Harsh reality!
As I went through yesterday’s The Fiji Times, the front page caught my attention. It’s a pity that the students of Navunikabi Catholic School continue to face a perilous daily journey across the fast-flowing Wainikoroiluva River.The story took me back to a news story published in The Fiji Times (17/07/2020) titled “Pupils’ risky trek to get to school”. The byline of the article was Arieta Vakasukawaqa. I quote the story, “More than 40 children trek through rugged terrain and swim across a river to get to school every day. This is the normal routine for students of Navunikabi Catholic School as they hike from Saliadrau Village in Namosi each morning and make the return trip every afternoon when the school day is over. Village headman Petero Naivalu said the children left home before 6am daily and returned at 3.30pm. He said the children were exposed to huge risks each time they swam across the icy cold river because of the unpredictably strong currents. Their lives are at risk every day because sometimes the currents are just too strong. During bad weather, parents have to swim across the river with their children. “It’s very cold up here in the interior of Namosi and the cold water saps your strength when you swim.” Mr Naivalu said children had been injured in the past while attempting to cross the river when flooded. It is almost six years and it’s like down memory lane! To the people’s Coalition Government, the government that cares, please assist the students of Navunikabi Catholic School. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
River crossing
The Fiji Times is applauded for its report on the harsh reality of small schoolchildren in Namosi facing the daily routine of “wading through rough waters” to get to school (FT 29/1).
The Rabuka Coalition Government apparently has more pressing priorities. Perhaps the People’s Republic of China can provide the necessary aid to complete the building of a bridge across the fast-flowing river.
Strengthening ties
President Trump is hell-bent on destroying close ties and friendships with its closest allies and friends who have been friends since World War I. Countries such as its close neighbour Canada, and other countries such as the UK and those in the EU are all in the firing line. Meanwhile, we have Fiji, where the Government has taken on a program to strengthen ties with all and sundry countries. Even with communist countries and those countries which commit ‘genocide’. My message is, President Trump should learn a few things from Fiji, simply because the Fijian way of doing things is the best way. He should already know how friends look after him — he accepted a massive luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar for being a good friend. Proportionately Fiji received the same for being friends with China. The lesson — our Government should be strengthening ties with Qatar. Actually, I believe Qatar has already helped Fiji in a massive way in the past for those in the know. Jan Nissar Sydney, NSW, Australia
Handout mentality
Reading about these parents (not named out of respect) who used their own money to buy school supplies for their four children because they were unsure if the $200 back-to-school assistance would arrive on time (FT 28/1), I realised the stark truth staring us in the faces. I have even read that a lot of children are still at home and will start school after the money is given by Government. It’s like, what? Government subsidies, grants and assistance rollouts such as the $200 back-to-school assistance that has been in place since the start of the 2023 academic year look noble on the part of the Government. However, the people seem to have become enslaved to the handout mentality, to an extent that forking out one’s own money for children’s education is considered something unusual and even becomes news! As a nation, we need to relook at grants, subsidies and cash handouts. We must look at how best to incentivise. This is not a politically motivated letter. Donald Singh Nausori
Traffic congestion
The congestion between Suva and Nausori has reached a breaking point. To address this, why not utilise our four lanes more intelligently? By temporarily converting one “off-peak” lane to assist the “peak” direction — creating a three-lane flow into Suva in the morning and out of Suva in the evening — we could significantly reduce transit times. To quote Abraham Lincoln: “The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion … we must think anew and act anew.” It is time we stop sticking to “normal” lane usage when the situation is clearly no longer normal. Sailosi Naewe Dilkusha Rd, Nausori
On the way
I strongly suggest the Consumer Council should introduce gold appraisers in Fiji. At least one small office among three districts operate at least once a week. Gold appraisers are people who evaluate the weight and purity of gold. This will bring in a lot of control in terms of price of gold in Fiji. On the way, we can look to introduce something to evaluate the purity of pounded kava that we buy. Ashis Kumar Ba
UB40 tour
Expect a bumper crowd in Nadi today as UB40’s ‘Big Love’ Tour lands at Prince Charles Park. Apart from the famous UB40, local band Ouvacast, iconic New Zealand reggae band Katchafire and Paradise Roots will share the stage. Ticket prices are soaring, but locals have shown that they have the capacity to buy the tickets and be part of the historic night – a night of fun, entertainment and excitement. Nadi has hosted three large musical events. Fiji’s tourism town has done well and has created a reputation as the hub for international musical festivals. All the best to the organisers. Let’s rock and enjoy, Fiji! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
The vanishing
So the marijuana plants vanished, and the suspect walked free. When? Where? Who? Questions asked and must be answered. Should we be surprised though? Evidence seems to disappear faster than smoke at a reggae concert. No offence Alee C. Until our authorities learn to lock up contraband properly, we’ll keep seeing justice go up in smoke. How? Tamani big bong, I’d reckon. Escaped to level 9, where the clouds hang; I’d reckon some more. MANOJ LAL PATEL Drasa Avenue, Lautoka
Missing drugs
Will there be an investigation on how 55 marijuana plants went missing from the Labasa Police Station? Sukha Singh Labasa
Next generation
My granddaughter who’s going to kindy for the first time, asks her mother:
GD: “Mum, what is my teacher’s name?”
