Coral Coast 7s running hot
The 9th annual McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast 7s kicks this morning. Sixteen local and overseas teams will compete for the prize money. Furthermore, our local players will try their best to impress our national 7s selectors. Courtesy of Sigatoka River Safari and the brains behind the success of the tournament, Mr Jay White, fans will be entertained to two days of thrilling and enterprising 7s rugby. Defending champions Police are pooled with former champions First Light Taveuni, while Raka and Tabadamu 7s champions Tabadamu will face stiff competition from Sigatoka River Safari. The Australian Development team looks top guns in pool C and Suva Stallions and Ratu Filise will battle one another for top spot in pool D. Surprisingly, local giants Wardens, Yamacia and Army missed out on a spot as the presence of Bryan Habana and renowned international rugby 7s commentator Sean Maloney has lifted the profile of the tournament and trust me this year’s tournament will motivate our national 7s team to lift their standard in Hamilton next week. Can Police create history with a hat-trick or a new winner will be crowned? Only time will tell! Hence, my best wishes and appreciation to Jay White and his team plus the volunteers for organising a tournament of such magnitude! As I conclude, I pick Police and Tabadamu to play the cup final. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Opposition tag
There have been several name changes in Fiji for various purposes. May I suggest one more? The now called Opposition in Parliament to be formally declared as the shadow government. Human shadows, as we know, move with its being. The same will happen with the Government of the day and its shadow government. The shadow government will have shadow ministers to work with their corresponding line ministers, assistant ministers and permanent secretaries. The Government of the day will be able to utilise the credible and immensely rich human resources present in Parliament. Their role descriptions will be such that they will have to work with each other instead of opposing. In this way, work will be shared and parliamentary sessions reduced. Real value for taxpayers’ money. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Naked hills
Driving past Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco Resort recently, the now naked hills above Adi Cakobau School (ACS) got my attention. Someone has been cutting the native trees that once clothed those hills. Is it the landowners? Is it the Government, given that ACS is a government school? I believe this exercise is nonsensical as we have frequent landslides. The media highlighted landslides along our highways, the Suva-Nadi and Savusavu-Labasa roads (FT 11/01). What happened to the “4 million trees in four years initiative”? (FT 09/01). Our President Jioji Konrote had said “This is not only an initiative that reflects visionary leadership on the part of the Government but it also reflects a deep sense of responsibility, that we could leave our beloved nation in a better state than when we found it”. I pray that whoever is cutting those mahogany trees along the ACS hills is replanting more trees. Korina Waibuta Knollys St, Suva
Church and State
I maintain that there should be a clear separation between church and state. The different religions/faiths should fund their own worship services, buildings, missions and schools without having to live off the government. The State should focus on the secular side of things such as providing schools, hospitals, roads, etc. The State should also promote religious liberty and other basic freedoms and maintain law and order. I believe when a faith- based school accepts government handout, they will compromise their doctrinal integrity. This world runs on money. He who pays the piper will call the tune. Gabriel Simpson Rakiraki
Sleeping schoolchildren
ISA, it’s not yet a week of school and children are already sleeping in buses on their way back home. I believe the contributing factor for tiredness is waking up early to catch the bus to school. I believe some children today are burdened by the educational and time system, having to rush to school just to beat the traffic and bus congestion which are physically and mentally taking their toll on the young ones, seeing them completing 12 or more hours a day. The other day I asked two Year 7 students of a school situated along Rewa St why were they shy to get into their classroom and their answer was, “keirau bera baleta na basi” (we were late because of the bus). The new LTA chief executive officer said it right that bus owners need to invest in more buses. I hope there are new buses to replace the old ones and more buses to ease schoolchildren overloading in the Capital City, especially in the morning. The road traffic is another issue which I will not dwell on! AREKI DAWAI Suva
