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Opinion
Letters to the Editor – Thursday, October 6, 2022
FInal hurdle Suva Grammar and Marist Brothers High School have reached the climax of the 2022 Vodafone Deans Super competition. Suva Grammar is chasing the Holy Grail as champions of the Southern Zone, while Marist...
Editorial comment – Putting a stop to violence
The scenes on Tuesday night, at Rewa Street in Suva were like those taken off a movie set about gang violence. It was horrifying for those who were there. It was a frightening look at gang violence and why we should be asking tough questions now. When all is said and done, and as police...
5th October
The unsung heroes
The transformation of education begins with teachers. I allude to powerful quotes by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Scott Hayden, “A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others” and “Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two...
Letters to the Editor – Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Panthers win NRL title THE NRL excitement was overwhelming. Nerves had started to kick in as the Penrith Panthers were one game away from back-to-back premiership glory. The Parramatta Eels were one game away from ridding the burden of a 36-year drought that they carried on their shoulders. However, history, age, experience, and previous match-ups...
Editorial comment – Where we draw the line
The extent to which the police force will go to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Fijians heading to and from the Deans Trophy competition in the Western Division this weekend is encouraging. We note that the police would be closely monitoring students travelling to Lautoka for the Fiji Secondary School Rugby Union Deans finals....
4th October
US commitment to Pacific Islands
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden last week told visiting leaders from more than a dozen Pacific Island countries that the US was committed to bolstering its presence in their region and becoming a more collaborative partner as they face the “existential threat” of climate change. The president addressed the leaders who gathered in Washington for...
Letters to the Editor – Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Road safety concern The LTA chief executive, Flagon Bekker’s release of traffic infringements (FT 2/10) is a clear indication that many drivers are not concerned with safe driving to prevent accidents. To ensure everyone’s safety, the LTA has mounted awareness programs with training in schools. We can save many lives by following the rules, cooperating...
Editorial comment – Watch those infringement notices
It is a concern that over 80,000 traffic infringement notices (TINs) were issued by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in 2020. LTA CEO Flagon Bekker confirmed the figure. Speaking before the Standing Committee on Social Affairs regarding LTA’s 2014-2017 annual reports, Mr Bekker said 64,126 offenders held full licences while 16,230 were provisional licence holders....
3rd October
Greener shipping
Seafarers and maritime workers stood in complete silence at the Suva seawall as a wreath was set afloat to remember colleagues who lost their lives out at sea because of their fidelity to serve the shipping industry. Hundreds turned up to commemorate World Maritime Day (WMD) on September 29 last week. From retired seafarers to...
Letters to the Editor – Monday, September 3, 2022
Lions roar, set to battle Marist THE Suva Grammar School U-18 side is ready to end their 17-year wait as the Lions face Marist Brothers High School in the final at Churchill Park. The Lions were impressive with their set pieces. Led by Livai Tawake, the Lions demonstrated a fighting character, composure and team bonding...
Editorial comment – A special month
Every time we discuss this month, we realise how important it is for Fijians. We say this if we are going to discuss development, reflect on what we have come through, and ponder on our future. But that’s a story for another day. This month is also set aside to highlight a major health concern....
2nd October
Editorial comment – Employment challenges
The revelation that more than 220 businesses in Fiji are finding it difficult to fill positions for electricians, refrigeration and air conditioning technicians, plumbers, construction and joinery workers and automotive mechanics will no doubt attract attention. This is part of the National Training and Productivity Council’s Industry and Community Discussion Forum Report 2022. It states a...
1st October
Vet corner: The welfare and safety of horses
It’s been raining cats and dogs lately so let’s get some things straight from the horse’s mouth. Horses have many predators in the wild, so to survive, they learned to quickly react to something near they believe may hurt them and to stay away from strange things. This is useful and life-saving in the wild,...
PaCSON and Optus data breach
This week the Pacific Cyber Security Operations Network (PaCSON) organisation held their AGM at the Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH) in Suva. PaCSON membership is mostly made up of Pacific regional governments with some partners. I was invited to a meeting with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) officials attending, to discuss cybersecurity...
Boxing returns with a bang
Bula readers, it’s not every day you can say that you attended an event that exceeded your hopes and expectations, but this is what happened last Saturday evening in Suva when I attended a boxing program. All I can say is congratulations to Lewis Hill Boxing Promotions and a job well done. It was indeed...
Living with fear: Government should listen and learn
In many of my speeches I refer to the atmosphere of fear often felt in Fiji. This week the fear issue has emerged again. The prominent National Federation Party member Richard Naidu told an audience in Suva that the current government rules by fear. Minister Sayed-Khaiyum questions this. He asked at a press conference, what...
Voters and the 2022 polls
Fiji soon goes to the polls for the 2022 General Election. There are two major candidates vying for prime ministership, both former coup leaders – Sitiveni Rabuka (The Peoples’ Alliance) staged the country’s first 1987 coup and Voreqe Bainimarama (FijiFirst) who led the 2006 coup. Both PA and its partner, the National Federation Party (NFP)...
The ‘FICAC’ factor
If there is any organisation in Fiji that hangs over Opposition parties like the sword of damocles, it is the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. It is critical to understand the genesis of this entity, and its performance so far, especially for the incoming new Government that intends to steer our soon-to-be 52-year-old nation back...
Letters to the Editor – Saturday, October 1, 2022
Ground development CAN the appropriate authorities immediately advise the inquisitive Lautoka people on what category of development is currently being undertaken at Churchill Park ground number 3? It resembles an open war trench and a rice paddy field. Dhaan boi ka? Earlier in the week, rows of impenetrable non-transparent metal fences were being mounted along...
Editorial comment – A moment in time
The stage is set for a feast of secondary schools rugby today. That’s when the semi-finals of the Deans Trophy competition moves across to Prince Charles Park in Nadi. And when all things are said and done, attention will no doubt be on the two rookies in the lineup. That’s Ba Provincial Free Bird Institute...
30th September
Asia’s new normal – The massive vaccination campaigns that preceded it
Over the past few months, much of Asia – like many other parts of the world – has returned to an uncanny normality. Streets are full of people, schools and universities are open, traffic is jamming the roads, shops are bustling and there is little, if any, social distancing. COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted across...
Letters to the Editor – Friday, September 30, 2022
Tale of two heartbeats AS I read through the piece by Shanelle Prasad titled “Tale of two heart beats” (FT 29/09), I thought about the statistics released by the World Health Organization which revealed that 84 per cent of all deaths in Fiji were caused by NCDs. WHO also revealed that 6038 Fijians lost their...
Editorial comment – Our children, our future
It is difficult having to live with cancer. It’s tough when a loved one is suffering. As we wrap up the month again, when we try and create awareness about childhood cancer, we are reminded about how fragile life is. We are reminded about the importance of family support and especially the need for early...
29th September
Letters to the Editor – Thursday, September 29, 2022
A heartfelt present for Jessica It is shocking that every two seconds one person under the age of 70 loses his or her life to non-communicable diseases! The World Health Organization, in a report titled Invisible numbers: The true extent of noncommunicable diseases and what to do about them stated major risk factors. These included...
