Wonderful edition!
Like my students, I look forward to the Kaila! newspaper. The Kaila! newspaper provides an avenue for students to showcase their skills, talents and achievements. This helps motivate and inspire the youth who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The likes of Siteri Sauvakacolo, Senimili Bradburgh and Shiraz Kasim went out of their way and compiled some worthwhile pieces for reading material. It’s always a delight to see that our young ones are involved in activities that teach them valuable life-long skills, something that non-formal education emphasises. The story of the students of Tavua, who were learning about the art of sugarcane farming, was inspirational. The story of Maharishi Sanatan College head girl Manisha Kumar had a simple message — “Sacrifice pays off” and this is relevant to real life. The smiling faces of our tiny tots brightened my day as I reflected on my life as a primary school student. Thank you so much team Kaila! newspaper for this week’s wonderful edition — a piece worth reading! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Nursing vacancies
I read in The Fiji Times that there were 300 nursing vacancies. I believe nurses are resigning because of being overworked. They are fatigued, and spend many days away from there families. Now the honourable Health Minister has said that they would fill the vacancies with new graduates, retired nurses and re-engaging nurses. For the vacancies to be this high, it had to take a lot of nurses to quit their jobs. I hope the vacancies will be filled and working conditions will be changed like nurses paid for overtime and being able to go on leave etc. Let’s make our health facilities a better place. Navneet Ram Lautoka
Realign priorities
I believe the A-G should realign his priorities and immediately address matters of national significance such as Fiji’s soaring cost of living as many Fijians are barely making ends meet (FT 4/02). I believe the so-called Bainimarama boom is certainly not helping and is all but a fantasy as within the past 16 years, I believe some whopping 400,000 Fijians are now gravely exposed to abject poverty and hunger (FT 4/02). Dressed to the nines and hooking up internet connections in remote parts of country will neither put a decent meal on the table nor will it condense Fiji’s deprived state of living. I honestly have had enough of your “fact of the matter smartness”. Nishant Singh Lautoka
Road conditions
Anywhere you go in the world, you heap praises by seeing the condition of the roads and the beauty of its surrounding. The state of the roads says a lot about the leaders and the economy of that country. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same here. When the road was revamped some years back from 9 miles to Davuilevu, Nausori, FRA, I believe, spent thousands of dollars to plant “flowers” alongside the barriers to “beautify” the road. I believe whoever was in charge of the beautification process and planting of the so-called “flowers” has let not only FRA down but thousands of commuters as well. The overgrown grass, the towering reeds, the leaping hibiscus branches, the camouflaging creepers along the Davuilevu to 9 miles stretch is not only an eyesore but hazardous to the motorists. My friend suggested that he tether his cattle there to assist FRA keep the decoration under control but I reminded him that the town council would impound his cattle and be issuing him fine. Talking about fine, why can’t the Nausori Town Council issue a notice to FRA to have the area cleaned? Or is it that such notices are only applicable to the ratepayers? Seriously, I cannot fathom why FRA, our leaders and NTC cannot see the picture portrayed by the “flower gardens”. Big kerekere to the respective authorities, act now. Vinaka. Arun Prasad Dilkusha, Nausori
Henny Penny
Your article adopted from the Associated Press, titled “Wandering hen in custody” (FT 04/02) really made my day. I was intrigued by the fact that no one at the Pentagon had any idea where the chicken came from? And the icing on the cake was that they named her “Henny Penny” after the chicken who thought “the sky is falling”. I hope it is merely a coincidence. Dinesh Kumar
Ba Bird watchers
It might do some of your avid newspaper readers and frequent letter contributors good to take a break outdoors for a spell, if only to count the birds in their own back yards. Bird watchers around the world are encouraged to contribute their observational data to science on www.birdcount.org during a few days this month. Willard Miller Ellis Place, Suva
Out of reach