Sevens bandages
The pictures of heavily bandaged knees of our 7s captain Kalione Nasoko, Mesulame Kunavula and Ratu Meli Derenalagi in The Fiji Times raises a little concern. Is everything OK before the Hamilton 7s tournament? ABHINESH RAJ, Kabisi, Nadroga
Clean environment
DRIVING through Princes Rd the other morning, we had a welcome sight. After the Sawani service station, a group of people were picking up rubbish along the road. One had a whole lot of bags and was handing them out. The others were doing the picking. At Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, another welcome sight. There were more waste collectors. They seemed to have a type of green uniform. There were two government twin cabs, with hazard lights on, accompanying the waste collectors. The roadsides looked spick and span. Then it hit me; the Australian PM is paying Fiji a visit. My question is do we have to wait for some VIP visitors to have our roadsides cleaned? If so, why don’t we have more visits? What other “unprecedented options” is
our Ministry of Environment adopting? KINIVILAME KETECA, Nausori
My good friend
My good friend Bernard Fraser has passed away. Lautoka has lost an icon. Mr Fraser would be seen feeding stray dogs around Lautoka. He had a motor bike that he rode around collecting leftover foods from people who cared about stray dogs and fed them. His children would buy him a copy of The Fiji Times and I would give him my old copies, then he would sell them to market vendors to buy fuel for his motor bike. This enabled him to ride around and feed neglected dogs. Someone once asked him if he loved stray dogs so much, he should take them all home. Mr Fraser told him that he didn’t love the strays, but he cared for them. Then he said, “Do you know the difference between loving and caring?”Anyway he was 86. I used to sit with him outside his gate and just have a yarn. He had a lot of history that he shared with me and his memory was crystal clear at 86. Rest in peace Mr Bernie Fraser. I will miss you. Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Policy consultation
Currently the National Sugar Industry Policy consultation is going on and I’m glad that The Fiji Times has covered the consultation well especially the issues raised by our sugarcane farmers. The plight of our farmers and the daily obstacles that they face must be addressed if we are to seriously address the sugar industry. All hands and minds are needed to take our nation back to the days when the sugar industry ruled and dominated our economy. Sadly, some sugar cane grown areas and farms are idle and farmers are nowhere to be seen. I’m hopeful that a positive mindset will be utilised to help our sugarcane farmers! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Streetlights please
Can the FRA or relevant authorities consider installing traffic lights at the junction of Ratu Dovi Rd and Vesivesi Rd and the junction of Ratu Dovi and Yasiyasi roads? It’s very hard to enter or leave from these junctions. Rizwaan Mohammed Nadera, Nasinu
Time will tell
Will team USA win their first tournament in Hamilton next week? Only time will tell but, in the meantime, one can be certain that USA is more than ever determined to nail a third final by winning. Meanwhile, team New Zealand will be out to prove a point in front of their home fans. What about Fiji? Only time will tell but fans should not be over confident as the tournament has become so competitive and fluid that it’s almost unpredictable unlike in the old days. Floyd Robinson Toorak, Suva
White gloves
Can the hardworking traffic police who manage traffic at Drasa Ave in Lautoka be given proper white hand gloves please? These police officers work hard to make our roads safe and they should be properly equipped. Narayan Reddy Lautoka
TELS repayment
What will happen to the outstanding debt of those few who may abscond and never visit Fiji one time or another? Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Market fees
Can the CEO of Lautoka City Council or the Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar please explain why the vendors at Tavakubu Market in Lautoka don’t pay any fees but the vendors that sell on the floor at Lautoka Market have to pay fees? John Brown Drasa Vitogo, Lautoka
Power cut
Yet another power cut in Waiyavi, Lautoka. I posted it on Facebook and lo and behold, people from Nadi and Suva say they also experienced the power cut. What is going on Energy Fiji Limited? Is the power really limited? Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Public consultations
In future could we have public consultations before something is implemented? That is to have a public consultation before something like daylight saving is implemented. Anyway thanks for coming to Labasa. Sukha Singh Labasa
Customer service
In some banks the above should be re-worded “test of patience”. Dan Urai Lautoka
