Tea for a worthy cause!
What started off as a small initiative in 2006, with a humble beginning, has culminated into Fiji’s largest cancer awareness and fundraising event. Today, the Bushells Fiji’s biggest morning tea has become Fiji’s largest cancer awareness and fundraiser. Over the years, the fundraiser has provided crucial patient care and support and saved valuable lives, while promoting cancer awareness. Hats off to the Motibhai Group for this grand initiative and for showcasing their corporate social responsibility! We all know that cancer impacts families, creating financial and emotional stress on patients and families, and the disruption to home life as patients adapt to a new normal after treatment. Hence, the Bushells Fiji’s Biggest Morning Tea helps expand cancer awareness and support, and by holding the fundraiser, the organisers will reach out to more Fijians with cancer awareness, advocacy and patient support. We need to support Fijians battling cancer as it is the third largest killer. Let’s unite to support Motibhai and the Fiji Cancer Society! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Street dancers
No night clubs, no worries, just grab your speakers, blast music and dance on the street until dawn. This was the scenario at Natokowaqa, Lautoka in the early hours of Sunday morning; a group of people stood dancing, quarreling and shouting on the street at Sangola Lane from 3am until dawn, subjecting the residents along this lane to public nuisance. The most concerning issue is that complaints were made to the police force and the response given every time was that the patrolling officers will make their rounds, but no such officer arrived to stop the nuisance. Families were kept awake, residents felt unsafe and anxious, and that too on the Sabbath which is observed by a large number of our population. Does order, respect and accountability not matter? The vague promises of follow-up by the police never materialised. The police being silent on such matters raise concern, why must a community be ignored when the residents put faith in the authorities for a solution. The authorities need to set their priorities straight, help the public that is in need and penalise the perpetrators that disrupt peace and unity in our communities. The Sangola Lane incident is one of the many incidents that happen around Lautoka; residents are awoken to loud music, shouting and quarreling in the early hours of the day. These are issues that open doors for racism, cultural differences and inequality; all the more reason why the police should take immediate action when such complaints are made. Shania Reddy, Kashmir, Lautoka
Speaking in public
Seeing certain parliamentarians or prominent people being interviewed on television during the news segments or on talk shows, I often mute the TV. With certainty, I can just tell that what they are saying is nothing but the fragrant untruth. They’ve got the flair or gift of the gab for convincing the public with their lies. And there are people like me with the inability to speak or pray in public. A social anxiety disorder called “glossophobia”. I think the reason is undoubtedly the sense of not being articulate in front of others. Recently during the wedding reception of Faith William and Sione, I was asked to say grace but was incapable. Sad eh! PS. Faith and Sione, May your marriage be blessed with love, joy and companionship for all the years to come and may the love that you share last your lifetime. Wise Muavono, Balawa, Lautoka
Road cost
Can the Hon Ro Filipe Tuisawau enlighten the people of Fiji about what the cost was for the stretch of road on the Queen Elizabeth Drive from the Nasese Junction to the Laucala Bay Rd end. The road is no doubt very beautiful but as a Fijian citizen, I would like to know what the original quote was and what the eventual cost was. Furthermore, whoever was the road works designer, you did a very big disservice to our educational institutions along this stretch. You have raised the road above the ground level of the institutions- with a drain that goes down below the ground but with the drainage outlet above the ground level resulting in all water being collected into the drain but unable to flow out. Furthermore there is no return valve put on the flow out area which is into the sea so when the tide comes in sea water rushes back across to flood the educational institution grounds again. The Corpus Christi College and the Sacred Heart College used to be able to hire out their school grounds in the past for sporting bodies but cannot do so now because the makeup of these roads have made the grounds unsuitable. Can the Government seriously look into fixing this problem. Get the roads team to rectify their blunder. Tai Smith, Nasinu Sec Sch Rd, Kinoya, Nasinu
