School leaders!
The Kaila! newspaper continues to empower young leaders. Schools around Fiji have been having their prefects’ investiture ceremonies, and I’m glad the Kaila! newspaper reached out to these schools and captured the glorious moments from the ceremonies. The team also captured the athletics meet from RKS, adding to the excitement as we head to the Fiji Finals. I’d love to see more stories and colourful pictures of prefects’ investiture ceremonies and athletic meets from the rural areas and outer islands. RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Graduation ceremony
I HAVE stated this earlier and again would like to request the relevant institutes to hold the graduation ceremony in the respective locations where the campus is as it would be easier for most of them. Nothing wrong with it being held in Suva, but I guess it would simply be easier in terms of cost for those travelling from other places. I take this opportunity to congratulate all those who will be graduating. May God bless us all. KIRTI PATEL Mohan Singh Pl, Lautoka
Flour prices
With the steep increase in local flour prices by 21 per cent, I vividly recall our government last year had strategically planned to locally introduce local tavioka or organic cassava flour as a cheaper and a healthier alternative to imported wheat. While officiating at the launch in December last year, Agriculture Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy proudly stated that the program, appropriately known as the “Vertically Integrated Cassava Flour Enterprise” would immensely benefit local cassava farmers and consumers. He had also commended Organic Tavioka (Fiji) Pte Ltd’s founder, Anwar Khan in spear heading the cassava flour process at a commercial level. It’s been almost six months now; I still cannot discover a single pack of Mr Khan’s organic cassava flour on retail shelves. I wonder if this tavioka venture is still in the works, or in that lengthy PVC pipeline. NISHANT SINGH Lautoka
Warning bells
AT the beginning of this month Dr Neelesh Gounder sounded the warning bells for Fiji regarding its economic situation. To simply word it, I believe Dr Gounder is speaking about the debt level Fiji has and the risk if there is nothing done about it. I am looking forward to see, if any of the political parties would prioritise the debt issue in their manifestos and how they are going to address it. If not, then the assumption of Dr Gounder assimilating Fiji to SriLanka’s economic crises would become a reality. By the way, I have some pretty good ideas about how we as a nation can address the debt issue we have at hand. KOSITATINO TIKOMAIBOLATAGANE Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Unite us
THANK you Tessa Mackenzie – (The Fiji Times, Thursday, May 12, 2022). I find it difficult to understand how the ongoing “belittling” of our fellow Fijians for their views which do not the approval of some of our “heavy-handed” political identities and contributors to our daily print media is “spewed” out with relative ease. The “I know all” mentality is truly troubling — and offensive, to put it mildly. Public perceptions are excellent indicators… under most circumstances. Good leaders must do their utmost unite us all… not divide… especially during election year 2022. Our people need much motivation going forward. I guess in this modern day and age, it is harder to agree to disagree; and yet, remain civil… without fear, favour and/or rancour. RONNIE CHANG Martintar, Nadi
Morning tea initiative!
I COMMEND and compliment the Motibhai Group for organising the Bushells Fiji’s Biggest Morning Tea. The morning tea was organised in a bid to raise awareness against cancer. I’m grateful to the directors of Motibhai for having the heart and passion to assist patients who are battling cancer. Cancer is everyone’s concern as it does not distinguish between religion, race, sex, or age. It has a tremendous financial impact on the health system. However, our society plays an important role in creating awareness, and it’s great that a corporate organisation like Motibhai is taking the lead role. RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Being Singapore
THEY said Fiji was to become the Singapore of the Pacific. I think they were meaning the high cost of living like being experienced right now. Isa o Viti! WISE MUAVONO Balawa, Lautoka
Opinionated world
IN this opinionated world, it’s difficult to differentiate between what is right or wrong. I believe the best way is to have a debate. PRANIL RAM Votualevu, Nadi
Poverty rates
IT is hard to believe the level of ignorance here in Fiji. Many middle-class families could be heading towards the poverty line yet some people claim otherwise. Inflation is gradually resulting in an increase in the poverty rates and certainly not a decline. I am concerned, are you? DINESH KUMAR Ba
Chicken pie
MOST outlets should call it potato pie instead of meat or chicken pies. Travelling from Levuka on the St Mary I had the opportunity to taste chicken pie onboard. It’s the real thing and I recommend travellers to or from Levuka on board that ferry to utilise the opportunity. DAN URAI Lautoka
Justified coup
IS our smart Attorney-General implying that it is perfectly rational to overthrow a democratically elected government as long as the motives for doing so are warranted? I believe his tactless and clumsy attempt to validate the 2006 coup is certainly laying a perilous foundation for future coup plotters. NISHANT SINGH Lautoka
Thank you
I JUST want to say a big thank you to Maciu Cama for what he has done for his life and family. Isa, Maciu, you are an inspiration. Maciu is the kinda person who I respect, they help themselves. Sa malo Maciu. ALLEN LOCKINGTON Kava Place, Lautoka
India connection
FIJI Labour Party leader, former PM Mahendra Chaudhry says “he is shocked to hear Education Minister Premila Kumar saying Fijians of Indian descent have no connection with India and only go there as tourists” (FT 11/5). I am not shocked. I have become accustomed to absurd things coming out of the mouths of some politicians. Mr Chaudhry exposes the absurdity inherent in Minister Kumar’s view. RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Dollar power
I ONCE said in this forum that “those who control the dollars also control the direction we go”. True, isn’t it? JOELI NALECA Natabua, Lautoka
Addressing poverty
IT’S a way forward to read in The Fiji Times (9/5) on the Government’s pro-active plans to address root causes of poverty. As we cannot expect everything on the plate to survive in this global poverty-affected world, we all Fijians should make every effort standing with the Government of the day towards meeting our needs and wants to alleviate poverty. “You cannot get rid of poverty by giving people money” — PJ Rourke TAHIR ALI Hamilton, New Zealand
Election candidates
A SCRIBE asked for the credentials of all candidates to be published. It’s all on social media, friend. Tread carefully, though. There is huge rebranding and misinformation going on there. Well, when you have two former coup leaders in the pool, why not? One believes that he has atoned for the atrocities of 1987 and that he owes no reparations to those who suffered, while the other has made no secret about his impatience for democratic norms, insisting that his coup is justified. SAMU RAILOA Nadi
Celebrating Girmit festival
THE Fijian Minister for Education, Premila Kumar, at the Girmit Day Celebration (FT 6/5) has highlighted the contributions of committed hardworking girmitiyas in building Fiji from a dot in the ocean to the paradise of the Pacific today. My girmitiya grandmother used to tell me stories, which now I often share with my children and grandchildren. Let’s continue throughout the generations, lest we forget how our ancestors had faced those difficulties during the indentured labour system days by undertaking agreements — “girmit”. We all should value the madam minister’s presentations as girmit is a part of Fiji’s history. The girmitiyas were assured that Fiji was the land of freedom, hope and paradise, where every stone you turned, you would find gold, but they found snakes instead. If you are a Fiji-born, with a Fijian heart, it may be easy to put you out of Fiji, but not Fiji out of Fijians. As we work closely with all Fijians, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, and culture, let’s stay united under the Fiji flag with pride that we are all Fijians, and Fiji is for the Fijians. “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the souls of its people” – Mahatma Gandhi. God bless Fiji! TAHIR ALI Hamilton, New Zealand
Coup talk
WITH all the coup talk popping up, will everything be revealed soon? MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka