7s tournament
Rugby 7s game
Those who think rugby is nothing else but a Micky Mouse game, should continue to be blessed in their own Tom and Jerry universe. According to Britannica, rugby is a tackle football game that originated in England during the early nineteenth century. It is now a popular sport in 132 countries in the world including Fiji and Australia. DINESH KUMAR Ba
How about it?
After a record of 7s tournament losses, if the upcoming one is won by Fiji, do you think there will be calls for a special public holiday to mark the occasion? MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
Filthy streets
Despite repeated pleas to address the stray dog problem, there seems to be no solution on the horizon from authorities to actively manage and control this menace. My residential street (Kuata) in Simla has become a filthy and a nauseating eyesore as household refuse is strewn from one end of the street to another, credit to those four-legged culprits who have swiftly populated our once serene neighbourhood. And can the Lautoka City Council disclose why its employees no longer clean the streets of Simla as they regularly used to in the past armed with deck brooms, rakes, spades and wheelbarrows? Without a corrective action plan, the unhygienic Kuata St will soon turn into a rubbish landfill, just like the Vunato dump! Nishant Singh Lautoka
Unhealthy food items
While reading the “Sale of unhealthy food items, Council raises concern over SCP (Schools Canteen Policy)” (FT 04/04) I can’t help but notice the irony between what the Consumer Council media manager is stating and what’s mass marketed and promoted daily to members of the public. “The Consumer Council says there is widespread non-compliance with the schools SCP, particularly regarding the promotion and sale of unhealthy food items in and around school environments. What is the school environment? Every child is exposed to the promotion and sale of unhealthy food items as soon as they are born. From billboards, to radio, print and television, the child is frequently bombarded with the very policy they would like to enforce in schools. If they would really like to address the issue, it should be at a national level where the promotion and sale of unhealthy food items is prohibited. Let’s be real, even though we have policies against the advertisement of tobacco products, the advertisement of alcohol beverages is allowed, the very drink that is causing road accidents and social ills that our society is confronted with. Again, the irony is too obvious to miss and if nothing is done at the national level, the council’s proposal to enforce the policy in schools is but a storm in a teacup and doesn’t really bring about any life changing benefits to our children in schools. Fix the mass marketing and promotion of unhealthy foods and beverages and you’ll be safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our children. Sailosi Naewe Naduru Rd, Nausori
ESCAP report
During their 16-year repressive supremacy, the FijiFirst regime and the former minister for everything (Aiyaz) pompously continued to harp about the “imaginary” economic progress and the so called “Bainimarama Boom”. I believe all that “boom boom shakalaka” remained a fantasy of the FijiFirst administration and the reality of the matter is, the latest ESCAP report has revealed otherwise (FT 04/04/24). Will the former A-G, who had a penchant for fervently disputing reports and facts released by respected international organisations once again cry wolf at ESCAP’s newest findings? Aiyaz’s comments and justification regarding this matter will be irrelevant anyway. Nishant Singh Lautoka
Toso Drua
The Melbourne Rebels sit on 6th spot while the Fijian Drua are 7th on the Super Rugby Pacific 2024 points table. They both lost three games and won three but the Rebels are ahead because of a bonus point they received in an earlier game. While Drua won at home last week against the Western Force, the Rebels have a slight advantage because they upset the Waratahs in NSW last week. Playing at home against the Fijian Drua should be an easy win for them but they know what the Drua are capable of doing, so they will prepare well. I believe the Fijian Drua will up their game and display Fijian running rugby at its best and we all pray that they win their first away game this season. Toso Drua, toso. SAVENACA VAKALIWALIWA Tacirua
Traffic flow
Maybe helpful and cheaper if the Vuda Back Rd is upgraded and sealed to ease Nadi Lautoka traffic flow. Dan Urai Lautoka
Potholes
Potholes are caused by excessive floodwaters trying to find their way out. As a frequent road user, I am very concerned about the status of our roads in regards to safety on our roads and causing damage to our vehicles. I believe there would be probably 100,000 potholes or more all over Fiji roads, if the potholes were counted all over. Is it possible to build roads that never get potholes? NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
Questions
I have asked a few questions via the letters column like why appoint three administrators for Labasa Town Council? Why give a $500,000 pool for $1000 per year and raise the Labasa Town rates by 37 per cent. Why give $200,000 for Girmit research when everybody already knows everything about the Indentured labourers? Also waiting for CCCF to answer the milk price hike and reduction on packet size. A religious text says: ‘Ask and you will be given.” I think the only person who could answer my questions is the great Jan Nissar! Sukha Singh Labasa
Pothole misses
My advice to all drivers is beware the pothole ‘swervers!’ They could swerve to avoid a pothole and hit you, who may also be swerving to avoid a pothole. NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
Garbage collectors
It is very sad to see the people who collect our garbage wear flip flops, no hand gloves and no reflector vests when they run from one side of the road to the other around Lautoka. Just yesterday, the group of young boys were running in the Simla area collecting our garbage with no proper personal protection equipment (PPE). Lautoka City Council please at least provide simple PPE!
