NRC preparation
A lot has been said through the media about our team’s preparation to take part in the National Rugby Championship.
In the first match away from home, the Fiji Airways Drua side lost to Brisbane City 45-36 but then regrouped to thrash Melbourne Rising 45-24.
This performance raised eyebrows and our boys were on the radar of the clubs participating in the NRC.
The Drua side continued its winning form as the boys thumped NSW Country Eagles 31-14 and after playing three games were top alongside Perth Spirit with 10 points.
The Drua found their rhythm and outmuscled Perth Spirit 41-5 to go top of the NRC points table with 15 points.
However, the cold and lack of discipline in Canberra took the toll on the boys as Fiji slipped against Canberra Vikings 66-5.
Some changes and stern talk from coach Seruvakula did the job as the Drua side beat Sydney Rams 57-31.
Our boys celebrated alongside the All Blacks, who retained the Rugby Championship.
The Drua then lost to NSW Country 24-17 and Sydney Rams 36-29. In the debut season, our boys finished third with 22 points and made the semis.
Canberra Vikings and Queensland Country finished first and second respectively with 29 points.
The Drua side’s hopes of making it to the final collapsed after our boys lost to Queensland Country 57-21, who went on to win the cup beating Canberra Vikings 42-28.
The Drua side did well but lack of discipline and missed opportunities proved costly.
Now that our boys have tasted the level of competition required by the NRC, I hope to see an ignited and revamped outfit hungry and determined to win the cup.
My best wishes to the coaching panel and the Fiji Airways Drua side.
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Market vendors
What continues to bother me is the fact that after all these years, the market administrators are letting market vendors get away with their irresponsible disposing of rubbish around the market premises.
The market vendors should appreciate that they are being allowed to sell their produce/wares, enabling them to make a living to sustain their respective families.
They should also be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the market just as it was, before they used it.
One has to visit the market on Saturday evenings to see the amount of rubbish left behind by vendors, and to see the city council workers cleaning up.
This should not be the case!
The Suva City Council and market administrator need to pull up their socks and find a way to address such irresponsible behaviour/actions, and hold the vendors accountable.
Lavetanalagi Seru, Suva
New dump site
The CEO of Lautoka City Council is pleading with members of the public to refrain from setting fire near the dump FT 21/08.
I remember when the new street sweeping machines came, the same CEO informed the public that the sweeping truck was carrying enough water to help when a fire starts at the dump.
This is about the third or fourth fire in the past two years.
People with asthma are suffering in Lautoka.
The CEO of Lautoka City Council needs to come up with new ideas to control the fire.
Maybe the dump area should be cordoned off similar to Sigatoka dump site or like I said before, can a new dump be set at a different site.
If Suva can do that then I am sure Lautoka can also relocate its dump.
John Brown, Drasa Vitogo, Lautoka
Party direction
Should they win the election, HOPE party president Tupou Draunidalo is contemplating appointing an Attorney-General from outside, a practising lawyer from the Bar.
But one of the disadvantages in doing this is I believe Ms Draunidalo will be giving away an entitlement and the opportunity to become a Cabinet minister of one of her party candidates who have worked so hard and spent a lot of money in their campaign to gain the necessary votes.
The second issue here is that I believe it shows that she does not have the trust in the ability and qualifications of her party members.
A very easy outcome would be for her to become the PM by convention and virtue as a party president, at the same time appointing herself to the A-G ministerial portfolio, saving tax payers’ monies.
I hope she can slash her PM’s salary to $120k as Fijians will respect her for doing so.
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Namaka, Nadi
Fish tale
Reading The Fiji Times about our groupers getting scarce is really not a fun matter for our future generations because of overfishing and even buying by overseas ships.
So really speaking we need to educate those selling kawakawa and donu fish, or groupers which is as far as I have seen in our daily The Fiji Times.
We have about 27 different species or types of groupers, kawakawa and donu fish out there in our reefs which must be protected and because of the high price for these fish, some people do not even stop to think that it will be all gone if we catch and sell them at this fast rate.
It’s going right now.
Vinaka va levu sara to The Fiji Times for the lovely pictures of these fish published a few weeks back.
We are so fortunate to have so much lovely eating fish in our sea.
God help us preserve them and be more responsible as well.
Vinaka people. Toso Viti, toso.
Richard M. Abel, Suva
Embracing godliness
We are told every day, in large blue letters, to embrace godliness and reject bigotry.
The person who claims responsibility for these words complains that criticism directed towards him is all because he is a kaiIdia.
So it seems rather harsh for him to criticise another organisation, as part of his attack on a student leader, as being an organisation of religious extremists.
Perhaps, if he was more embracing of godliness he might be a little less judgmental.
Richard Naidu, Suva (Mr Naidu is a Suva-based lawyer who does some work for The Fiji Times).
Road links
I am wondering why our very good Government continues to ignore the two major links on the Garden Island?
One is leading to Bouma /Lavena and another to Navakawau/Salialevu known as the South Taveuni road.
These places are densely populated.
If the ministers want to have an adventurous and rough terrain ride … please bring over your very good selves.
Guaranteed this ride will shake your vehicle and make you jump!
Never ever to come back again!
A. SHARIFF SHAH, Savusavu
Fish issue
Honourable Semi Koroilavesau, remember the people are still waiting for your reply regarding the confiscated fish issue.
Election is around the corner, so please, people who voted for you and your party need an answer.
John Brown, Drasa, Vitogo, Lautoka
Contrasts for climate change
How thoughtful of a bank to discontinue issuing its 10cm long receipts from its ATMs (letter FT 18/8) out of concern for our environment and climate change.
Being still concerned about the 30cm length of the required receipt from my local pharmacy that was three times longer than the ATM slip, I must remember to ask my pharmacy not to print the receipt for my next purchase.
Tessa Mackenzie, SUVA
Truth to power
I believe that the truth will be the downfall of any administration.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Festival food
In all municipal festivals such the recent “Hibiscus” festival, we have food stalls selling cooked barbecue (with lots of fat), oily fish and chips, salty pop corns, variety of sweets, handmade juice loaded with sugar, candy floss, et cetera.
No wonder our nation is ranked No. 1 in diabetes.
Vinesh Prasad, Newtown, Nasinu
Political hope
The Fiji Times front page 20/08 published an article titled ‘It will be a 3-way battle’, wherein Tupou Draunidalo claimed that the poll race will be a battle between HOPE, NFP, and FijiFirst.
While she highlighted her colourful career and being an elected member of the current Parliament, I think she has a lot to answer for to people such as me who voted for her during the 2014 election.
When she was suspended from Parliament, it was fine for she was standing for the truth.
However, when she walked out of the National Federation Party and joined HOPE, she entirely lost her seat in Parliament, and I wonder whether she cares about the people who voted for her under the NFP banner.
She further claimed that she was elected to the current Parliament with votes surpassing some Cabinet ministers and other Opposition MPs.
However, I want to remind her that many voted for her not only because of her colourful career, but also because of the NFP.
Now she has dismissed NFP and is using HOPE to try and revive her name.
Nevertheless, being one who feels her betrayal, I am not going to vote for her this time around.
I believe many in my shoes would think so too.
Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Politics and religion
Who says they don’t mix?
I believe history has taught us otherwise.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
