Stars in the making
The future of Fiji rugby is at this year’s Vodafone Kaji Rugby Championship. The championship, which is held at Lawaqa Park, aims to develop grassroots rugby to a standard that will benefit our national rugby team. This year’s championship boasts 68 teams and 1290 players. While the standard of rugby displayed during the secondary schools Deans competition drew a lot of praises, I’m sure our primary school ruggers will not disappoint fans. I must also compliment The Fiji Times and Eroni Tuinuku for the wonderful stories from Lawaqa Park. Such delicious stories help raise the profile of this year’s Kaji Rugby Championship. My best wishes to the participating teams and officials and I hope the parent body lines up programs to develop our future rugby stars. Toso Kaji toso! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Labasa Airport
I would like to thank Fiji Airways for the remarkable improvement of its customer services at Labasa Airport. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the leadership of Vaikash Naidu for bringing about positive changes. The workers are really focused and friendly. Not to mention that they are very polite and professional. However, I would like to see improvement in the handling of incoming luggage. The passengers have to struggle getting their luggage off the trolleys. Why can’t we have carousels like in Suva and Nadi? Ami Kohli Labasa
Road project
Allow me to respond to a letter written by Mr Simon Hazelman in this column titled “Nukubalavu Rd sealing” as highlighted in The Fiji Time 15/08. Mr Hazelman in justifying his stand on this matter and gave his reasons for this particular road to be tarsealed and one of the reasons is because it leads to the chiefly village of Nukubalavu, home of Tui Nasavusavu. I believe this particular reason does not really make a lot of sense, because I believe there are many chiefs who live in places where roads are not being tarsealed and let alone those who live in places where there are no roads at all. I believe there are many places in Fiji that are longing to have access to proper road and here we have some who already have and yet wanting more. Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Fruit orchards
If there is one area in agriculture that will bring us great success, it is in fruit orchards as we have the perfect conditions for fruit trees all year round. For the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Mahendra Reddy, to state that fruit orchards have great potential (FT 14/08) is not only an understatement, but agriculture is not doing enough to help and aggressively support fruit orchard cultivation. Apart from the traditional tropical fruits in mangoes, guavas, avocados and citruses, we should by now have introduced many other tropical fruits that are available from other tropical regions around the world. When it comes down to fruits, we need to be talking and growing the widest varieties possible. Longan, June Plum, Green Sapote, Loquat, Lychee, Curd Fruit, Mangosteen, Gooseberry, Langsat, Marmelada, Pomegranate, Sapodilla, Natal Plum, Rambutan, Abiu, Ambarella, Lucuma, Maprang, Malay Apple, Sugar Apple, Custard Apple, Apple Cactus, Star Apple, are just a few tropical fruits that will thrive here in Fiji. Cut all this wasting time of trials and just get the seeds in as soon as possible and into the ground. We should be exporting a good range of tropical fruits all over the world by now and serving visitors to our country with the same. But here we are, with government still thinking about developing fruit orchards. We sure missed the boat by several decades on this one! Simon Hazelman Rava Estate, Savusavu
School holidays
This is the final holidays for our children when they approach the exam period of the school year, this holiday should be different from the other holidays as more studying is required to gear them up for the exams. Children should think before being lured into other activities by others and parents’ assistance is urgent at this time of the year. While some children try and get themselves engaged in illegal activities, some try and spend time with friends, while some try and get this into their own hands while the wise ones try concentrating on their studies at every opportunity. Certain children go missing at this time. So everyone’s help is required at this moment to keep our children at bay. Children make wise decisions and wise moves and always remember what the future has in place for you. Tomasi Boginiso Nasinu
McKee’s call
