Water problem at CWM Hospital
AS reported, it is definitely saddening, and heart-breaking to read of the below human dignity water woes currently experienced in some sections of Fiji’s premier century-old CWM Hospital. There is one quick fix. Some generous corporate donors need to immediately step forward. Expectant mothers must not face this humiliation nor do other in-patients. Will a minimum of 10 x 10,000 litre water tanks plus all fittings, installations and emergency power supply facilitate in the interim? Come on generous capital city corporate citizens. This is your hour. Rise up. Shine. Your fellow citizens need you now. Our caring RFMF officers, if approached, can lend a generous and charitable hand too. I pray, fervently. Scriptures teach us: “Ask and it shall be given to you.” Christ has risen. Our Saviour has conquered death so that we may have eternal life. RONNIE CHANG, Martintar, Nadi
Lack of support
BOTH our Drua men’s and women’s teams played in a double header match at Churchill Park, Lautoka. Despite the rainy weather, a significant crowd of spectators had turned up to support the teams. Everyone cheered as our boys put up a winning performance in the first match. However, during the women’s game, it was rather disappointing to see that many spectators had left, leaving an almost empty embankment side. This diminished numbers in spectators shows the level of support and value accorded to female players and their achievements. The women played in much worse ground conditions than the men’s team. Although they won, a better crowd support would have lifted their game to another level. The lack of support for women’s team is not merely a matter of numbers; it is a reflection of deeply entrenched societal attitudes towards women in sports. Despite the remarkable achievements and undeniable talent displayed by the women’s team, they are often relegated to the sidelines, their accomplishments overshadowed by the overwhelming focus on men’s games. The Women’s Drua team deserve all our support and encouragement. They have proven themselves in the past two years. Let us commit ourselves to breaking down barriers and building a future where women’s sports are celebrated, supported and embraced on equal footing with men’s sports. Only then can we truly claim victory not just on the field, but in the pursuit of equality and justice for all players, regardless of gender. Go Fijian Drua W Go! SANJEET PRASAD Mani Rd, Bulileka, Labasa
It’s not too late
NEWS of our young people falling into the swamp of drugs and empty sex is disturbing many of us. The question being asked is how they can be helped. A more important question is how and why they reached this level of abuse of body, mind and spirit. The Bible says, “love your neighbour as yourself”. So, first love yourself. The fact is, we need to be taught to love ourselves. We need to be taught that we are lovable, in spite of all our defects. And who will teach us if not our parents? We know there are dysfunctional families where the spouses don’t really love each or their children enough. There is no secure attachment for the children to learn from. They need to feel seen, soothed and safe. Our troubled youths can be saved by people willing to show them they are lovable, to let them be seen, soothed and safe. Who? FERGUS GARRETT Marist Brothers, Vatuwaqa
On the beat
CAN the Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong be promptly advised that the Fiji Police Force is not a religious institution? Instead of regularly attending church gatherings and prayer sessions, police officers should be out there in public tackling the increasing number of violent crimes and other illicit activities. No harm in participating in holy deeds, but please do it while off duty not in uniform on taxpayers dime! NISHANT SINGH Lautoka
Zuma out
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma is not allowed to stand for election on May 29, South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission has decided basically because he is a rogue leader (Daily Maverick 28/3/24). That is a good thing for South Africa’s democracy. It would be a good thing for America’s democracy to not allow Donald Trump to stand for election in November. He is a threat to America’s democracy. He said at a rally in Ohio that if he loses the election there will be a ” bloodbath ” ( Yahoo! 30/3/24 ). How can such a man inciting political violence in the lead up to the election be regarded fit for the high office of the President of the USA? That’s beyond my comprehension. RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, NSW, Australia
NDP findings
THE National Development Plan’s “findings”, after its nationwide consultation with most farmers, in my opinion, are not surprising. The usual under-managed financial, technological and consultative assistance from the government’s Ministry of Agriculture. It reflects the total opposite of what the ministry often expressed publicly in the media and even in Parliament proceedings. The entire “ministerial facade” has been in place within the past 20 years and behind every glorious facade, there is always hidden something ugly. Grace Road agriculture has just been in the country for 10 years and nearly all have noticed the difference. The truth has not so much set us free, as it has ripped away a carefully constructed facade, leaving us naked to begin again. What a national disaster! SAMU SILATOLU NAKASI
Realities of Easter
HATS off to John Kamea for the wonderful piece titled “The realities of Easter” (ST: 31/03). I look forward to John’s interesting and thoughtprovoking pieces in The Sunday Times, and the piece is must-read. Indeed John, Easter is not only a time of deliverance and a promise of life, but it is also a time marked by hardships and death. John shared his trip to the Old Capital and Viliame Qelo’s story of that disaster that claimed 86 lives. John then alluded to the events that have had severe impacts on lives, including that of former PM Voreqe Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho. He shared the ordeal of those in Gaza and I was in a sense of pain, as I realised what those living there are going through. Back at home, the unavailability of water has affected many to the extent that some expectant mothers, who were admitted at CWMH, had to excuse themselves from the maternity ward to return home for a shower and to use the restroom. Heavy rain caused flooding in parts of Rakiraki, while our hardworking team is doing its level best to complete repair works on the broken water pipeline at Savura in Wailoku. Finally, as we bid goodbye to March, April has brought an increase in fuel and gas prices. Let’s unite to face such adversities. God bless! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM BALGOVIND RD, NADAWA, NASINU
