Fijian Drua lifts hearts!
The performance of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side against the Gallagher Chiefs at Churchill Park lifted hearts. I sincerely thank the boys for the spirited and valiant performance that almost resulted in the biggest upset of this year’s Super Rugby season. The Chiefs took a comfortable lead, but the Drua staged a dramatic fight-back, spurred by the vocal supporters. The comeback shocked many, and fans found their feet and voice as they cheered for the Drua. Many wondered where the boys got the steam and energy in the second-half to counter the Chiefs lead and finish the game by the closest of margins. Fans had heartbreak, but they went home satisfied, knowing that the Fijian Drua has much to offer to the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific competition and beyond. The season saw a string of losses, some even close losses, but the future looks bright. We must be prepared to lose players who impressed — the likes of Kalaveti Ravouvou and Vinaya Habosi. We lost Onisi Ratave to Italian club Benetton, which means opportunity will be created for other wingers to impress the team management for a spot in the Drua. The season has come to an end. We finished 11th, but there is room for improvement! Vinaka Drua! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu
Time to vote
IN The Sunday Times (29.05) Mr Sayed-Khaiyum says “it takes only a few minutes to go and vote”. Who is he kidding here? Going to the voting location alone can take many minutes and many more are spent waiting in line until one is allowed to vote. I believe for the vast majority of the voters it’s almost a half day affair. And yes, for the sake of the people, July 7 is a great day for the election. No need for any unnecessary delay. Hans-Bernd Boernke Savusavu
Damaged schools
If over 50 years after independence we still need Australian soldiers to build cyclone damaged schools in the country (ST 29/5), how independent are we as a sovereign nation? What if Chinese soldiers also decided to come over to do that? Why can’t local resources and the local unemployed be mobilised to undertake such work? And, incidentally, what happened to the huge foreign aid that was given after the cyclone? Why couldn’t that be utilised to get a contractor to build the school? Wasn’t rebuilding of schools a priority? Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Safety at work
ASSISTANT Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Alvick Maharaj, while opening a World Day for Safety and Health at Work celebration and workshop (FT 27/5), emphasises that the policies for safety at work will ensure the safety of all employees to enable them to work in comfort. This had been long overdue as some workers were discriminated against according to their genders. Many general rules at work were a major concern for the ladies. Some had been terminated or had resigned when they could not cope as they had no choice. Let’s hope more workshops and awareness programs will help with some guidelines to implement the workable policies for everyone’s convenience — employers and employees. Safety at work should be everyone’s responsibility. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Next season
n FOR the journey, we thank you. You who sailed our Drua into history, in this your debut, in the competitive Super Rugby, despite only winning two. Our Drua have sailed before, through rough seas and gales, way back in days of yore, and this is just the same. That last game was a cracker, when they almost beat the Chiefs, in Churchill Park in Lautoka. Next season, Mafatu, just wait and see, the Drua will navigate a course to defeat you, when it next goes out to sea! Edward Blakelock Pacific Harbour
‘Stupid’ comment
THE A-G has branded former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s comments regarding intermittent water supply and electricity as “quite stupid” (FT 29/05). While I believe Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum habitually and patently shoots down facts from the Opposition often labelling them as imprudent and senseless, he conveniently overlooks some of the absurd comments he himself idiotically utters while delivering speeches. For example, just recently, he was tactfully attempting to rationalise the coup d’état of 2006, stating it was “different” from the other coups. Apart from minister Premila Kumar’s “we have no connection to India” and minister Faiyaz Koya’s “there is no poverty in Fiji” references, I believe the A-G’s desperate justification of the treasonous events of 2006 is the most “stupidest” remark I ever heard so far. A laughing stock indeed. Nishant Singh Lautoka
What racism!
