Inmates and Wardens
FIJI Women’s Crisis Centre coordinator Shamima Ali has all the right to condemn Amenoni Nasilasila’s inclusion in the recent rugby tournament (FT 19/02). I also condemn rape, abuses, domestic violence against women and children, and other criminal activities. Rape is a “heinous crime” as stated by Ms Ali and I totally agree. However, Ms Ali fails to acknowledge the fact that Nasilasila has already been convicted of the crime he had committed and is duly serving his sentence at the Naboro Corrections Facility. He was never set free by the court of law. She also ignores the Fiji Corrections Service’s Yellow Ribbon Project which has given a chance to inmates such as Nasilasila and Nacanieli Labalaba to participate in the second leg of the Fun Flavour Super Sevens Series at the Prince Charles Park in Nadi. According to the Fiji Corrections Services, the inmates met the strict criteria of participation in the preliminary rehabilitation phase. Furthermore, Ms Ali interjects as to why Nasilasila played for the Warden’s team when he is not a warden but an inmate. Well, the fact of the matter is that there was no inmates team in this tournament. Nasilasila and Labalaba have previously represented our national sevens team. Last weekend they not only mesmerised the rugby fans, but also impressed the national sevens head coach Ben Gollings. We should know where to draw the line. As inmates, they are serving their sentences and as human beings they have a right to play the game they love. DINESH KUMAR Ba
Maybe say thank you
EVEN for a government as desperate as ours to praise itself, a recent Facebook post featuring the Education Minister at the Nadi Centre for Special Education went beyond the pale. Quoting the Government’s philosophy (apparently) of “leaving no one behind” and “quality delivery to Fijian schools” the post barely mentioned that an $11,000 equipment donation to the school had been paid for by the Government of Korea. It would have been nice, perhaps, for the Fiji Government to use its Facebook page — the one that we, the people of Fiji own and pay for — to say, on our behalf, “thank you” to the Government and people of Korea — and leave it at that. RICHARD NAIDU Suva
New champ
AFTER a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Wardens (10-7) in the first leg, Police Blue was caught napping as the men from the Garden Island shocked the star-studded outfit to win the second leg of the Fun Flavour Super Sevens Series at Prince Charles Park. Those who donned the Raiwasa Taveuni outfit looked sharp and hungry. They were aggressive. They had done their homework. They knew that the two-day tournament was going to be tough. Their level of intensity, accuracy and sharpness was admired by fans. The winning team was physical at breakdown and utilised their set-pieces well. Samu Tamanivalu, who scored a try in the final, impressed fans. With the second leg coming to an end, Police Blue’s winning run has come to a halt. First, it was a composed and determined Wardens side, and then a spirited and rejuvenated Raiwasa Taveuni side. Congratulations to Raiwasa Taveuni for winning the second leg! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Balgovind Rd, Nadawa, Nasinu
First game
CONGRATULATIONS to the Fijian Drua for their first game in Super Rugby. The scoreline is the least of my worries. They will only improve over time. It’s all in the mind. The best thing is that they are in Australia, so that will bring improvements automatically. Congratulations for dumping the cibi and the prayers. I must say the pauses in the Na Bole need to be reviewed. I almost went and got a cup of masala chai during the pauses and others almost went home, I think, including the Waratahs, twice — only joking. JAN NISSAR NSW Australia
Drua performance
TO me everything is great and the boys are doing well. All I suggest is let’s not point that finger in our challenge towards the end. Marvellous performance so far boys. Keep the tension low. We can do it. Cheers! ASHIS KUMAR Ba
Tough going
I WAS impressed with the manner in which the Swire Shipping sponsored Fijian Drua side performed the bole against the Waratahs. It showed a lot of passion and the spirit of oneness. I had to be content with the overall performance knowing that it was our debut as the Waratahs snapped their winless streak. Losers no more, the NSW ‘Tahs’ opened the season with a 40-10 victory over a popular, passionate newcomer, and despite a spirited pre-game war-dance, we were dazzled. Backing up their impressive unbeaten trial run, the hosts ran in five tries to one to banish at least some of the bitter memories of last year’s humiliating winless campaign as the bonus-point triumph snapped a 13-match losing streak stretching 538 days since they beat the Rebels. A lot more intensity is needed in our second match. Tougher tests are looming, especially against the bullies from NZ — the Crusaders, Blues, Chiefs, Highlanders and Hurricanes! We improve our discipline and set-pieces, and we will be there! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Balgovind Rd, Nadawa, Nasinu
