Bula
There are two big stories on the front page of The Fiji Times for Thursday, December 5.
A SPECIAL audit report on Walesi Fiji exposed “a filth that lay underneath” the operations of company where major anomalies included the unsubstantiated payments totalling $9.3 million, and a reported wastage of $80 million of public funds. “Public funds vanished into thin air, it was a disgraceful squandering of resources,” Minister for Communication Manoa Kamikamica said, adding the audit also uncovered high value deals, including a project management contract worth $3.6 million that was awarded without tenders being called.
THE $2200 per month suspended Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde collected in superannuation from September 2019 should be termed as “theft”, says Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo. He said Mr Pryde had no right to take the money without authorisation from the Attorney-General, and validation from the President. He said this as he took the stand on day three of the Tribunal hearing on Mr Pryde’s case at the Court of Appeal in Veiuto, Suva, yesterday. He said Mr Pryde “must be a good negotiator” with the government as expatriates working in the Fiji government only get 25 per cent gratuity payment.
Backtracks
AN all-rounder. A musical maverick. A versatile musician who had confidence in his performance.
These are but a few words to describe the late Rokotucaucau Vatuwaqa, one of Fiji’s talented musicians who gained a reputation as a remarkable virtuoso during his lifetime. That’s on Page 27.
Backtracks is in The Fiji Times every Thursday.
The musical journey continues.
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Synopsis
Getting it right for Suva City!
The revelation that the Suva City Council does not have an effective strategy and plan to address drug-related activities within the city boundaries is cause for concern.
Realistically, it might make sense when you consider the fact that the drug challenges we are now facing appear to have just popped out of the woodworks, when in reality, this isn’t the case!
We have continued to highlight the challenges offered by the illicit trade in hard drugs over the years.
We have highlighted the demands, and how lucrative the trade has been for those involved.
The question we will mull over is why a concerted effort wasn’t there to raise this as a major challenge over the past decade, effectively raising the profile of the drug trade, and the impact on urban centres like Suva and along the Suva-Nausori corridor.
Considering the serious implications, we wonder why there appears to be a lack of urgency to address this issue.
Again, hard drugs just did not pop out of the woodworks as we pointed out above. They just did not appear suddenly! That leaves us with questions on acknowledgement, and engagement! And this raises the issue of the council’s role in advocating safety for its citizens!
While tabling the SCC Consolidated Annual Reports 2016 to 2018 in Parliament the other day, Social Affairs Committee chair Iliesa Vanawalu recommended the council equip itself to deal with ongoing issues.
Apart from its primary functions to conduct rates and providing service to ratepayers, the SCC, he noted, now faces many other challenges.
This, he said, included the drug situation, the city security situation, and dealing with street dwellers.
Given the scenarios now, the committee, he said, was of the view that the municipal council must review its functions and operation procedures as a matter of urgency to address the serious social issues within the municipality.
“The committee noted that the council has no effective strategy and plans to address the fight against drugs within Suva municipality.”
We note this is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with urgently.
In fact we’d ask the question, why hasn’t anything been done so far.
Given the challenges we have faced in the city over the years, from pickpockets, to harassment on the streets, to drug abuse, the city certainly has changed, embracing the ways of the world!
Our city fathers must be keeping abreast of developments, and what’s trending, embracing change, and the need to be proactive.
We say the concern now raised about strategies is welcomed.
The key now is to be engaged and talking about the need for something that will ensure citizens of the city feel safe and are reassured that their welfare is being prioritised by the city fathers!
We say the challenges faced by the city are complex, demanding leaders to step up, be engaged, proactive and vigilant, and to take charge of pressing issues!
