Friendly North Festival
While I congratulate Labasa Divisional Hospital Miss Naima Shazmeen for being crowned Festival of the Friendly North queen 2018, I applaud the efforts of the organising committee led by president Vishwa Deo for raising $260k.
On the same token, Mr Deo promised the northerners that a multipurpose hall would be their project from the funds raised.
Thank you sir, for this assurance as this is long overdue in the Friendly North.
Inject this with the Damodar complex to be constructed, Labasa Town is making it big time.
Hats off to the carnival committee and the king and queen contestants!
Wananavu Labasa!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Barrett’s magic
THE beauty of star playmaker and Hurricanes think tank Beauden Barrett was seen in the second Bledisloe Cup clash when he broke Wallabies hearts to become the first All Black to score four times against Australia.
I was amazed with the fighting spirit and character of the All Blacks in the second half to retain the Bledisloe Cup in fascinating and convincing fashion.
After last week’s thrashing (38-13) I thought that the visitors would be more aggressive and competitive but once again they ran out of breath and steam when the All Blacks were on attack mode and pressed the Wallabies defence.
The All Blacks have scored 12 tries against the Wallabies and are on rampaging form in their bid to defend the Rugby Championship title and I look forward to their battle against the Springboks, who are gaining confidence under new coach Erasmus.
The All Blacks showed accuracy, precision, speed, confidence and their attacking prowess and I tell you this is just the beginning as we count days to next year’s RWC.
Congratulations to the most successful team and super powers of World Rugby!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Sewage removal
AS a regular user of the highway between Savusavu and Dreketi I have noticed on several occasions a particular sewage removal truck seemingly transporting its smelly cargo out of Savusavu to I don’t know where!
On a couple of occasions I was tempted to follow but thought the better of wasting my time following it.
But one does wonder where the precious cargo, which is removed from business properties in Savusavu gets disposed.
I believe here is a great example of a serious environmental problem that no one is talking about because it comes with no benefit to anyone.
We are indeed the creators of real waste to our environment and the ultimate hypocrites.
Simon Hazelman, Savusavu
Church issue
THE demand by the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma (FT 26/08) raises a number of questions.
Is the church after something from the PM and the Government?
If so, what were these?
Is it not possible to thank the PM by way of a well thought-out letter for his government’s policy on education?
What are the church’s views on other policies of the government affecting the church members?
On the alleged misreporting of the churches general secretary, with respect, what the church says in its annual conference is newsworthy.
It will be scrutinised by the media and public and especially the members of the church.
That church members or the vavakoso have raised their disappointment and disgust at the reported words of political support from within its leadership is human and understandable.
I believe that the church leadership ought to have been more circumspect in inviting politicians to the annual conference of its leaders.
It bans church leaders from being politically active and yet invite an active politician at the highest level to its annual conference.
Is this logical, reasonable and justifiable?
The management of the church leaders’ communication at all levels may need to be reviewed and more awareness and training may be needed for the general secretary and all office holders.
Alipate Qetaki, Suva
Glass and plastic
LAST week my family and friends were on a picnic at Pacific Harbour and went to buy beer at the supermarket.
So we went across the road.
At the supermarket we bought six bottles of beer and the young woman manning the cash register said, “You need a plastic bag?”
We said “yes” and she said, “It will cost you 20 cents each.”
We asked for two, paid 40 cents and as we walked away she says, “Here is a complementary beer glass, it’s free.”
A friend from overseas whispers to me, “So the plastic bag which will rot, costs 20 cents a piece, and a complementary beer glass that costs about $1 which will never rot is free, and it’s even engraved with the sportsman’s beer.”
I just said, “It’s the law.”
He said, “Fancy that eh.”
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Down memory lane
ISA Freddy Caine.
Share Allen’s sentiments about Fred.
We grew up in the same neighbourhood in Naiqaqi and remember having stimulating conversations sitting on the veranda of Shiu’s shop on the corner of Goodenough and Loftus streets in Suva.
Fred, always the diplomat and deep thinker, had some strong views and opinions on a whole range of issues and we all knew that one day he would grace the halls of the Fijian Parliament which he did because he had the “gift of the gab” as the saying goes.
Condolences to the Caine family.
Colin Deoki, Australia
Aussie PM
What does Wise Muavono of Lautoka (FT 25/8) think about the sixth Australian Prime Minister within 10 years.
Unity or fragmentary in society?
Amenatave Yaconisau Palm Drive, Delainavesi
Proud feeling
I felt proud to learn from The Fiji Times report (24/08) that my former Raiwaqa and Suva soccer teammate of the late 1970s Rueban Colata (Joe Cash) is today the president of the University of the South Pacific Staff Union.
He has come a long way and I am proud of his accomplishment.
He has always been a reliable, diligent and trustworthy man.
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Dump fire
Has the Lautoka City Council made an effort to find out the reason people are setting fire to the dump?
Or are they still clueless like that fellow in Kava Place?
Wise Muavono, Balawa, Lautoka
Australian truth
It’s true Australia now has its sixth PM in a decade as Wise Muavono has pointed out (FT 25/08).
But there is one crucial thing: no PM has been installed at the point of a gun and the citizens terrorised on account of it.
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Dump site visit
Oh my goodness, the minister said that the fire is under control.
Mr Minister, have you visited the dump site?
And please define what you mean by under control, because smoke is still coming to Kava Place.
I believe where there’s smoke there will be fire.
Remember I live here.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Back in the fold
It took them eight years but the giant-killers kept their hopes and spirits alive and this was rewarded when they made the top competition.
The likes of Suibuka, Sai, Nathan, Kaushik, Dinesh, Nitan, Sandeep, Joseph, Moses, Mereke, Nair, Begg, Dutt and Anish kept trying and their hard work and patience was rewarded.
On the other hand, Savinesh Mudiliar will go in the history books as a “courageous captain” who led Nasinu back to the premier grade.
I had urged the boys in my Saturday’s letter to play with pride and play as a unit and I’m glad that the Shivam Nathan-coached side did exactly that and came out with a valuable point to sneak into the Courts IDC premier grade.
Lami was equally good but I guess the best team won.
Hats off to Savusavu and Lami for giving Nasinu tough matches as this will help our southerners prepare to compete against the likes of Ba, Rewa, Labasa, Nadi and Suva.
I join hands with all Nasinuans to congratulate Savi and his brigade for guiding the side back into the premier grade.
I urge the business houses in Nasinu to support the side so that it remains in the top.
A big vinaka vakalevu to Nasinu and to the vocal fans who made their presence felt!
Finally, congratulations to Marika Rodu and our girls for the hard-earned win against Vanuatu!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Plastic pollution
While opening the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Clean Pacific Roundtable, our Prime Minister stated that most of the plastics that end in our waters come from larger and wealthier countries (FT 25/08).
I stand to correct our honourable Prime Minister in that most of the plastics that end up in our waters come from the citizens of our very own country!
One only needs to look around to notice how reckless we are when it comes to plastics.
Our homes, our settlements, our towns, our roads, our rivers and our ocean fronts are littered with everything that is plastic!
If our Prime Minister is deadset serious about plastics then he simply needs to confront plastic bag pollution head on by implementing bans on single-use plastic bags.
Government’s current stance of charging 20 cents is nothing more than a lacklustre one!
The challenge for our Prime Minister and Government is a simple one.
Ban single-use plastic bags!
Simon Hazelman, Savusavu