I refer to Arvind Mani’s LTE (FT 29/01). Mahendra Chaudry’s statement, similar to the case of most political party leaders, results from his on-field experience but Mani’s assertions appear rather theoretical and leaves much scope for disagreement. The writer obviously seems to lack touch with some aspects of ground reality. Mani’s call on poor households to refrain from spending on kava and engaging in idle gossip, which happens not only in poor households but unarguably in other households too, has full merit. To instead plant fresh vegetables is the need of the hour, but has Mani considered the living arrangements of most poor? Most underprivileged households lack sufficient or modestly arable land for decent backyard gardens. A trip to few squatter settlements will enlighten Mani on presence of cluttered shacks that are also situated on least desirables sites such as partial tiri land or bogged areas. Even if one is able to plant, there is no way a household, including even the well-off ones, will ever be able to secure enough to subside on their own domestic produce. Besides, certain essential items such as cooking oil still needs to be purchased and the poor will certainly opt for the cheapest, and the cheapest is often the unhealthiest. And then to have a balanced diet for good health, meat and fish, that can claim a huge chunk of the poor’s budget, needs to be purchased too but due to high costs such foods are often forcibly crossed off the list by the poor. On lack of health awareness, I certainly disagree that the Government involvement is not needed. Of course the young smoker Mani encountered knows that smoking is bad, and the fact that he yet chooses to smoke is the aspect of human nature warranting Government to create national awareness and to keep reminding people to follow healthy life patterns. In fact, the Government has much broader role to play but is often passive on some accounts. For instance, majority restaurants sell very oily and greasy foods and many offer cold carbonated beverages as combo deals which are all known to adversely affect health. However, despite making calls to the public to lead a healthy lifestyle, neither any minister nor any respective government department has bothered to pay attention to the sale and consumption of such unhealthy foods. Simple requirements such as mandating calorie postings in fast-food restaurants, have never been heard of in Fiji! Mani believes households should take a few days supply to evacuation centres and not necessarily rely on Government to provide food. Notwithstanding prior warnings on impending disasters, how on earth does Mani expect evacuees to carry every required basic supply to evacuation centres amid rising floodwaters or cyclone winds? The foremost concern for every evacuee will be supply of clothes and some beddings, and this may very well-occupy both hands. Should Mani’s advice be considered nonetheless, then the evacuees may perhaps need to have a carrier hire on standby to cart their food and also cooking apparatus! Mani is perhaps not aware of the sumptuous meals and tea-breaks offered at various meetings, workshops and conferences organised by various state bodies at taxpayer expenses. The costs of such events, as they are often held at posh venues, would be humungous and dwarf even the total cost of providing basic meals to those taking shelter at evacuation centres! Bimal Prasad Newtown Rd, Wailoaloa, Nadi
Real issues
WITH the election only months away, some ministers are going around the country telling the public how much money the Government is spending on building schools, markets and bridges. When will they start talking about more pressing issues such as the increasing cost of goods and services, escalating poverty level, rising unemployment, deteriorating healthcare systems, when Lautoka Swimming Pool will be completed and the long overdue review of the minimum wage rate. By the way, it’s the taxpayers’ money, not the Government’s money that is being spent. SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
School committee
There was one school committee in Labasa where one man held three posts — manager, secretary and trustee. I was a committee member and I was removed on the grounds that I wasn’t a financial member. I would be very grateful if the Minister for Education can call me on 8366731. Sukha Singh Labasa
A-G’s tour
I see that there are other notable figures who appear with the Attorney-General on his current tour. I see coverage on what the A-G has said. Could we have coverage of what the other notable figures have said during this tour. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Vaccine for children
Two years gone in pandemic and still those aged 12 and below haven’t received any vaccine so far. Jaheed Buksh Korolevu, Sigatoka
Romantic day
Guess what, that romantic day is back. The red hearts and little angel with their arrows are gracing us again. The meaning of love will reach sky high as commercial giants lure the undecided into expression described as romance. Well, the choice is up to each individual but it’s best to the companionship of loved ones each day and each year, not just for 24 hours like Valentine’s Day. All in all, have a lovely weekend. Floyd Robinson Toorak, Suva
Maroon and all
Just recently I had this conversation with a friend asking her to imagine if our daily newspaper was maroon in colour. Her response was “than you would literally sleep with the newspapers in your hand”. Oh how well she knows my craving for maroon. Kirti Patel Mohan Singh Pl, Lautoka
