Fiji Finals
The stage is set for the games 2024 and Suva will be abuzz for three days. Athletes, teachers and parents will be in Suva for the much-awaited annual event. The law enforcement authorities are reminding athletes to stay away from drugs. Adolescents also need to reminded not to engage in unsafe sexual activities. Wishing all the best to all the participating athletes. DINESH KUMAR, Ba
High alerts
It is a timely call made by ACP Livai Driu and given high alerts prior to the most anticipated sports event of the year, the Coca-Cola Games. High school students must take heed of the alert by top guns in the Fiji Police Force. Police must diligently carry out operations and establish loop holes in the system for under-aged entry into night clubs. Focusing on the safety of our schoolchildren must be top priority by the respective authorities. We, parents, want our children to be safe and secure at all time, not engaging in illegal activities or having their lives at risk. Drug operations as promised by the police top guns will be priority and drugs found in the possession of any school kid must be dealt with. There must be a drug register with police at a central place. Police must be transparent, vigilant and ethical when dealing with drug cases. Fiji must be safe and secure at all times for a better Fiji and our kids are no exception. May God bless Fiji so that Fiji is the way the world should be. Indar Deo Bisun, Sakoca Heights, Tamavua
Stage set for Coke Games
It is that exciting time of the year again that school students look forward to when they cheer their athletes in the various track and field events at the Fiji Secondary School Coca-Cola games. The HFC Bank Stadium will host thousands of athletes, fans and spectators who will be ready for action. The inter-house competitions and the zones lit up the competition. The torch relay added fun and excitement. The stage is set, and this year’s Coca-Cola Games promises another round of thrills. More athletes are going to be unveiled, as Marist Brothers High School and the girls from Sawani, Adi Cakobau School, will defend their boy’s and girl’s title in this year’s competition. I’m expecting the best from the old scholars, as they will be in full force, extending their support to their schools. Lawrence Tikaram and his team have done the hard yards, and so have the athletes and their coaches. Wishing everyone all the best for the three-day meet! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Professor Wadan’s take
Eye-opening, enlightening, provocative, raw and even inspiring is how I’d describe Prof Wadan Narsey’s work in Closing The Gap (FT 27/04). He doesn’t pull any punches but socks it straight in the eyes. However, there still remains a lot of unanswered questions that will most probably remain unanswered. Simply because Fiji’s issues are complex to address and solve quickly. The unfortunate problem is, Fiji has always been about race-related issues. There’s no getting around it. Even though a significant portion of the Indo Fijian population has migrated, the remaining population will still be used as a convenient scapegoat for those who prefer not to confront the real issues. Tackling these issues will require an honest and transparent approach to finding solutions. Solving age old problems requires an open and honest look into the mirror of truth. Because the truth will set us free. However, the truth will always make us feel awkward and uncomfortable. But truth will always make a way where there seems to be none. Truth is the bedrock for rebuilding trust. Colin Deoki, Australia
Ageing population
The social and economic realities of an ageing population by Mohammed Hasan Khan — chairman of Pearce Home (FT 27/4) is an eye-opener for all those who go through their ageing journey. It’s encouragement for those who prefer to live as independent as they could with some support from their loved ones and social welfare. However, we should not expect much from them as many of them struggle to make ends meet with their own families in this ever rising cost of living crisis. Let’s work for our retirement from our young days. We should always be mindful that we harvest what we sow. I feel the best could be to strengthen our FNPF future pensions without fear of future decrees. The FNPF assures “Secure your future with FNPF”. Many of us in our old age, as we sit back and think, we forgot to do one important thing — We forgot to live. Live your life gracefully and forget your age. Tahir Ali, Hamilton, New Zealand
Thank you Dr Raju
The ever young baby of our Jetset Town of Nadi Dr Ram Raju is the oldest original private practising medical doctor here and he must be a trillionaire by now. The kai Valley Road from Nadroga is now exactly 75 years old and a very long time friend from our Nadi Hash run days in the early 1980s when we started it as our Nadi business sector and tourism get together four times a month and to keep ourselves healthy and fit. Dr Raju is still the president for the Nadi Chamber of Commerce for donkeys years and it’s a good time for him to step down and let another younger member take over, but I must thank the bloke for what Nadi has achieved the past 100 years. Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
