Editors comment: Something to think about

Letters to the Editor – September 17, 2020

Outstanding performance by Suva skipper I have been very impressed with Suva’s James Brown’s recent performances in the Skipper Cup and Farebrother competitions. He has been outstanding especially at the back of the scrum as number eight or the so-called the last man down. He led Suva to a scintillating victory over the Stallions last...

Editorial comment – Not the time to step back

Nadi Hospital COVID-19 Response Unit head Dr Pablo Romakin made an interesting comment at the recent Fiji College of General Practitioners Western Faculty mini-conference in Nadi. He raised an important issue that must be looked at critically. He said an incident where three people in quarantine drank alcohol with officers tasked with monitoring them highlighted...

‘Pacific aid effectiveness is by no means a new concern’

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it — George Santayana Pacific aid effectiveness is by no means a new concern. As the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recorded more than 20 years ago, ‘the ADB project failure rate is twice as high in the Pacific islands as in the Bank’s overall...

Letters to the Editor – September 16, 2020

COVID-19 inspiration If there’s something that Fijians need now to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, it is inspiration. Repeka Nasiko’s article titled “Tuidama stays focused” (FT: 15/09) would have lifted the hearts and spirits of many Fijians who are struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Mereani Tuidama, who is a market vendor at the Lautoka...

Editorial comment – Our little reminders

Every time we read of people coming off COVID-19 quarantine facilities after 14 days in lockdown, there should be a sense of appreciation of how we are faring as a nation. Negative tests come with a sigh of relief in many quarters. It means we live to fight another day so to speak. It ensures...

Lives of kids at stake

COVID-19 threatens to undo decades of hard-fought progress in reducing deaths of children under the age of five, UN agencies have warned, calling on countries to ensure vital health services for children and women do not falter amid the global crisis. The number of global under-five deaths dropped to its lowest point on record in...

Letters to the Editor – September 15, 2020

The word ‘chiuu’ The new slang after Suva tamed the Stallions — ‘Chiuu’, thanks to my buddy Alipate Tuberi. Toso Blues! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu Adoption process It is sad to learn of the trauma that Jagmeet Singh’s overseas adoption caused him (FT 7/9 ). As a welfare officer who dealt with inter-country adoptions...

Editorial comment – When democracy thrives

Today is an important day for many reasons. The United Nations lists today as the International Day of Democracy. Whatever your take is on democracy, how much you value it, and why it is important, today is the special day set aside for you to embrace what it means to you. The UN states this...

Region falls behind

In 2019, I lived in Liangshan, one of the poorest regions in China, and worked as a primary schoolteacher for one semester. This region has received a lot of attention as it is an important focus of China’s goal to fully eliminate poverty. Yet even with large support from the central and local governments, local...

Letters to the Editor – September 14, 2020

Blues tame the Stallions THE much-awaited Suva vs Nadroga match was a cracker and kept fans at the edge of their seats. The 22-0 lead to the hosts did not dampen the Stallions’ spirits as the visitors came from behind to take the lead 26-22. Within 15 minutes, Nadroga had piled 16 points and had...

Editorial comment – Water safety matters

The revelation that a 14-year-old student died on Saturday after he drowned at the Suva Olympic Pool should raise questions. According to police, his body was retrieved after he was found motionless underwater. “The victim had accompanied friends and was last seen sitting on the edge of the swimming pool before he disappeared. Attempts to...

Letters to the Editor: Sunday, September 13, 2020

Good for rugby union I believe provincial rugby can only improve with an improved standard of refereeing. Congratulations to Naitasiri for the win at Churchill Park. DAN URAI Lautoka Tertiary studies NOW that the biggest global economies are facing a depression, I wonder what effect it will have on tertiary education in the coming...

Editorial comment: Law and order

Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu did not mince his words on Friday when he addressed 259 new recruits during their passing-out parade. Some officers within the force, he pointed out, were discourteous and had too much pride. These officers, he said, did not belong to the Fiji Police Force family. ACP Tudravu reminded the...

OPINION: Unique personalities

It might sound a little odd, but my eldest son calls me dad while my youngest son calls me pop. While their personalities are uniquely different, their values are very much the same. Unlike my two sons, whom I have a very close personal relationship with, when I was growing up it was different with...

Editorial Comment: A reason to stay focused

The revelation that 10 reports were recorded in the Western Division while eight cases were recorded in the Southern Division of people caught breaching the curfew will attract attention. Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu said there was also one case recorded in the North. We wonder why it is that people are still breaching...

OPINION: Prevention of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerotic diseases like Coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular diseases are major reason for morbidity and mortality if Fiji. Prevention of atherosclerotic disease presents a major challenge to the health care professionals and for the public health authorities. We at Oceania hospitals are focused on preventing the atherosclerotic disease, as prevention is much more cost...

OPINION: Cyber crime trends

Today more and more of government and business’ infrastructure are moving online. As technology keeps evolving at an exponential pace, newer forms of cyber threats are also evolving. This is making businesses and government agencies vulnerable to cyber attacks and data breaches in which sensitive information can get leaked. Political interference and state-sponsored cybercrimes are...

OPINION: Reviewing the economy amid COVID-19

MID the COVID-19 pandemic, let me take this opportunity to applaud the administration for putting in place a welcoming budget to guide and steer this nation back towards normalcy. Without doubt the whole world is going through tough times because of the spread of this deadly virus. Researchers are working tirelessly to discover a vaccine...

Letters to the Editor: Saturday, September 12, 2020

Love for colour After unveiling Amish Naresh’s natural curiosity for art, Ana Madigibuli in yesterday’s People’s column shared the life of Sunita Matthews, whose artwork was showcased yesterday at the Artists Matter Art Exhibition at the Fiji Museum veranda thanks to the French Embassy. Apart from the letters to the editor column which is my...

OPINION: Being a father figure

Bula readers, I hope you had a great Fathers Day, and if you are lucky enough to be a father or father figure to somebody it is indeed a privilege for you. As we all know it is easy to be a father, but the hard work begins once we assume the role of being...

OPINION: Tourism and debt

Fiji has recorded 32 cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), 24 of whom have made a full recovery and two deaths. Fiji now has six active border quarantined cases of COVID-19 (as of September 10, 2020). While COVID-19 did not medically affect a big number of people, it has a major effect on the tourist industry. Tourism Fiji’s economy relies heavily...

OPINION: Economic setback for women

One of the sad impacts of COVID-19 in Fiji is that the slow economic progress of women over the past 30 in employment and incomes seems to be reversing in many key areas, although there is no national data as yet. Keep in mind that the wealth of women (and men) is, except for inheritance, an accumulation of savings from past incomes....

Labasa in danger

Last week’s 1-2 loss at the hands of Navua has put the Labasa in the danger zone. The team that made headlines last year after winning the Inkk Battle of the Giants defeating Lautoka 1-0 and the Courts Inter District Championship after defeating Suva 1-0 is in danger of getting relegated. In the Champions vs V Champions series, Labasa held Ba to a...

Opinion