Levuka tourism
“RAKIRAKI is expected to become another Denarau over the next few years as major tourism developments transform the area”, Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka told Parliament on Tuesday. (FT 04/11) He further stated that, “significant investments were taking place in rural and maritime areas”. Subsequently, he’d mentioned that “development was also expanding into Koro, Vanua Levu and the Lau Group, although transport connectivity remained a major challenge” and that “the Lau Group is also coming up, however, the challenge is connectivity. We are looking at upgrading the airports to make that happen.” Approximately two years ago, this very same minister, assured the people of Ovalau that resumption of flights to the island would begin soon. However, to date we only have the mynah birds, bulbuls, doves, pigeons and bats utilizing the airspace. Yes, I’d raised this issue during the Fiji Media Association Forum at the Levuka Town Hall last July, in the presence of some ministers and Opposition Members, who were then seen hurriedly jotting down notes. Again, Levuka, Ovalau, not only the birthplace of the nation but a meagre stone throw away from the mainland and the only UNESCO designated World Heritage Site in Fiji, has been left out. In May 1995, England rugby captain, Will Carling, famously criticizing English rugby administrators, said: “If the game is run properly as a professional game, you don’t need 57 old farts running rugby.” These “old farts” of ours need to go.
ANTHONY SAHAI
Auckland, New Zealand
Advancing drought
THE picture on the front page of The Fiji Times (4/11) on carting of water to the maritime zone says it all. The problem of water shortage also exists in the Western Division and the worst affected are schools which do not have WAF water reticulation system. A case in point which I am familiar with is the Drasa Sai Primary School where regular water supply is through school owned boreholes in the compound. In addition to the school, there are also four other families residing in the compound and dependent on the supply from the borehole. The borehole has now dried up and there is no water from it. However, the WAF has been kind enough to fill the tank from water carting trucks, but it delivers only half the daily needs. The point I want make is that if all the internal and external exams for primary schools have finished, why keep the schools open which have water issues. Where are the ministry officials and where are the elected members of the Parliament who once visited people for their votes? Why couldn’t they foresee the drought and upcoming water wows? Running schools without adequate water supply is a pre-requisite for health issues so the ministry should step in immediately and close this and other drought affected schools which don’t have any pending exams. Address the drought issues and make this a priority, the Constitution Amendment can wait.
AJAI KUMAR
Nadi
True measure of our morality
WE pride ourselves on how much we give to the church, our dedication to the vanua, and how well we do our paid jobs. But if Fiji wants an honest reality check on its true morality, we need to look at our streets. The explosion of stray dogs on our roads highlights a culture of neglect by owners who abandon the animals that guard them. Furthermore, the casual trashing of our rivers, farms, and beaches by grown adults reveals a deep ethical failure. Enjoying a snack and tossing the wrapper out a bus window or onto the ground defines the true level of our national character. Traditional protocols and government regulations cannot police a lack of basic decency. It comes down to individual choice. If we cannot care for our animals and our land, our public displays of piety mean nothing.
PAULA KALOUKOCEI
Levuka, Ovalau
OK
set!
OK set, lo set, of set, right set, Haan set, ach- cha set, set, or just set. That’s us. I called a subordinate some time ago and gave him an earful for his mistakes. He said “set”, with out much fight. I relaxed and matters cooled off. You call someone who’s supposed to deliver something and is two hours late, and he tells you when he’s coming. You go “set”. You call boss for something you aren’t too happy about. After a few trades of words, he goes “set”. Highly important instructions given to team members over phone and even email attract the glorious “set as a reply. Nothing gets done though or gets done a day or five late and in- complete. You make an appointment with a very senior official, and he says “set” as in agreeing to the date and time. The meeting is postponed or doesn’t eventuate. Some time ago a foreign visitor asked me about our economy and political situation. I told him, “We are set”. Bemused he looked. I told him to leave Facebook and he would be set. Set is the problem. Set in stone. But we are indeed set.
DONALD SINGH
Nausori
My request
COULD somebody, after reading this letter, inform the Minister for Health or his permanent secretary that the Labasa Health Centre has been without a weight measuring scale for over one year. If you can’t buy a similar one that got bad, please just buy one bathroom scale. I am certain that it will cost less than $850. Another small request is could they provide the free medicine list for private pharmacy medicines. Youcould email to sukhasingh33@yahoo.com
SUKHA SINGH
Labasa
Vunato fire
THE Vunato rubbish dump fire is not something that has just come out of the woods. This issue has been affecting the people of Lautoka for way too long. This is very serious. Thank you, Lautoka Chamber of Commerce and all those who came up with this issue. The sad thing is the ones in charge are too busy worrying about the change in the constitution. I am sure they will attend to this when they “have time”.