Poor road conditions
LAST week, the Nora Fraser school bus, laden with students, ended up in the drain at Sinuda, Ovalau. On Saturday, a truck laden with passenger’s, had a slip on the hilly road above Arovudi, Ovalau, and was very lucky that it did not tumble down the side of the steep slope. Yes, such is the state/condition of the road on the northern part of Ovalau. The acting PM and A-G, I believe, will be visiting Levuka on Thursday. Let’s wait and see if he bothers to travel to the north of Ovalau to see for himself. No, it’s nothing to joke about. Are we waiting to see an influx of corpses at the Levuka Hospital morgue before something is urgently done? ANTHONY SAHAI Ovalau
Drainage problem
HAVE the Ministry of Waterways and the municipal council noticed the overflowing of drains and creeks during the rain in Lautoka on Saturday? To me it seems like these drains are too narrow to cater for extra water. Development in the last thirty years has seen big buildings, etc, constructed, but the old storm water drains are never upgraded. Anyways maybe after the general election when the people chosen municipal representatives take office then they might look into drainage problems rather than doing unnecessary groundbreaking. As said by Raymond Singh and Narayan Reddy of Lautoka, who are prepared to work with the Lautoka municipal free, others will surely join them. I hope both Mr Singh and Mr Reddy consider standing for the upcoming elections and look into the long pipeline projects in Lautoka. SHALENDRA REDDY Sukunaivalu Rd, Lautoka
Choose right, eat healthy
IN Fiji NCDs have become the biggest killer in over a few decades. NCDs are a result of behavioural, genetic and physiological factors. According to the 2020 statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, an estimated 5700 Fijians died because of NCDs-related issues. People of all age groups are vulnerable to NCDs if we do not take care of our diet and health. Unhealthy diet, exposure to kava, alcohol and tobacco, lack of physical activity, lack of sleep and stress are contributing factors. Our eating habits and lifestyle play a major role in reducing NCDs. It is important that Fijians: n eat nutritious food; n eat local and home grown food; n do a lot of exercise and physical activities; n have enough sleep and rest; n manage stress and worries; n avoid excessive kava, tobacco and alcohol; and n get tested and screened. NCDs can be avoided if we make prudent choices and we change our unhealthy lifestyle into energetic and a healthy one. It’s time to burn those extra calories and weight. Our health is in our own hands! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Balgovind Rd, Nadawa, Nasinu
Water meter
IN a country where the minimum wage is $2.68 an hour, the price for a new water meter is about $345.00 It will take more than 3 months for a worker earning minimum wage to afford a new water meter in order to supply his family with tap water . During the same period his family has to be fed by relatives, friends or NGOs in order for him to afford the basic necessity of life DAN URAI Lautoka
NGO and politics
SOME people are paranoid. They have said that the NGO — FRIEND — was only helping supporters of one political party. Now he is saying that the OAG is politically aligned. Someone is paranoid. ALLEN LOKCINGTON Kava Place, Lautoka
No jumping
A GREAT explanation by MP Tanya Waqanika that she doesn’t jump ship and she will stick to SODELPA. No matter what she is sticking with her political party. JAHEED BUKSH Korolevu, Sigatoka
Power and democracy
IN my Politics 101 course at USP back in the ’70s I learned that power concentrated in a few hands was inherently dangerous for democracy. Vijay Maharaj’s letter (FT 16/2) reveals a problem in that department in Fiji politics. That’s not good for our beloved country. RAJEND NAIDU Nokonoko Rd, Laucala Beach Estate
Announced changes
THE Education Minister has announced changes which has not gone down well with some individuals and organisations. For a number of years there have been calls for an education commission. Regardless, I do not know how the Education Minister came up with such ideas. Wasn’t she a classroom teacher once? MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
COVID-19 deaths
HOW is it that almost everyone who dies at home is declared to be COVID-19 infected once relatives retrieve their body from the mortuary. DAN URAI Lautoka
