Vernacular newspapers
I would like to comment on the letter (17/2) by Mohammed Imraz Janif on vernacular newspapers. While I agree with your correspondent in complimenting The Fiji Times on revamping both newspapers, I disagree with his implication that they are for ‘those who have difficulty in reading and understanding English’. While this may be true for a small minority of Nai Lalakai readers, it is certainly not true for all. I believe most readers of Nai Lalakai also read The Fiji Times, but they like to read the Nai Lalakai because it contains interesting news and perspectives not found in The Fiji Times. That’s certainly why I read Nai Lalakai. Shanti Dut is for various reasons a rather different proposition. I’m no expert on Hindi but I know a number of people who are, and they all agree that to be popular, useful and successful, it needs to be in Fiji Hindi, certainly for local news, and in the Roman alphabet. Great though my admiration is for the Hindi literary tradition and the Devanagri alphabet, it is a fact that most Hindi speakers in Fiji are not familiar with it, witness the fact that when local people do write in Hindi — banners at football games, slogans on carriers, when texting, even odd phrases in letters to the editor — it is always Fiji Hindi and in the Roman alphabet. Paul Geraghty USP, Suva
Man-made plan
It is interesting to note the comment by the Leader of Government in Parliament, Inia Seruiratu, with regard to change in the National Budget address which will now take place on June 7. To justify his point, Mr Seruiratu made a bold statement and I quote, “This is not a divine plan, these changes are made by man and if there is a need to make any change, it will be made by man.” I wonder whether his statement can also be applicable to the 2013 Constitution, if there are need for changes in certain clauses to better serve the people of this country? Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Botanical gardens
Most of us will by now be tossed to and fro by all the backchat regarding the sale of the Botanical Gardens to the Indian Government for the building of its embassy in Suva. Our honourable Prime Minister should be thanked for giving up his precious time on Sunday to appear live on an iTaukei talkback show and answer questions on the above issue. He revealed that our Fiji ambassador in India had requested in 2014 a land for the building of the Fiji Embassy in India, which the Indian Government complied. The Indian Government made a counter request for a piece of land in Suva for the building of the Indian Embassy. So Government has given the old netball court in Thurston Gardens and the PM has promised that no grass, tree or flowers will be uprooted from the Botanical Garden. Vinaka PM for speaking the truth and clarifying this matter. Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa Suva
Medical examination
Dr Korina Waibuta (The Fiji Times, Monday 18 February, 2019) is perfectly correct in saying that a medical examination of rape survivors is essential. My comment was made contextually in a workshop for police officers. Of course, a rape survivor should be encouraged to undergo a medical examination for her own wellbeing and for all the reasons outlined by Ms Waibuta. The comment was in regard to rapes that are reported much later and when the medical examination is forced to prove virginity. And when the case is delayed because the medical examination has not been done or the reluctance of investigating a rape case because it is too late to do a medical examination. This discussion included the legal requirements pertaining to rape as per the Crimes Act. This was also about best practice around responding to rape and the rights-based approach to survivors. If it is about medical and diagnostic purposes for the health of the survivor, of course, a survivor should be encouraged by all means. However, when it is for investigative reasons which would further humiliate and degrade a survivor who is reluctant to undergo medical examination, a survivor ought not to be forced. Doing so will in turn be a breach of a survivor’s human rights and is another form of re-traumatisation, both of which service providers must avoid. Good counselling which is informative provides a safe space for rape survivors to make informed decisions without feeling intimidated. Shamima Ali Princes Rd, Suva
Treat everyone equally
No doubt many resort and hotel properties have the tendency to treat locals differently, and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is absolutely correct in calling on resort and hotel operators to treat locals just as they treat visitors from abroad (FT:18/02). Locals most definitely deserve the same service! Another area in which resort and hotel operators ought to change when it involves locals, is employment conditions. They should not differentiate locals from expatriates when it comes to salaries and conditions, especially through middle and top management positions. Locals deserve the same salaries and conditions as expatriates! I’m aware of a handful of properties that do not make that discrimination and I’m impressed with their fairness. The majority, however, continue to treat local, middle and top management staff differently.