KIRTI PATEL
Lautoka
Aerial ping pong
PROFESSOR Paul Geraghty (FT5/11) writing on the AFL (Aussie Rules) game is a1 puzzle. I can only assume the good Professor’s email account has been hacked. If any ball game deserves the moniker of “Mickey Mouse”, it is AFL. TERRY HULME Eastwood, NSW, Australia Circus politics THE ‘Level 9 Gang’ was formed during the FFP government’s reign and now we have the ‘G-11 Bloc’ squad. Who knows what might emerge in 2027? The ‘G String Galoots’? Oi au we.
ANTHONY SAHAI
Auckland, New Zealand
Beyond rugby!
AFTER thrashing France 54-6 and booking a spot in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final against tournament favourites, the Australian Jillaroos, the Fiji Bulikula have set the benchmark for girls and young women vying for rugby league. Against the heavyweights and title contenders, the Bulikula carry the dreams of future generations. The tough assignment will be played at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney and is expected to attract a huge crowd. It’s good to note that the coaching staff has maintained consistency with squad selection, building momentum and keeping the flame burning. The Vodafone Fiji Bati were thrashed 78-0 in their last pool match, and I am confident that the Bulikula have learned valuable lessons from that hammering. The nation will stand united behind the Bulikula. For me, the girls have already won- their maiden tournament and a place in the semi-final. Cheers!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM
Nadawa, Nasinu
Stop EFL from cutting
power in Savusavu!
OPEN letter to Deputy PM Minister Manoa Kamikamica. Dear Minister, we express dismay on behalf of Savusavu business community that EFL intend to shut down power to the entire town for the whole of Tuesday, October 13 so that just one dozen technicians can carry out routine maintenance on their power lines and distribution hardware, and a contractor can carry out tree-lopping. The issue here is that EFL management have advised that they have a new poly of not carrying out any routine maintenance work after hours, or on weekends or on public holidays, so that they can reduce their wages bill. In other words, for EFL to save overtime for their 12 workmen the entire business community and all government offices are required to foot the bill for the wages that we must pay our staff for a completely nonproductive day. None of the offices in our 3-storey JKS Building will be able to operate because our building has no back-up power supply. And the same situation will affect many other buildings, offices and shops throughout our town. Hon minister, this outrageous selfish new policy by EFL, which has a monopoly on power supply in Fiji, and which is supposed to deliver a service to the electricity consumers of Fiji, is being implemented at the cost of the business community and Government itself. How can your government offices That will cause much less disruption than shutting down our town on Black Tuesday the 13th. Hon Minister, as the Minister responsible for Public Enterprises, we request that you use your powers to direct your government appointed directors on the Board of EFL to hold the CEO accountable for this irresponsible policy, and to instruct him to reverse this outrageous selfish costly policy.
AREN NUNNINK
Hooper Street, Savusavu
Why not an
international identity?
I HAVE been following the many letters on the use and/or misuse of the term “Fijian” and listened to the moving submission of Sarina Singh. I have personally experiencedhow we have all lived our lives together in peace and harmony in rural communities and even in urban centers, how we have adopted parts of each other’s language and grown to love our different foods. We even suffer withdrawal symptoms if we don’t have a curry or Chinese meal at least once a week. We respect each other’s cultural and religious practices, and we look forward to sharing the sweets that abound during Diwali and Eid. Although we understand very well and tolerate the stereotypes that prevail in our society, we prefer our similarities. We have even intermarried deliver service when they have no power? Why can’t EFL do their routine maintenance on Monday, October 12, a freshly gazetted public holiday? portedly reflects our national identity (whatever that means). Why do we need it in our multiracial, multicultural heterogeneous society? We are not a homogenous society so, maybe it’s a futile exercise searching for a common name that we are unlikely to ever use domestically to refer to one another. I mean, we don’t self identify or call each other “Fijian”, in Fiji. Individually, we each know exacty who we are, where we come from and we know the country that we feel we belong to and identify most closely with even though many of as are of mixed ethnicity? So, I suggest we remove the offending line from the 2013 Constitution and hopefully, all discourse in the public domain will cease. Instead, let us collectively agree to call ourselves “Fijian” in our passports, and for whenever we are asked or referred to abroad and for other external purposes. In short, let’s adopt a common international (not national) identity and forget about finding one that we can use domestically. Our ancestors have expended enough blood, sweat, and tears for this country we all call home. They survived without a “national identity” and so should we. Let’s concentrate on more important and pressing needs in our country like the cost of living, unemployment, affordable housing, declining water supply and waste disposal and the burgeoning public debt. I am “Rotuman”, in Fiji and proudly “Fijian” in my passport and on my travels abroad! What about you?
DANIEL FATIAKI
Suva
