Preparation for LA 7s
Gareth Baber and our troops should focus on preparing well for the Los Angeles 7s. Pooled with South Korea, France and Argentina, our boys face an uphill battle. On our way to winning the Sydney 7s, Fiji beat NZ, England and South Africa weeks ago and the monstrous performance delivered at Parramatta Stadium is required in Los Angeles. I’d stick with the guns who brought us victory in Sydney. Sevu, Dere and Josua in the forwards, and Ratu, Jerry, Vili and Tuimaba in the backs! A little more effort on our set-pieces, restarts, conversions, defence, support play and breakdown and we should lift the Los Angeles title! A win in LA will narrow the gap and bring back the winning rhythm as we head to Vancouver! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Traditional ceremony
Please allow me to raise in your column the issue of traditional iTaukei yaqona welcome ceremony which includes the meke ni yaqona vakaturaga performed to high dignitaries, especially those from overseas arriving as guests of the State. Over the recent years, including the one offered to the New Zealand Prime Minister, I have witnessed that the traditional yaqona ceremonies are being performed by members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. It has to be noted, this iTaukei yaqona welcome ceremony which comes together with its traditional chants and songs belong to and owned by a vanua. I believe it is therefore very wrong for the RFMF to plagiarise and to perform this meke ni yaqona vakaturaga/traditional yaqona ceremony of welcome. I wonder which vanua in Fiji whose chants and songs of meke ni yaqona vakaturaga are being used frequently by the RFMF in occasions such as this? I urge Government, in particular the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the chief of protocol to correct this wrong. Should the Government wish to perform the traditional yaqona ceremony in Nadi/Denarau area, work with the vanua of Nadi or Sabeto or Nawaka to perform this task for Government. If it is in Suva, get the people of Rewa or Naitasiri to perform the meke ni yaqona vakaturaga/traditional yaqona ceremony. The same applies to other provinces in Fiji. I believe the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs should see all the vanua in Fiji have their meke ni yaqona vakaturaga intact and practised frequently. One way to assist is to see all government functions when meke ni yaqona vakaturaga is part of the program is to pass the task to the closest vanua where the function is being held. It is also about time the vanua perform the meke ni yaqona vakaturaga to their chief, whenever the chief comes to the village. It is like we only perform them to overseas dignitaries but it is never practised at home. Ilaitia Bose Suva
Sexual crimes
In reply to Mohammed Imraz Janif of Natabua, Lautoka, The Fiji Times article on Sexual Crimes, February 24, 2020. You say you are not advocating pornography, yet you do not complain about it and you do not mention anything on banning its services. There are studies that have found out the effects of being exposed to too much or moderate pornography, and the statistics don’t lie, men and women have fallen prey to the fascination and role play that pornography has on their lives. I believe there are times when both genders have acted on their feelings and urges to commit cruel crimes on victims of sexual crimes. But the mitigating factor could and always been the role of the imaginative and innovative minds that have somehow processed in thoughts how it would act out in reality. The bottom line is, I believe a total ban on pornography wouldn’t be a bad idea. It would also be a good move by the Government to limit our younger generation on porn. Pornography serves no one any good. Ban it for all I care. Nathan Tui Navua Town
Fury’s action
Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear a couple of years back which was quite childish and weird. On Sunday Tyson Fury, no relation to Mike Tyson, licked the blood dripping from Deontay Wilder’s burst ear. Maybe Tyson Fury hasn’t fully recovered from his mental problems. Anyway it was a very good fight, I really liked the punch that busted Wilder’s eardrum. Sukha Singh Labasa
Police show
It always baffles me that whenever we have an overseas country leader visit our nation, our security forces, especially the police always put on a show. I ask why? Apparently as hosts, our visitors safety is chief, but why the unnecessary sound i.e. sirens at full blast disturbing the tranquillity of our homes? Why don’t we just let our high top ranking visitors pass through normally and just let us be our own selves. Lest we forget that this is Fiji and not a terrorist country! So annoying! Alipate Tuberi Suva
Visiting dignitaries
I do understand that dignitaries and diplomats have to visit other countries every now and then (not regular globetrotting) for development purposes and to strengthen diplomatic ties, which is honestly beneficial for everyone. In Fiji, as we already have traffic congestion issues, the arrival of overseas dignitaries adds to the blood pressure problems. Could the Fijian public be informed about temporary (but long) road closures or traffic disruptions which makes people late to destinations. This simple information sharing will allow everyone to make timely adjustments to avoid traffic and cursing decision makers. If the response is hell no, please consider using the helicopter services from now onwards. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
That motorcade
Last night I had the opportunity to watch the much publicised motorcade. Even before I witnessed it I had two callers tell me — “Oh, the motorcade has just left Nausori”, and “heard the sirens”, “they just passed by, coming to you now”. A group of people came out of their homes and stood outside on the street after hearing the sirens. We had all expected the entourage to go up to Borron House. Some looked bewildered as the motorcade raced down the road towards central Suva. A bystander piped up and said — “Oi, they are just going to buy barbecue from Flagstaff”, — only in Fiji. Korina Waibuta Knollys St, Suva
Speech time
I just hope that the Prime Minister’s speech writers stick to the matter of discussions and not deviate from it to take a charge at our Opposition and our past leaders. Because I vividly remember the last time he addressed the then visiting NZ Prime Minister John Key, his speech was later bound for criticism! And I strongly suggest that he first read the speech himself; give it a second thought, before doing it in public and on record. Alipate Tuberi Suva
