New lease on life
It is heartening to learn that brave and resilient Giya is back home following her successful eye surgery in India (FT 11/03). With her new vision and renewed lease on life, I am sure she now has every opportunity to pursue her dreams and ambitions with confidence and ease. A million thanks to Kontiki Finance for answering the family’s desperate plea for financial assistance and enabling Giya to receive this life-changing treatment. Seeking medical care overseas is no small financial undertaking for many struggling Fijian families, as travel, accommodation and treatment costs can quickly add up to a staggering amount. What is somewhat puzzling, however, is how swiftly some large corporations, which proudly announce annual profits running into the millions, can open their wallets when it comes to sponsoring sporting teams (including the Fijian Drua), flashy tournaments and high-profile events. Yet when a struggling family publicly pleads for assistance to save a child’s eyesight, many of those same generous benefactors suddenly develop a case of corporate silence. They simply look the other way. Perhaps humanitarian causes simply don’t provide the same marketing mileage as a logo on a rugby jersey or a smiling photo opportunity on game day. Nonetheless, credit where it is due. Vinaka vakalevu again to Kontiki Finance for stepping forward when it mattered most. You guys rock! Once again, welcome back home Giya. Nishant Singh Lautoka
Giya’s smile says it all!
Yesterday’s front page story titled “The smile says it all” touched my heart. In my letter titled “A genuine act of kindness” (29/12), I acknowledge Rakesh Kumar and The Fiji Times for running a story titled “$5k plea to fund daughter’s urgent eye surgery”. The story was based on the plight of mother, Evlin Ashika Devi, whose 13-year-old daughter, Giya Geetanglie Prasad, urgently required specialised eye treatment overseas. Mum Ashika Devi shared that the medical reports from CWMH confirmed that her daughter urgently needed amniotic membrane grafting, a procedure that was not available in Fiji and had to be done in India. She appealed to the public for help to raise more than $5k so that Giya could receive the eye treatment as soon as possible and continue her education in 2026. Her plight caught the attention of Apisai Caginakana Moce aka Bis Moce on social media. He started work immediately and money was raised. Donors from Fiji and overseas joined hands to contribute for a worthy act. Donors, who follow The Fiji Times and read her story, contributed as well. Kontiki Finance also stepped in to assist Giya and her family. Seeing Giya return safely after undergoing the sight-saving operation in India is a true blessing. Her supporters and well-wishers are commended for their wonderful assistance that assisted the 13-year-old. The quote “Blessed is the hand that gives” united donors as they found joy in helping Giya, knowing it would make life easier for her. God bless you all!
Traffic and buildings
The number of cars in Fiji is not the cause of traffic problems in the Suva-Nausori corridor. The real problem is the number of new high-rise buildings in central Suva. More and more people are living and working in these buildings, coming and going every morning and going and coming every evening. Isn’t it obvious? The more accommodation and workplaces on very small footprints, the more cars on the move, in and out. The obvious first step in solving the traffic problem is to stop any more high-rise projects. Fergus Garrett Marist Brothers, Suva
Research work
Brother Donald Singh, “in the famous 1633 trial by the Roman Catholic Inquisition involved Galileo Galilei being sentenced to house arrest for promoting heliocentric”, (Earth revolves around the sun). This contradicted the church’s view, (Earth was the centre of universe) at the time, not because he said the Earth was flat. Ancient Sanatan sages have said that the Rig Ved and Atharva Ved contain hymns as describing a heliocentric or gravitationally connected solar system, ie, Earth moves around the sun (Rig Veda 1.164.13 – describing the sun in its orbit. Atharva Veda 12.1.48 – referencing Earth’s revolution). The ancient sages claimed that the four Sanskrit Vedas are more than 8000 years old. Please do not believe that only white men can do research work. Already, they have misled the world in many fields of study. They work on agendas. Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Toso Drua, toso
The twinkling feet and massive sidesteps of Vilimoni Delasau, the master king offloads by Pio Tuwai, are a few big names the Ba Province has produced that have gone on to the world stage and mesmerised crowds. This Saturday the soccer crazy town will convert to a rugby battlefield where our very own Drua mana magic will take centre stage to withstand the Australian Brumbies. What a titanic battle for both teams and believe me, the Drua magic might just spark at a new territory and why not the Ba Province, which will explode, seeing as we have the best local crowd that any opposition fears. Toso Drua, toso, show them to them, and I am excited to see the famous Dels sidesteps or the Pio master offloads we have all the ammunition in the armoury ready to explode. Joka dina. Vacava tacina? Shalwyn Prasad Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva
QUICK VIEWS
Soggy ground
I’m wondering whether 4R Electrical Govind Park can hold on for 80 minutes if conditions are soggy, especially the grass and top soil bearing the brutality of 31 (including the ref) pairs of studded boots carrying those weights. The combined scrum weight is around 1.8 tonnes, so you see what I mean. Churchill Park under heavy rain results in wins. Let’s hope and we see the same in Ba. Donald Singh Nausori
Weather complaint
