh Chand Sharma Adelaide, Australia
Big fish
On the dot. Too many big fish are getting away. Dan Urai Lautoka
Road, drugs and meeting
Wailoku road
Wailoku Road, located just outside Suva City, serves the densely populated Wailoku valley. It carries dense traffic in the peak hours as commuters rush to work in the mornings or rush back home in the evenings. Therefore, on behalf of the commuters, I write to register our disappointment with the neglect this road has suffered. It is a steep winding road where tree branches hang over the road, the side drains are poorly kept and eroded sides of the road have not been repaired: thus gaping holes in which vehicles can fall. It is a dangerous situation and the Fiji Roads Authority needs to act quickly to repair the pot holes, cut over-arching branches, and repair the damaged coal tar. We often hear about the accidents and deaths on our national roads: drivers are often blamed for reckless driving, breaking speed limits, failing to follow road signs, overtaking on dual lines etc. However, the reality is that our national roads are very poorly maintained. Therefore, Fiji Roads Authority, Land Transport Authority and the Fiji Police must collaborate and co-operate to ensure safety on our roads. At the moment we can’t say for certain that this is happening. I think a survey must be conducted to get the opinion of the bus drivers, truckies, taxis and private vehicle owners who use this road on a daily basis. You will get very revealing information with underlying frustrations. I would like to believe that the road-repair workers and supervisors are not sleeping on the job! Urgent action is requested. Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
Levuka SA
During what was supposed to have been a bonafide ratepayers’ meeting, convened by the Levuka Town Council on Monday night, 08/12, at the very last minute, the two so-called ‘Special Administrators’ decided to “open it up to everyone”. It should have been an inclusive meeting initially, not only for bonafide ratepayers but both, bonafide ratepayers and citizens/residents. Why? Because every single soul in Levuka keeps the minute Levuka economy ticking and not only property owners. Period. During the said meeting, the so-called ‘Special Administrator – Chair’ stated that it is not the ‘SA’s’ responsibility to ensure that the drains are clean, grass is cut, etc. Honestly, my heart skipped a beat upon hearing such a nonsensical statement. As in any other organisation, the head-honchos must ensure that their subordinates are performing their respective duties as per contractual agreement. I believe they must get off their high horse, humble themselves, frequently mingle with the employees, provide motivation and encouragement and monitor the works. Such a farcical statement indeed. Anthony Sahai Levuka, Ovalau
8 named, but how many still hidden?
The revelation of eight police officers allegedly implicated in drug-related collusion is alarming(FT 7/12.What is even more troubling being the widely held belief that many more remain hidden within the system. The public has consistently called for mandatory and timely drug testing of police officers, yet these calls continue to be delayed without clear justification. The minister responsible for policing must look into this. Drug laws are the supreme laws of our nation. They apply equally to every citizen, and no one should be above them, not even those in uniform. While policies within the police force can be changed with shifts in leadership, drug laws cannot be bent, paused, or ignored. Unfortunately, the current drug policy, processes, and procedures seem effective only when applied to ordinary citizens, not to the very individuals entrusted to enforce them. The prolonged delay in testing raises serious questions. It diminishes public confidence and fuels suspicion that the issue may be far deeper than the officers currently under investigation. The message is crystal clear to the public; they can see the delays, the excuses, and the widening gap between policy and practice. Swift, transparent action is needed. Only then can public trust in our police force be restored. If the force is clean, it means that they are prepared to curb the drug issues in Fiji. Indar Deo Bisun Sakoca Heights, Tamavua, Suva
