Khan’s departure
Mohammed Anees Khan’s resignation as CEO of the Lautoka City Council has certainly sparked a lot of questions. While reports indicate he has returned to New Zealand, the precise motives behind his exit remain unclear (FT 16/04). The council has yet to clarify whether his departure was linked to performance issues or personal matters. Anees, known to be one of the highest-paid council CEOs, has returned to New Zealand, as reported by The Fiji Times. This begs the question, was he an expatriate selected by the council to oversee local government operations? If so, why aren’t competent locals being considered for this role? Moreover, what prompted Anees’s sudden resignation? Were there performance issues, perhaps a failure to meet KPIs? Or was his departure simply cited as “personal reasons,” as is often the case nowadays? It’s unfortunate that he won’t be present to witness the completion of the controversial multi-million Lautoka swimming pool project in which he was heavily associated with. Nishant Singh, Lautoka
Public venting
The number of people expressing frustration on the Government with bad words and hate is so sad. All media online pages and chat groups allow this to happen. Even some parliamentarians allow it on their pages. No respect at all to leadership. Across the country, we are witnessing a rise in lawlessness and disorderliness with daily reports of traffic accidents, street crimes, indisciplined students and youths, robberies and scuffles among people over small issues that become violent or deadly. Other forms of illegal activities such as drugs and the online grooming of children doing TikTok are also on the rise. Within the past month, several cases of sexual assault and rape against women have been reported and the list goes on. The deteriorating law and order situation across the country has become a cause of concern for all the citizens. There is a constant sense of fear and anxiety among the people, which interferes with their day-to-day activities because of the deteriorating lifestyle we Fijians have. We are spending less time at home with our families and more time venting on social media. No wonder a friend in Asia once said, “When Fijians post on Facebook, they are full or fire”. Our Fiji has never been like this. We are grooming lawless citizens and future bad leaders. We as adults must show good quality lifestyle to our children. As we wait for the next election, your vote counts. A small country with less than one million population with so many political parties. This Government is here for a reason. Romans 13:1: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Tagi Vonolagi, Nausori
New Zealand visa
The announcement by New Zealand that it will issue multiple visa to qualifying Fijians from July this year is no news at all. People are already being given multiple visas so what is new? What Fijians are asking for is a reciprocal treatment of our people similar to how we provide access to the new Zealanders, which is visas on arrival. Further, NZ should simplify visa application process for Fijians. Why should we provide a bank statement if the trip is fully sponsored, why should we provide details of assets and interests we hold in Fiji and why should we be required to furnish a spousal or any other consent unless the traveller is a minor. As far as property details are concerned, you would agree that a person could be sitting anywhere in the world and oversee his/her property without travelling to Fiji. Time has changed but we Fijians are still subject to visa requirements which has no meaning. Ajai Kumar, Nadi
It’s not a game
President Trump seems determined to play “banker” in the global game of Monopoly — or at least that’s what his recent tariff war suggests. But it’s not just the banker role he wants. He’s also rolling the dice, hoping to snatch up whatever he can from the fallout, manipulating the rules as both dealer and player. The trouble is, you can’t control the game when you’re both holding the cash and moving the pieces and not without consequences. He’s banking on others folding, cashing out, or walking away, clearing the board so he can dominate it and reset the rules. But the world’s not playing the game on his terms anymore. Because too many of the other players have already taken hits — big ones and they’re tired of his slash and burn antics. Tired of the unpredictability. Tired of what looks more and more like unscrupulous tactics dressed up as strategy. So where does that leave him? Likely, sitting alone at a very expensive board, holding all the pieces but with no one left to play the game. Because playing with people’s lives and livelihoods is not a game! Colin Deoki, Australia
