iTaukei businesses
THE Honourable Minister of Finance recently shared that iTaukei businesses make up only 5 per cent of all businesses in Fiji. He also mentioned that this is sad because iTaukei owned over 90 per cent of all land in Fiji. Considering all this, I have a question. Does all “iTaukei land” have individual titles for individual families or are they held in reserve? Land in reserve cannot be used to build wealth until it has a title which then can be used as a fixed asset. In my personal view, nothing will change substantially until individual iTaukei families are given titles over their own land. Native land held perpetually in reserve without title means mataqali and landowners will stay perpetually, asset rich but cash poor. CONAN HATCH, Nadi Airport
Sacrificial lamb
THE speed with which Graham Leung, the Attorney-General, was dismissed has sent shock waves across the nation. The obvious question people are asking is: has he become the sacrificial lamb to appease those in the corridors of power? You and I will never know the truth but his exit is certainly a great loss to the nation. We wish him good luck in his legal career. DEWAN CHAND, Namadi Heights, Suva
English proficiency
THE burning question asked by The Fiji Times (FT 31/5) to the Hon. Prime Minister regarding the level of English proficiency required for a pass for Year 12 and Year 13 students was aptly doused by the PM with solid examples of grammatically incorrect sentences in his granddaughter’s exam papers. Many of our teachers, sad to say, lack the basic knowledge of subject/verb agreement and thus “I didn’t knew” continues. The PM rightly questions the intake for trainee teachers at teacher training institutions. If we want quality teachers in primary schools then those who want to become teachers must have a high level of proficiency in English and Mathematics. Unlike in overseas countries where they have subject teachers, here we have one teacher in the classroom teaching all the subjects. And if the teacher does not have a good grasp of English and Mathematics then our children are doomed. When these children enter secondary school, only then they are picked out as poor readers and weak in Mathematics. The question by the PM that who is teaching our teachers, in my view, is not a rhetorical question but a soul searching one for the teacher training institutions. I sincerely hope they have the proficiency in English to read in-between the lines. ARUN PRASAD, Armidale, NSW
Cost of living
THE Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Prasad, was always highlighting the high cost of living during FijiFirst party’s tenure, in my opinion. Even the fragile state of the government’s coffers. Within one year of the Coalition’s reign, the VAT was reverted to 15 per cent, the cost of living rose dramatically, including the MPs salaries and perks. Was that not hypocritical? The minimum wage was raised by 25 per cent after eight months, whereas the MPs by 150 per cent, immediately. Did anyone see the disparity? Blaming the “global effects” is his ace card, in my view. And in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, he “protects” the MPs and exposes the people, to face the consequences. Even when exempting VAT, it doesn’t affect the daily consumption items. Is this really “good governance”? Are these really democratic values? Politics determines who has the power, not the truth. The Coalition, in my opinion, seems to confront issues, diagnose them incorrectly and apply the wrong remedies. In reality, it is becoming a problem. Maybe, it is serving the “special interests” and not the people by whom it was elected. SAMU SILATOLU, Nakasi, Nausori
Yes or no
THE simple terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry was to establish whether all the due process and legal requirements were met in the appointment of the FICAC commissioner, Ms Malimali. Obviously, the finding should be either yes or no. If it is yes, then the commissioner should be allowed to resume her work and not be suspended. If it is no, then the commissioner’s appointment must be declared null and void and terminated and not suspended. The suspension does not feature in any of the two situations. BHARAT MORRIS, Gold Coast, Australia
