World Teachers Day!
Teachers all over the world celebrate World Teachers Day today, October 5, which is special as it honours the central role they play in shaping education and fostering the growth of learners under their care. The day recognises teachers as role models, advocates, mentors, and innovators, who guide children’s academic progress and personal and character development under challenging conditions. UNESCO chose a timely theme on the 60th anniversary of the 1966 UNESCO/ ILO recommendation concerning the status of teachers, ‘Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Futures’. The incredible contributions of teachers in shaping future generations must be celebrated, alongside their hard work, unwavering commitment, passion and dedication. Teachers build skills, share knowledge and inspire children to be creative and confident. They nurture and prepare students for lifelong success. Teachers help develop communication and critical thinking skills, values, leadership and discipline. This day reminds governments across the globe that an investment in a teacher is an investment in the future, because investing in teachers will help create stronger classrooms, empower students, and build healthier communities and nations. Robust discussions must be centred around working conditions, decent pay, teacher shortages, training programs for teachers, counselling due to duress, and access to quality education. People must join hands to celebrate and recognise the invaluable contributions made by teachers. Dear Fijians, today, a simple thank you and a big bula smile will mean a great deal to teachers who guide, motivate, encourage, inspire and mould hundreds of students under their care. As we celebrate WTD, let us honor teachers. I am a proud teacher, having been teaching for the past 23 years. I thank my teachers and parents, who were teachers, for moulding me! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Drugged society
Sunday midmorning served as a reminder on the drug blight that has sickened our society. This commotion could be heard from some houses away, not clear which one. Between the inaudible parts, we could hear that the mother had discovered drugs in her son’s bag and also in his car. She was probably throwing them out and was heard to be extremely upset and angry. There were other things audible, but cannot be written here. Thousands of mothers and fathers are holding their heads in their hands today because they no longer have any control over the situation. With cartels, so-called kingpins and peddlers all in control, there is little we ordinary folks can do about it, apart from teaching our own children about the ills drug brings about. Donald Singh Nausori
New electoral rules
According to the Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga under the new electoral rules political parties and candidates would be allowed to provide transportation and refreshments to voters, provided there is no attempt to influence their vote (FT 3/10). Aren’t these incentives a form of inducement? Hypothetically, when transporting voters in his own vehicle to the polling station who will be there to police that the candidate doesn’t tell them to vote for him. Will the vehicles be fitted with some sort of monitoring device? More so, in light of the proposed changes to extend the campaign period until the polling day and reduction of campaign boundary to 100m. Smaller political parties and independent candidates with limited access to funding will be also grossly disadvantaged by this change as they may not be able to afford such provision. Hence there is no level playing field for them. Can we still say the proposed changes are conducive for a free and fair election? SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
Love your heart
World Heart Day, observed annually on September 29, seems to have been overlooked by many of us who are fortunate to have a healthy heart. Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of heart failure. Understanding the risk factors, taking preventive measures, and recognising early signs and symptoms are lifelong concerns for our health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, some people continue to smoke, drink excessively, make unhealthy food choices, or do not follow their doctor’s advice after being diagnosed. But ultimately, it is your choice. A healthy heart is one of the best investments you can make in your life. As Helen Keller beautifully said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart”. Love your heart and let your heart love you. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
One day Mafatu
IT seems Macebook investigators have finally got a picture of Mafatu who has been at the centre of recent media drug hype. People, one day Mafatu has surfaced with the various judge and jury comments dissecting Mafatu left, right and centre. Like my boss always says, wherever you are, I are. Juki Fong Chew Nadawa, Nasinu
Transit route
LIKE the tale of the trapped mongoose which pleads not to be thrown into the bush, the drug cartels are using reverse psychology to ‘place’ their products within the confines of court where it is, as we are beginning to find out, the safest and most capable transit route to its final destination. Hey, have we been outwitted? Samu Railoa, Nadi
Jumping ship?
WITH reports that two of the serving NFP parliamentarians are thinking of jumping ship and a third taking solace in prayers, I will not be surprised if the leader of the NFP is contemplating jumping ship as well come election time. We all know that he has complete trust in Rabuka, and I believe he can no longer trust the voters. Jan Nissar Sydney, NSW, Australia
Stolen exhibits
MISSING or stolen exhibits which were supposed to be used as evidence in court proceedings is not new, it has happened before but in a small scale. The new missing drugs is a case of national interest because many believe the drug lords are getting more powerful using money to get whatever they want. Sadly, most authorities didn’t believe me when I wrote some eight years back about the drug crisis. Narayan Reddy Lautoka
Animal vaccines
ANIMALS Fiji tells us a lot about animal diseases and animal vaccines. What is missing is the cost of these vaccines. Fergus Garrett Vatuwaqa, Suva
Fiji soccer
India has just played Brazil in a men’s international friendly. Not a bad score of 4-0 to Brazil. I remember some time ago Fiji played India. It was an evenly matched game. Enough of playing against our traditional rivals of Solomons, PNG, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Samoa, Tonga and even Cooks. They have never played in a World Cup and they might never. So why are we continuing to play against them? Can we please play a minimum of three internationals each year with renown teams? Reflect on the past where we used to play Mexico, Tottenham Hotspurs, Bayern Munich, Newcastle etc. No wonder we used to white wash New Zealand and beat Australia. Our traditional rivals never was an issue. It was a walk over. Australia moved out of Oceania as there were no quality opponents to play against. If Fiji wants to be a force like before then say bye, bye to our traditional rivals and start playing top ranked World Cup teams in order to stand a chance to beat NZ and qualify for the World Cup. We just have to beat NZ. No longer we have to play South American bottom placed teams to qualify. We came so close in 1988 only to lose to Australia in the return leg after we beat them in Nadi. That same year we beat NZ three times. FIFA made it so easy for us now. It’s now or never. A Shariff Shah Savusavu
2013 again?
THE Government employed some experts to the Constitutional Re view Commission to produce a report that reflected the wishes of the people. Now they claim to be more expert than the experts and have made some drastic changes to the proposed Constitution in a Bill that has only 30 days to be amended. Important provisions concerning political parties, donations, accountability and disclosure, and access to State media have been dropped. And what does “chastisement of children” mean in practice? There are echoes of 2013 here. How can this be the people’s Constitution when the Government is writing it? Why not take two more years and do a proper job as South Africa did? Citizens, it’s our constitution, speak up! Fergus Garrett Vatuwaqa, Suva