Pollution
Lautoka is always on the receiving end of some kind of pollution. Raw sewage pollutes our creeks, drains and rivers then the Sugar Mill will start soon with soot. Then the smoke from the burning will start later in the year. This pollution is a never ending story for the Sugar City. Narayan Reddy Lautoka
Water crisis
It is sad to read in The Fiji Times that expectant mothers were forced to leave hospital due to water problems (FT 31/3). Going back to the old days when babies were delivered at home? Health and safety first. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Taking charge!
The actions of the villagers of Vatukacevaceva in Rakiraki deserve applause, as they came together to fix the Nacovu Crossing which is their only way to essential services such as schools, for employment, and health services. The recent food waters have become a nemesis to those living in Rakiraki and instead of waiting for Government assistance, the community members took the initiative to address the challenge that faced them. Support and unity prevailed, as the villagers took ownership to fix the crossing. Their story is an addition to the story that was covered by The Fiji Times (02/04) on the work of the youths from Nanukuloa Village who constructed concrete drains in their village to mitigate flooding. Hats off to the villagers from Ra for showing true citizenship in caring for their lives and that of their loved ones. Just brings to the fore the famous quote by John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” His quote had challenged every American to contribute in some way to the public good. Thank you, Fred Wesley, for the powerful editorial titled ‘Taking charge’ (FT: 03/04)! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Mickey Mouse returns
Mr Mickey Mouse’s silence in Letters to Editor led me to believe that India had consumed him — apparently not, for he is back with his usual irrational criticism of 7s rugby (FT 04/04). Jan Nissar should realise that 7s rugby is an Olympic sport and Fiji has back-to-back gold medals to show for it — quite unlike the empty trophy cabinets of Fiji soccer that Jan boasts of. Mr Mickey Mouse ought to realise that not highlighting a particular sport in Australia doesn’t diminish its importance to people in another country or push that other country backward. Try rubbishing baseball or ice-hockey to Americans or Canadians just because the average Australian doesn’t talk about it. Duh! Inoke Vakalabure Yasiyasi Rd, Nadera, Nasinu
A different take
That fellow January Nissan or whatever his name is, says no one in Australia knows about the Hong Kong 7s (FT 4/4). Yeah, in Fiji no one cares about his letters. Period! Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka
Something fishy
Having followed through the 48th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s, there is something fishy about our arch-rivals from the Land of the Long White Clouds. Why would Tomasi Cama bring a powerful New Zealand side to participate in a local tournament in Fiji? Is this the best tournament in the world to test the performance of a New Zealand side as both individuals and a team? Did we have a national Fijian side participating? All in all, I believe that Tomasi Cama has some tricks up his sleeves and has tested his teams capabilities before they wreak havoc in Hong Kong this weekend. Let us not be surprised should the men in black have the widest smiles late Sunday night. Meanwhile, there is a level of uncertainty about the ability of the men in black and white to end an ongoing rugby drought in Hong Kong. Floyd robinson Micronesia
