Good reporting
Thumbs up to our number one newspaper for all the heart-touching stories in the build-up to the academic year!
The rush for back-to-school shopping, the unseen struggles of our needy parents, the assistance provided by our kind Samaritan, Sikeli’s article titled Road safety first, our PM’s message that dreams start with education and the struggles of a granny, who skipped meals for her grandson’s school needs, have been applauded by readers.
Indeed I’m impressed!
Good reporting The Fiji Times!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Department response
The Department of Information would like to respond to Naca Nabukavou’s letter (The Fiji Times Saturday, 12 January, 2019).
Mr Nabukavou made the claim that the Fijian public has not heard the honourable Prime Minister address the Fijian people from Christmas until 12 January, 2019.
In reality, the honourable Prime Minister recorded and released a New Year message to the nation on 31 December, 2018, wishing all Fijians well in 2019.
Both FBC and Fiji TV aired the Prime Minister’s New Year message before the evening news on 1 January, 2019.
The Hon Prime Minister’s message was also printed in full on page 3 of the Fiji Sun on 1 January, 2019 and a news article based on his message was prominently posted on the Fijivillage website.
The Hon Prime Minister’s New Year message was flatly ignored by The Fiji Times, giving your readership, including Mr Nabukavou, the false impression that the Hon Prime Minister has not addressed the Fijian public since Christmas.
It is a serious lapse that a major national address from Prime Minister Bainimarama received no coverage in The Fiji Times.
However, it is not surprising, given the long string of one-sided and unfair reporting from your newspaper.
Moving forward, we would hope that any national address from the head of Government be given the news attention it warrants, because every Fijian rightly deserves to hear from our Prime Minister.
Izek Lal, Acting Director Information
* Editor’s reply: It seems Mr Lal circulated this letter to other news media yesterday, leading one of them to ask us for our comment.
We reprint our response below:
Acting Director of Information, Izek Lal should know why The Fiji Times did not publish the Prime Minister’s New Year message.
It is because we never received it from his department.
Because we were receiving no emails from the Department of Information, on January 10, one of our senior reporters contacted the department asking whether there was an issue.
We received a test email on Thursday, January 10, at 10.03am.
We have since been receiving emails from the department.
Once again the Government is accusing The Fiji Times of “one-sided and unfair reporting”.
We repeat what we always say when these attacks are made.
The Fiji Times is independent.
It is neither pro-Government nor anti-Government.
It publishes news and views based on what it believes is of interest to its readers.
One-sided reporting
I am surprised to read in Fijivillage 14/1 the Department of Information claim that The Fiji Times newspaper has a “long string of one-sided and unfair reporting”.
I wasn’t aware of that at all from my reading of the newspaper.
In fact I got the distinct impression that the newspaper was making every effort at independent and impartial reporting notwithstanding the difficult media environment in post-coup Fiji.
I suspect the detractors of the newspaper want The Fiji Times to be a cheerleader of the Government — a role I believe some other media have embraced with enthusiasm.
Wonder what other readers think?
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Thank you
Thank you to the group that cleaned up Wailoaloa Beach.
While I appreciate the efforts by the people, I couldn’t help notice the happy faces doing the clean-up.
Are they happy to be cleaning up other people’s rubbish?
I hope the people who throw rubbish anywhere realise that it takes good organisation and time and money to gather people to do clean-ups.
But I was wondering why the happy faces on the people doing the clean-up, what message are they telling us?
But thank you anyway.
Iliesa Baravilala, Natabua Housing, Lautoka
First day excitement
All children seemed excited on the first day at school with smiling faces, energetic looks and raring to go.
The first years just couldn’t wait any longer to begin their school term.
Even the parents were on the go.
Hopefully every child will succeed in whatever field they are assigned to and may they do well.
My advice to parents, please be by their side throughout the year and never let go.
For the children, your future depends on how you do well in your studies now.
Go education, go.
Tomasi Boginiso, Nepani Rd, Nasinu
Daylight saving
Thank God, finally daylight saving is over.
Imagine a cow getting milked every day at 5am and then farmers do this at 4am because of this.
A worker who goes to relieve himself at 5am and catches his bus to work at 6am.
Try to imagine him pushing and puffing at 4am.
So please stop playing God!
You play with nature and nature will play with you.
Ramesh Sharma, Nasinu
‘Lord of the Phoenix’
Labasa lad Roy Krishna continues to weave his magic in the Hyundai A-League competition.
Roy led another great comeback as Wellington Phoenix outclassed Central Coast Mariners FC to extend the club’s unbeaten run to eight matches.
Roy’s spot kicks and the assist allowed the hosts to escape defeat.
It’s a proud moment for all Fijians as our wonder boy has turned the fortunes of Wellington Phoenix.
Good on you Roy and I believe it’s time to taste EPL soccer.
Roy has become the “Lord of the Phoenix”.
His magic reminds me of the success and six-match unbeaten run that Ole Gunnar has enjoyed at Old Trafford.
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Drug dealings
The revelation by the Police Commissioner that drug dealings are linked to other criminal activities (FT 14/01) is indeed worrying.
We must assist them to put an end to this menace.
Amenatave Yaconisau, Palm Drive, Delainavesi
Education vital
Education is a vital partnership by all responsible and respecting parties concerned.
Any undue heavy-handedness will bring unpalatable negative perceptions.
I plead for due recognition, appreciation, trust, goodwill and harmony to prevail.
Give century-old credit where it is due.
Respectfully, with much pride and dignity good sense must prevail.
Ronnie Chang, Nadi
Police force
At a thanksgiving church service at the Police Special Response Unit (PSRU) in Nasinu, our Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho commended all Fijians for the achievements of the Fiji Police Force through 2018 (FT 14/01).
It’s a great thing that our police commissioner is encouraging public co-operation and working towards strengthening trust between police and the public.
There is indeed a great need to increase public cooperation and support for our police force.
Many still view our police force as biased and unjust and are less likely to report crimes for fear of victimisation so it is extremely important that our police treat citizens fairly and impartially for this will bolster shared morals between the community and the force and enhance beliefs concerning police legitimacy.
We need to live in a society, where, if we see or have knowledge of an individual or a group of people breaking the law we need to be able to make a report to the police without fear.
We all need to understand the importance of making the decision to report crimes and the effects that it will have on our society.
We must also bear in mind that refusing to assist our police force is an offence in itself.
At the end of the day, our police force needs our support as much as we need them to do their job of protecting us and our property.
Simon Hazelman, Savusavu
Good job
Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho thanked the police force at a church service for a job well done for the year 2018 with overlapping operations of the royal visit, general election and the festive season.
Mr Qiliho also thanked the public for their support.
As a citizen of Fiji I very much would like these hardworking officers to be given bonuses for their job well done.
For Qiliho and his team, vinaka vakalevu and all the best for the year 2019.
Tomasi Boginiso, Nepani Rd, Nasinu
No lights
There is a new trend now on our roads especially in towns at night.
Some drive without lights!
Either the streets are well lit or the drivers are complete fools to think their vehicles consume more fuel if they switch on their lights.
Or is it so that they are practising “Earth hour”?
Turn off your lights and keep it cool.
Smart, very smart indeed!
A. Shariff Shah, Savusavu