Radiation dangers
HOW safe are we in Fiji? On July 14, 2023, 264 scientists who are specialists in electromagnetic fields (EMF), from 46 countries petitioned the Secretary General of the United Nations for greater protection from non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF). They come from Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Croatia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, UK and the US. Specifically they asked that: q children and pregnant women be protected; q guidelines and regulatory standards be strengthened; q manufacturers be encouraged to develop safer technology; q utilities responsible for the generation, transmission, distribution and monitoring of electricity, maintain adequate power quality and ensure proper electrical wiring to minimise harmful ground current; q the public be fully informed about the potential health risks from electromagnetic energy and taught harm reduction strategies; q medical professionals be educated about the biological effects of electromagnetic energy and be provided-training on treatment of patients with electromagnetic sensitivity; q governments fund training and research on electromagnetic fields and health that is independent of industry and mandate industry cooperation with researchers; q media disclose experts’ financial relationships with industry when citing their opinions regarding health and safety aspects of EMF-emitting technologies; and q white-zones (radiation-free areas) be established. (Quoted from the International Appeal: Scientists call for Protection from Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Field Exposure, July 14, 2023) Why did they need to do this? Because they are scientists engaged in the study of biological and health effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF). Based upon peer-reviewed, published research, they have “serious concerns regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to EMF generated by electrical and wireless devices. These include — but are not limited to — radio frequency radiation (RFR) emitting devices, such as cellular and cordless phones and their base stations, Wi-Fi, broadcast antennas, smart meters, and baby monitors as well as electric devices and infra-structures used in the delivery of electricity that generate extremely-low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF). Numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms at levels well below most/international and national guidelines. Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on the general wellbeing of humans. Damage goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful effects to both plant and animal life. These findings justify this appeal to the United Nations (UN) and, all member States in the world, to encourage the World Health Organization (WHO) to exert strong leadership in fostering the development of more protective EMF guidelines, encouraging precautionary measures, and educating the public about health risks, particularly the risk to children and fetal development. By not taking action, the WHO is failing to fulfill its role as the preeminent international public health agency. At present, non-ionizing EMF international guidelines are quite inadequate. The various agencies setting safety standards have failed to impose sufficient guidelines to protect the general public, particularly children who are more vulnerable to the effects of EMF”. (quoted from the International Appeal) What do these facts mean for FIJI’s present efforts to extend IT to every corner of the country and especially for the introduction of the much touted 5G phone system? FERGUS GARRETT MARIST BROTHERS, VATUWAQA
Rewa Milk price
REWA Milk used to come in 450 gram packets than they reduced their packets to 400 grams. There was a reduction in the price of the 400 gram packets. Just lately I have noticed an increase in the price of the 400 gram Rewa Milk. Could the CEO of CCCF look into the milk pricing and let us know why the price has been raised? SUKHA SINGH Labasa
Drua’s force
HATS off to the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua for thrashing the Western Force 31-13 in Round 6 of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific 2024 at Lautoka’s Churchill Park on Saturday. Standing ovation to all the players, head coach, other team officials and the sponsors. A huge shout-out to all the fans for coming down and supporting the Drua despite the adverse weather. Lautoka is definitely a lucky ground for the Drua. I have already got my tickets for the Round 10’s match against the Moana Pasifika. See you there. Toso Drua! DINESH KUMAR Ba
Believe in you
HAVE you ever known the joy of someone believing in you, especially if the odds are against you? “I believe in you” may be the best, most inspiring words you could ever say to someone who is has the odds stacked against them. So, to the Fijian Drua, I believe in you. Toso Drua! NAVNEET RAMT (TD) LAUTOKA
Case closed
WE are informed that PM Sitievni Rabuka has decided to close the case of Lynda Tabuya regarding her extracurricular activities during an official overseas engagement and that she will remain a minister in his Government. Can we be informed whether Rabuka’s decision is a democratic or an autocratic one? RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, NSW, Australia
Flood fix
WHY do every year after flooding those who look after our river say they will dredge those rivers? Why can’t it be dredged before flooding. In Fiji, with climate change, rain and drought are possible and not predictable like before. NARAYAN REDDY Lautoka |