When it was raining heavily in the couple of weeks, we wanted the sun and complained ‘sa levu batabata/ bahut thanda hai’. Now that the sun is out, we complain again ‘sa levu katakata/bahut garam hai’. Humans are never satisfied. Eh? Avenai Serutabua Nabukelevu Village, Serua
Hope and a prayer
I was just wondering if it wasn’t for FICAC, so much corruption would have thrived undetected. This model is a copy from Singapore which was designed to clean up all the corruption in public office including government officials and MPs. The environment and atmosphere went through purification as well. From a slump to the cleanest place on Earth and a thriving economy. When will we reach that stage, with the current situation involving the highest office of the land and the former head of FICAC and others, and the cases involving the PM and A-G plus others? Until such time when all the bad apples are rooted out, I can only hope and pray. Deus adiuva nos. Edward Kumar Lautoka
Civil service reform
Anytime a new administration comes into power, the never-ending civil service reform is highlighted and placed on a pedestal as if it has achieved a purpose. Members of the public only know too well that talks of reform and the modernisation of the public service are a lot of flowery words on paper that do not translate to reality. You can be rest assured that no immediate change will happen when it’s a “comprehensive functional review”. By the way, do you find the timing of when these grand schemes are brought to light as highly suspect? Sailosi Naewe Dilkusha Road, Nausori
HOUSING AND POVERTY
Affordable homes
Minister for Local Government and Housing Maciu Nalumisa has said that more homes affordable for low and middle-income households are expected to be built in the country in the coming years while 136 housing units and 404 serviced lots are in the pipeline for this year. Good news. As long as we don’t see a 404 error. Strict oversight and vetting should be non-negotiable features of the whole process, the noble program. I’m a bit sceptical, especially because I am yet to read any news on the jailing of the corrupt gang who facilitated the sale of several lots to those who were like a hundred times wealthier than the qualifying threshold for those lots. Some years ago a person bragged to me about how his chachcha (uncle) took $200,000 in cash and instantly secured a lot. My jaw dropped hearing that. My jaw still can’t close properly when I think of it. So, thank you Government for walking the talk on housing. It will definitely be a massive success over the years if corruption is left out. Still, we need to see heads rolling for the Tacirua frauds. Better late than never, as we see some old crimes (alleged) being brought before the court. I read there’s one case from more than 10 years ago. Donald Singh Nausori
Poverty issue
In our august House, much is being said about the levels of poverty in Fiji. On both sides of the aisle, they share their views on the poorer members of our community and making Fiji a higher end income State. Does anyone in authority really care about the discriminated and persecuted, betrayed senior pensioners? There are about 1400 of us left out of about 6000 from 2012. We are now well into our 70s, 80s and 90s. Beware, younger generations. History can repeat itself very ruthlessly. Today is our time to suffer. Tomorrow, it could be yours. The chairman, executives, the board and the legal team at FNPF remain unforgivably heartless, cruel and disrespectful towards us. This is a “David and Goliath” encounter re-living its story. The minnows taking on the big boys. They will drag their feet. Run the time out on us. And simply walk away. We now plead divine assistance in Jesus’ holy name, to see us through. The whole wide financial institutions are intently watching. Fiji is on the cusp of being deemed cruel towards older senior retirees in their twilight years. Our pensions are irrevocable. Our contract with FNPF is legal and binding between two parties. How is it legally possible for third party Bai and Kai and the former unelected government to change our legal contract with the custodians of our fiduciary benefits? How? They, FNPF, religiously “hold” on to Bai and Kai’s excessive show of authority from an unelected regime – Constitution hatched by a small elite group “drunk on power” at the time. Their “Constitution” did not involve “We the people”. The better educated younger set are waiting, watching and listening very intently. They will be better judges come General Elections 2026. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Cost of living
If the cost of living is expected to spike because of the war in the Middle East, then the first people who should be tightening their belts are the parliamentarians. Leadership isn’t about lecturing citizens to endure hardship while insulating yourself from it. If sacrifices must be made, those in power should lead by example and take a pay cut. You simply cannot preach belt-tightening while expanding your own pay packets. That’s not leadership. It’s hypocrisy. In truth, those pay rises you guys blatantly gave yourselves should never have been granted in the first place. And while we’re speaking of pay rises and pay cuts, perhaps Parliament might consider addressing a far greater injustice — the retirees and pensioners who lost significant savings under a 2011 decree imposed by the illegal regime. Many of these people spent a lifetime working honestly, only to see their security stripped away overnight. If fairness and integrity mean anything at all, then the decent thing to do would be to restore what was taken from them. What remains difficult to understand is how some of you leaders can live comfortably with that unresolved injustice. An illegal regime passes an illegal decree, and it’s quietly accepted as though it were legitimate law. That’s not justice. It’s a national disgrace. Kemudou! Colin Deoki Australia