After having sleepless night’s national 15s coach John McKee today names his 31-member squad to this year’s RWC in Japan. Apart from the heroics of 2007 our outing in 2011 was pathetic as our boys managed one win against Namibia (49-25) while we lost to the Springboks, Samoa and Wales (49-3, 27-7 and 66-0 respectively). In 2015 Fiji lost to Australia, Wales and England (28-13, 23-13 and 35-11 respectively). The only consolation was the win against Uruguay (47-15). Hence, I guess the wait is over as far as qualifying from the pool is concerned. While we lament our loss to Japan and the fact that the Brave Blossoms have displaced Fiji from 9th to 10th on the overall ranking, I believe it’s time to support McKee as he prepares Fiji to face the Wallabies and Wales for a spot in the quarters. As McKee names his best, my call (after watching Fiji’s performance against the Maori ABs and in the PNC competition) includes Nakarawa, Tuisue, Yato, Dominiko, Mata, Kunatani, Ratuva, Cavubati, Api, Atalifo, Sam Matavesi, Mawi, Dolokoto, Saulo, Ma’afu, Ravai and Vugakoto in the forwards (17) while I pick Veitokani, Radradra, Wise, Kini, Botia, Osborne, brothers Tuisova and Nakosi, Goneva, Jale, Volavola, Matawalu, Josh and Lomani to make the backline (14). This unit has the guts, passion and “blood” to bring us success in the land of the rising sun. Ardent readers, this is my dream team! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Animal cruelty
To the driver of Government vehicle GR (I have the number) who parked on the grass area adjacent to the Delainavesi Police Post at 1.35pm Thursday afternoon, I’m sure I was not the only one who witnessed your appalling driving from the snail pace traffic queue. You drove up the kerb, over the footpath and continued driving straight towards the group of dogs that sat on the grass and made no attempt to slow or wait for them to move. The squeals from the dog that was suddenly trapped under the sump of your vehicle as you continued driving was heart wrenching. I trust this letter will be seen by your employers so that they can fully investigate whether this was an act of wanton cruelty or that your eyesight is so poor that you are unable to see three big brown dogs sat on a grass area in perfect daylight. Grahame Stageman Lami
Pacific leaders
Our Pacific leaders are meeting in Tuvalu (PIF) to discuss important issues that are affecting our beloved Pacific nations and one of which is climate change. There has been strong emphasis on safe guarding our tradition and its wisdom to preserve our environment. One thing that is ironic with our island leaders is that they may urge their people to preserve their own ways, but this has a hollow ring to it. It is often these same island leaders who are working mightily to bring logging, mining, tourism, heavy industry, and anything else that might increase the gross national product. And all of these things bring about further changes in traditional life. My question to our leaders is; How are we to retain our traditional ways, while embracing the economic development, so essential to modern nationhood, that threatens to undermine our very traditions and values? My humble request to our Pacific leaders is to walk the talk. Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Expats’ line
I notice expatriates who suddenly leave Fiji seem to always cite — resigns for personal reasons. Intriguing or “curiouser”. Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Men in Black
The Men in Black seem to be still sleeping as the year goes past and have not fully awakened and once getting into gear will surely be non-stop. Another trophy has evaded them and they might still be putting the puzzle together. Ba are history makers of the most wins or the champions of every tournament hosted by the Fiji Football Association. They have produced most of Fiji’s outstanding players. With the IDC in the horizon Ba will be back in business and hopefully they are fully awakened then. Don’t write them off yet. Tomasi Boginiso Nasinu
Soccer coach
No surprise that the national soccer coach is leaving. His predecessors have faced similar fates. I may not be right in concluding that those calling for his removal were wrong. This has happened too many times now. It’s a recurring problem when it comes to the national soccer coach. This is not the correct approach. I mean, if the condition of the shoes deteriorates, people change their shoes, not their handkerchiefs. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
University issue
The Australian National University (ANU) will help Australia “build stronger ties with Pacific Island countries” and counter the growing influence of China (The Australian, Higher Education, 14/8) through its new Australia Pacific Security College, in conjunction with the University of the South Pacific. May one therefore presume both will look closely at the Confucius Institute embedded at USP about which I raised questions in this column and the university a year ago, which went unanswered? I am also tempted to ask whether ANU’s Professor Brij Lal will be involved. Christopher Griffin Perth, Australia
Gamel’s exit
Christophe Gamel leaves our shores at the end of the month after he resigned as national soccer coach. Gamel, who took over from Frank Farina in 2016, brought about some changes to the way our national team plays but I guess he failed to make an impact. However, I’m grateful that our players had the opportunity to be coached by Gamel and I thank him for his services to Fiji as he has done his part and is moving back to France. Vinaka vakalevu Gamel and all the best! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
