A public good
I found USP journalism course coordinator Dr Shailendra Singh’s analysis in his article “Information is a public good: Reflections on WPFD 2021?” (F T 8/5) very informative, insightful, and illuminating. He uses the WPFD 2021 theme to remind us that access to information is a public right and it’s the job of diligent, professional journalism to facilitate that right — the right to know, especially what people in power are purportedly doing in our name. In other words, to hold power to account. I believe The Fiji Times is doing a reasonably good job given the constraints in post coup Fiji. State authorities that curtail that right undermine democracy and lean towards autocracy. Citizens have a duty to guard against that tendency. I thank Dr Singh for his valuable reminder. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Donated vaccines
So great to get vaccines from New Zealand and Australia which donated them to Fiji in this worst crisis ever. No wonder NZ and Australia are better than us. Jaheed Buksh Korolevu, Sigatoka
Trust factor
The citizens should monitor themselves. That’s the trust that the authorities have accorded to its citizens that they will do the right thing to save theirs and their loved ones. Stay safe, mask up while travelling. Navneet Ram Lautoka
Private cars
Was a welcome decision for those stranded at either side of the border. Surprising that a radio station advised only private cars were allowed to cross the border because public transport not available. May have been fake news. Dan Urai Lautoka
Act of humanity
I refer to the article (7/5/20) where Daniel Kumar showed an act of humanity despite race and religion. What this man did shows that we don’t have to be wealthy or sit in high positions to show kindness. Hats off to other citizens such as Kumar who help others in this time of need. Rodney Clarence Raj Naleba, Labasa
Mother’s love
Mother’s Day is one of the occasions when you can show your gratitude to your lovely and gorgeous mother. The oodles of happiness and bunch of jovial moments that she has given you indeed need a celebration. This day should be celebrated every day as mothers’ work never stops 24×7. She is the one who first showed you the world and now it’s your turn to show her the world. A mother takes every pain simply for her child without uttering a single word of dissatisfaction. Nobody else can be as caring as a mother. And therefore, she deserves to be celebrated for the way she has made your life a celebration with her unspoken prayers and continuous efforts. One relationship which is always with us is the one we share with our mothers. They are our guiding force and are responsible for making us who we are. Happy and prosperous day to all mums, grandmothers nana, aaji, dadis. Vinaka. Neelz Singh Lami
Boots on ground
Our Fiji nurses represent 70 per cent of the health workforce, the “boots on the ground” at the frontline of our COVID war, as Dr Alisi Vudiniabola, president of Fiji Nurses Association, has said. These 3000 nurses are our troops on the ground. The foot soldiers, and hopefully not cannon fodder? They need their armour and the right gear to protect us all. Please MOH, Dr Fong and Dr Waqainabete, hear this valid cry from the Fiji Nurses Association president. They must have the PPE they need to do their jobs; they need reasonable rotated shifts of work, even in a crisis like Lautoka hospital; and be given ways to be able to tend to their immediate family needs as mothers and wives too. Or things will collapse. Support for our Fiji nurses please. Hear their valid plea. Jean H Hatch Sawau St, Nabua, Suva
One way travel
The call by Dr Fong for one way travel is seen that human health is not all about mere absence of disease but a complete physical, social, mental, psychological, spiritual well-being of a person. Many families were disturbed and distorted due to this lockdown when one was caught off-guard as they could not make their way back home. Life was not that easy in this long distance affair. This reunion window is not the time to celebrate and abuse but a gentle move to be with your beloved ones. Please avoid unnecessary social gathering. All measures are taken by the ministry for the safe return and please follow all protocols appropriately so that the COVID pandemic is contained at the earliest. Our lives are more than precious. Let’s realise the reality. Rouhit Karan Singh Lautoka
Same rules
CAN we open non-essential businesses on a rotational basis with the same rules as supermarkets? For example, hardware
one day, electronics another day, vehicle-related shops the third day, and so forth. While these are not essential for survival, you do need one thing or another every now and then in this modern economy. We need to have a game plan on how to operate
while COVID-19 is still around. KIRAN KHARI Samabula, Suva
Rare jewel
IN the desperate fight to eliminate corruption, I think the unseen face holding the electronic device at the beach would be the perfect ambassador. He has proven it beyond doubt that to be part of the fight against corruption, one does not need an academic qualifi cation from a tertiary institution or fancy suits. It is our inner voice. This person is genuine. He is not an actor in a television commercial. A rare jewel without a price tag. MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
Going fishing
THE Fiji Times’ picture and article on Eleni Siri fishing along the Nasese sea wall to help feed her family during the COVID
lockdown ( FT 8/5) brought back nostalgic memories of childhood. Fishing along the Nasese sea wall during my childhood
in the sixties was sure catch, which included kake, kabatia, kawakawa, horsey, saqa, matu, and kaikai. Qari (mud crabs) were
also caught along the sea wall. There even was special fishing seasons for kaikai and matu and daniva when hundreds would converge on the sea wall. The fishing stock was so rich that every so often even the traditional Fijian method was employed by the police community in Nasese, Nasova and the Fijian villagers from Draiba to round up the fish by beating the water in a semi
circle and closing into a small circle. I hope Eleni is still able to make a decent catch these days from that sea wall to supplement her family needs. RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
A mother’s influence