In the industry, it’s the locals who have all the knowledge of our Fijian hospitality and service, far way exceeding expatriates. While expatriates do bring with them good knowledge of hospitality there are many distinct areas in which they lack the appropriate knowledge, which only locals have.
Never underrate nor underestimate locals! SIMON HAZELMAN Rava Estate, Savusavu
School bullies
As long as our children feel safe and secure and free from victimisation and as long as they can have faith in their teachers and school management and overall governance in school and enjoy their classes and learning, they are sure to stay in school. As far as parents are concerned, as long as their children do not come home with complaints, they rest assured that all is normal at school and they are free to work in peace to make the income required to keep their children in school. This may be easier to say for schools that do not have boarding facilities as day scholars seem to come better prepared for the day ahead than boarders. But what of schools that have mixed boarding and day scholars where day scholars are being victimised by boarders for money. Isn’t there a system in place where parents of boarding students get to leave at the school money that is dished out daily to their children by management so as to make sure that all boarders’ needs are taken care of and to make sure that they don’t victimise other children? Or has such schools turned into money laundering avenues and places of fear where parents of day scholars wonder why their children ask them for more money each day and where they cannot see the risks their children take because they live in fear of reporting matters due to further victimisation at school? Schools today, seem to be where peer pressure and gangs operate in the least expected places! My question is, where is the principal, teachers and school prefects? Why should there be such issues if the teachers were looking after the school as opposed to sitting in the staff room and turning a blind eye or being totally oblivious to what was going on at recess and lunch or in the school toilets? Surely, smart managers would know that these were the times and places that bullies would be on the prowl! Maybe you need to remove your staff rooms! A child or his or her parent should never be victims of such incidences. Some parents work harder than others to keep their children in school and there are instances where children come from broken homes and one parent is financing the child. There are cases where children are pulled out of school because the child is unable to cope with physical and psychological victimisation. Some parents take their children out of school because they cannot stand to see their child suffer while the matter worsens because nothing is being done about it. Then there are parents who just can’t afford to give extra money to the bullies! I believe gone are the days where children were free to enjoy their rights to an education. It saddens me to have to say this but it appears to be so with the way human rights is being interpreted. There is an obvious need for awareness in schools to educate both students and particularly management as their roles are becoming more challenging. It would be greatly appreciated if you were a school principal or head teacher, to look into these matters. Don’t leave your school classrooms, corridors and toilets unwatched for a minute. Our children are your responsibility during school hours. Have a heart! The least you can do is to be sure they are safe, content and happy. Our children and our nation needs educated people! If you can’t handle it, bring in the people that can! Bring in the pros that can teach and counsel and make a definite change! Noleen Billings Hazelman Savusavu
RWC mission
I hope that Flying Fijians head coach John McKee will leave no stone unturned while preparing our boys for the RWC battle in Japan. While I’m happy that the Kiwi is optimistic of Fiji’s chances, I’d love to see him assemble the best team and repeat the performance against France during the November 2018 Test match. Fiji has Wales, Australia, Uruguay and Georgia. Our boys have yet to beat Australia in the RWC but we have previously beaten Wales, Uruguay and Georgia so it’s possible that we could beat our northern hemisphere counterparts. Our backline looks lethal and if McKee and his management can work on the set-pieces and our discipline all should be well. Fans would love a repeat of the 2007 RWC where our boys were runner-up in their pool and almost staged a dramatic upset against the Boks! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Plastic bags
Stop the manufacture of plastic bags. Why is that so difficult to do? Dan Urai Lautoka
Business closure
It’s really sad to see closures of small businesses and multi businesses housed in a single shop, these ‘combi’ shops, do so for survival sake. Nigel Fiu The Owls Perch, Lautoka
Female writers
Correct me if I am wrong, my observations read that there are few female writers contributing to the letters to the editor section of The Fiji Times. I think female writers should also join the colourful bandwagon of creative reviewers and critics to register their opinions about local and international affairs. It is an ideal platform to launch important matters concerning the female population in the country and elsewhere. It is a window of opportunity opened by The Fiji Times daily, not to be missed. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Loud noise
Further to Tomasi Boginisio’s letter on loud noise by a well-known store, during induction of prefects. How can the private sector come up with such decency? When LTA has failed to control loud music in our buses! Steven Chandra Suva