Mum: “I don’t know. You’ll find out when you get to school.”
GD: “Mum, what is my teacher’s password?” Noleen Billings Savusavu
Without $200
Parents upset – $200 school grant still has not arrived ( FT cartoon 29/1 ). By contrast I recall the 130 per cent pay rise for the parliamentarians had arrived without delay and the Fijian public was not all that upset about this obscene pay rise for them when half the people in the country were living in poverty and “struggling to survive” in the words of a former deputy PM. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Temples and inquiries
Temple security
Why are we subject to temple break–ins in a country where we have been praying together under our different religious practices? This has been happening for long and no doubt, will continue if we do not get our acts together. We Hindus should organise working groups to provide protection for our praying places by working with other communities. Just by talking ill of other communities, their practices, we will not get anywhere. We must remember, the protection of our temples must be in our hands. We have to promote a no money (cash) praying place, henceforth. No valuables must be kept in our temples as well. We have to change the whole concept of sustaining our temples. Our holy scriptures must be money free as well. People know that there is money and no one present to protect that, thus, I believe, such burglaries occur. Our highest temple is our good self with a good heart. Let us promote this new but ancient old human approach to living and faith in God. God is everywhere and must be promoted everywhere. Remember, Lord Rama offered prayers at the beach before crossing to Lanka. If we have built temples, we should be responsible for its safety. No sentiments can negate this absolute truth. Let’s live peacefully with everyone but protect our sacred places collectively. Dhirendra Prasad Lautoka
Producing educated fools
Fiji has been producing “educated fools” for far too long. The introduction of the new Repeat Policy is “The Saving Grace” of our education system; the previous automatic promotion system may have encouraged equality but has diminished the quality of education along the way. When students get promoted from primary school to high school they take the education system for granted, knowing that they will leave high school with a shining certificate, unbeknownst to them that tertiary education systems are not quite as simple. Students get a culture shock when they are required to put in their own efforts to pass each unit of their tertiary education; which then leads to failure and drop-outs in universities. Students drop-out with debts of student loan, parents are in the constant loop of paying hundreds of dollars from their pockets when their child continuously fail their units. All of these issues, including the depressed and stressed minds of the tertiary students can be avoided if children are taught from Year 1 that they need to put in their own efforts into their education to reach their own success. So to the parents crying now about their child repeating their class, how about some accountability? How about taking some time out to study with your child? The teachers are not the only ones responsible for your child’s education, you are too, the government is too, and the government took the first step by implementing the “Repeat Policy”. Now it’s your turn to take some accountability. Shania Reddy Lautoka
Another COI or not?
Given that the unfinished FNU Campus reportedly cost Fijian taxpayers approximately $12 million, followed by a further $3m for its demolition, one must ask whether this matter would warrant the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to ascertain the facts and identify those responsible. This raises a broader question: what criteria does the Government apply in determining which matters merit a Commission of Inquiry and which do not? The question is not academic. The country has recently borne the cost of a CoI, at an estimated $2m, that has, by most accounts, produced little of practical value. In contrast, projects such as the FNU campus and the Lautoka swimming pool have absorbed substantial amounts of public funds, delivered no tangible outcomes, and yet resulted in no discernible accountability. The apparent inconsistency is too loud. Who steps aside? I pose this question with the utmost sincerity, and it is not directed at any individual in particular. If a lawyer has an ongoing matter before any court in Fiji – whether civil or criminal – are they still permitted to continue representing other clients before the courts? It has increasingly become the prevailing expectation that individuals facing court proceedings are required, or at least encouraged, to resign from their positions or take a leave of absence to allow the judicial process to take its course. I gather this is done to allow the accused to properly prepare their defence and to safeguard the integrity of the institution/organisation. Against this backdrop, is it reasonable to enquire whether this expectation is applied uniformly across professions and offices? Ratu Manoa Rokotavaga Raiwai, Suva