In March 1943, I was just three months old. Aisea Naicovu, my Nna Hewa (my father’s young brother), and Nene Salaima (mum Salaima), Nna Aisea’s wife, took me from Korotogo Village to their one room in the bareki (barrack), in Sala Buto, now called High St, Toorak, Suva. They raised me as their only child. Please note. Nna Aisea and Nene Salaima at that time had been married for several years and had no child of their own. So, when I was born in November 1943, during World War II, as the fifth child of Nna Meli Nacuva and Nene Arieta Buliahewa, my biological parents unanimously and lovingly presented me to Nna Aisea and Nene Salaima to receive and raise me as their only child/son. Nna Aisea and Nene Salaima wholeheartedly received me. They raised me sacrificially, not sparing the rod at all! I married my beautiful wife Mereseini in 1972. We, as a total family, lived together happily in our private home in Ragg Ave, Tamavua. Gone were the days of living in the barrack. My Nna Aisea passed away early. I had the honour of taking Nene Salaima with my family to Washington DC to serve as Fiji ambassador to USA and Mexico from 1992 to 1997. If there are words of wisdom that were uttered repeatedly to me by Nene Salaima while I was growing up as a boy, and which words are my mainstay and guidance right up to date, these are the words: “Mu mata, mu yalo” (Your vision, your wisdom).Last month, my attention had been focused on Queen Elizabeth II. I will never forget two special occasions. First in Fiji in 1952, when Her Majesty was driven from Government House, Suva, to Albert Park for the welcome ceremony. I was amongst the scouts and cubs standing alongside the drive from Government House to the main gate at Queen Elizabeth Drive. I was waving my Union Jack flag when she passed me at slow speed. Her Majesty actually looked at me, smiled and waved at me! Second in England in 1985, when I was there as a participant in the Commonwealth Foundation Fellowship Scheme to Promote Commonwealth Understanding. At the end of the program, all the participants were invited by Her Majesty the Queen as her guests in Buckingham Palace. I actually shook hands with her Majesty and conversed for several minutes about the Fiji Islands. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is truly a God chosen “helper suitable for” Prince Philip for almost 74 years, a wonderful mother to four children and together with Prince Philip, reflects God’s image here on Earth in their leadership. Based on the above reflection, I desire to praise and honour Queen Elizabeth II and all the mothers and grandmothers of our beloved Fiji on this Mother’s Day. I consider it proper on this august occasion to conclude by quoting the statement of the late USA president Teddy Roosevelt, in one of the Mother’s Days: “When all is said, it is the mother, and the mother only, who is a better citizen than the soldier who fights for his country. The successful mother, the mother who does her part in rearing and training aright the boys and girls, who are to be the men and women of the next generation, is of greater use to the community, and occupies, if she only would realise it, a more honourable as well as more important position than any man in it. The mother is the one supreme asset of the national life. She is more important, by far, than the successful statesman, or businessman, or artist or scientist.” Pita K Nacuva Namadi Heights, Suva
Mum’s day
M; One who creates miracles in moments O: One who opts for you over others T: One who treads the trek of life together H: One who has heartfelt wishes for the home E: One who is energetic and exemplary with life’s endeavours R: One who is righteous and responsible. A mother with the qualities above deserves recognition throughout with love. PRAMEETA Donu Place, Namadi Heights, Suva
Happy Mother’s Day
I QUOTE William Makepeace Thackeray, “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.” Today, I wish our mothers happy Mother’s Day. When a baby is born, it realises the importance of a mother’s arms which are made of tenderness and the baby sleeps soundly in them. For me, my mother was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. She was that sweet flower of love that I dearly miss every day. My mother died last year on March 9, and she has left behind fond memories which are hard to replace. Her teachings have moulded into who I am today, and forever, I’m grateful that God blessed me with a beautiful, kind, caring, compassionate and understanding mother who was not only a companion, but a true friend. Those who have their mothers around are set to spoil them today with savouries, gifts and beautiful memories, and I urge them to make use of the time they spend with their mothers, for the days are not going to come back. I always looked forward to Mother’s Day when mum was alive, as I had so much planned for her on her special day. All that is history, and today, I’ll recollect those memories. I must extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to our mothers for their care, unending love and warmth. I salute our mothers who have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these mothers have been unsung heroes during this crisis. I am also indebted to Bhagwanji Bhindi and Maharaj Kumari Bhindi for the wonderful poems on Mother’s Day in yesterday’s The Fiji Times that I enjoyed reading. Mothers deserve our respect, love and care, for they have done so much to raise us. No mother deserves to be physically or emotionally abused, so it is important we cherish all that they do for us. My Mandali- Balgovind Rd Satsang Ramayan Mandali distributed rations to families, and we were touched by the response that we received from the mothers who received the rations. They were so grateful that their eyes swelled with tears. We were also emotional seeing the joy and emotions on their faces. The smiles that were seen as they made their way to their homes made our Mother’s Day weekend. Hence, it’s important to change our mindset towards women and our mothers, and value their contribution to our homes, communities and the country at large. I rise and applaud the efforts of our mothers, who are frontliners, and those who brave the sun and rain to look after their families. As I conclude, I pay tribute to my mother the late Pushpa Wati Lingam, for being a wonderful mother. My daughter Mahi and my niece Akshainie miss their grandmother’s love. Finally, I thank my wife Madhu for being a caring wife, and a lovely mother to my daughter. Her support, commitment and perseverance have changed my life. Thus, happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there in Fiji and overseas! Thank you so much for your sacrifices, love and efforts! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
