Bula everyone
The weather’s changed a bit here in the Capital City, Suva. It’s windy. The temperature, however, is just slightly cool at around 28 degrees Celsius.
REFLECTIONS
Now that our second city, Lautoka is on high alert this week after the Health Ministry reported 35 active COVID-19 cases, we find ourselves in an interesting situation.
It’s the highest increase since the second wave of the pandemic hit the country three months ago.
On Tuesday, the Ministry announced that Saweni Top and Vakatora Housing, Waiyavi, areas were under lockdown, joining residents at the Public Rental Board Natokowaqa flats who have been on lockdown since July 3.
In the face of this latest development, the Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association have called for a more stringent lockdown.
Given the incubation period, and the primary and secondary contact lists, we should expect a rise in numbers over the next few days at least, unless everyone decides to stay home and not spread the virus.
Hopefully there are lessons to learn from the Suva to Nausori corridor outbreak which is hitting frightening numbers daily.
Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu is urging residents in new containment areas to adhere to what he terms “the strict COVID restrictions now in place in their communities”.
Mr Tudravu made the appeal following the establishment of two new lockdown areas in Lautoka city this week.
We can only hope what we are now seeing isn’t the start of cases spiralling out of control.
It is imperative that we do what it takes to keep numbers down.
The very bad experience in the Central Division is the stuff of nightmares.
Hotspots appear to be popping up daily everywhere from Suva to Nausori.
There seems to be no end in sight to the rising numbers.
Again, we look up to the powers that be to make tough calls. There is great uncertainty. There are scared people, and there are people who are struggling to put food on the table.
At the end of the day, there has to be solidarity and unity in our actions to fight this war.
That means every Fijian been urged to take ownership of this fight.
Otherwise we will continue to allow it to spread because not everyone is on the same wavelength.
In an ideal world, every Fijian will truly value and appreciate COVID-safety protocols.
Our challenge is to get the message out there first.
Meanwhile, here are some headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Thursday, July 15.
PAGE 1
Remove VAT
REMOVE value added tax (VAT) on all basic food items, medicines and infant products and reduce electricity tariffs across the board by 15 per cent. These were some of the proposals put forward by former prime minister and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry for the 2021-2022 National Budget.
Rugby fans
GOOD news for Fiji rugby fans as the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) revealed that Australian-based trio Frank Lomani, Mosese Sorovi and Teti Tela have joined camp in Hamilton. “All players are in camp after border closure with Queensland was lifted on Monday midnight,” FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor said.
PAGE 3
Pay cut
A PAY cut for civil servants will result in “hardship and misery”, says the Fiji Teachers Union secretary general Agni Deo Singh.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
There are many interesting letters on Pages 8 and 9.
PEOPLE
In this popular section of the newspaper, read about: Etuate Ranuku Baleilekutu
ETUATE Ranuku Baleilekutu has no regrets over his decision to live behind his housebuilding job with a contractor and decent weekly wages to answer a calling to serve God with his talent and skills.
BACKTRACKS
Chand’s interest in lokgeet
The musical journey continues. WHILE growing up in Koronivia in the ’70s and ’80s, Roshni Chand developed a keen interest in Hindi folk songs known as lokgeet. She would keep her ears glued to the radio and listen to popular artists at the time.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about the looming Test against the NZ All Blacks.
There’s more to read inside, but you’ll have to get a copy to know what we are talking about!
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