IN the central business district of Lautoka last Saturday, when a Fijian of Indian descent (in his vehicle) asked me where Churchill Park was, I did not make much of it until I saw him making his way into the grounds later in the Drua colours. I do know if it was just mere coincidence because I was also in blue and green. Inside the arena, I happened to be around a group of iTaukei men who had come all the way from Suva. That’s what they told me. We had discussions on some topics. During the time between the curtain-raiser and the main clash, one from the group went outside. When he came back, he had two bottles of water and a plastic of roti parcels. The parcels were passed around the group and to my surprise, one was bought for me. When I politely thanked them, I was told not to be shy as this was my home. I think that over the years we have learnt and accepted that we have tolive with each other and it is disgusting for some politicians to talk about racism just so they could profit from it. MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
Unbeaten on day one
In his pre-London 7s match interview, captain Tevita Daugunu said, “We are really looking forward to playing here in London and hopefully we can back up our performance from last weekend.” Tevita and members of the 7s side had a mammoth task ahead of them as they faced hosts England and a likely semi-final showdown against the All Blacks 7s and final against Samoa or South Africa. The boys were out to repeat the feat achieved by the 2018/19 team — four straight finals and three wins. The side not only aimed to defend the London 7s title, but aimed for a hat-trick as in 2018 and 2019, Fiji beat South Africa 21-17 and Australia 43-7 in the cup final. It was a delight to note that Fiji went unbeaten on day one, defeating Wales, Spain and the USA Eagles. The loss to Fiji also relegated the Eagles out of the cup quarter-final. The players lifted their performance and the new kids stood out. I thank the boys and the team officials for the courageous, impressive and imperious performance on day one of the London 7s! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Drua game
Let me make it clear that the jam-packed crowd at Churchill Park during the match between the Fijian Drua and Chiefs is not a sign that there is no poverty in Lautoka and it’s neighbouring towns. I know some parliamentarians will say that there is no poverty in the Western Division because the ground was jam-packed with over 15,000 people according to mainstream media reports. However, according to the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), total number of Western Division residents is 330,434 of which 165,975 were males and 164,458 females. There were other supporters who came from Suva, Nausori, Rewa, Tailevu and even some from Vanua Levu, Kadavu and Ovalau. The 15,102 spectators who were at the game are even less than 5 per cent of the Western Division population. So, still a lot of Western Division residents did not go to the ground because they cannot afford to and priorities are on basic food items for their daily survival at this point in time. On a positive note, it’s good for the residents of Lautoka City because at least some extra cash was injected into its local economy especially into our business communities, but common residents are still living below the poverty line and we are not close to OK. By the way, congratulations to our Fijian Drua and Fijiana Drua and I look forward to success in 2023. Jioji M Cakacaka Votualevu, Nadi
Try of the season
For me, as a fan, the most memorable moment during the Drua-Chiefs battle was the try dubbed as the try of the 2022 Super Rugby season. It was when the Nadroga/Navosa boy Vinaya Habosi picked up the ball from his own try line and sprinted towards the Chiefs half, off-loading successfully to his kai Kalaveti Ravouvou. And Ravouvou dashed with a greater speed to conclude a wonderful try for the Drua. What a treat for the Drua fans! DINESH KUMAR Ba
The Real deal
FOR a side that beat Paris St-Germaine, Manchester City and Liverpool to win the Champions League, Real Madrid has answered every question about which club is the greatest ever in European football, and arguably the best ever in the world. And those remarkable comebacks? That is self-belief, a wall that is built only from years of experience. Congratulations! Samu Railoa Nadi
European champions
I believe, as a Liverpool fan, it is difficult to control my emotions for the manner in which we lost the title to Real Madrid. All statistics were heavily stacked against them, even the shots on target. Sometimes football can be cruel but the age old saying in football that goalkeepers win tournaments has surely proven to be true. Pranil Ram Votualevu, Nadi
Driver’s seat
When one is in the very demanding “driver’s seat”, wears multiple hats, it is ever so easy to get over meticulous, pedantic and heavy handed. Conflicts of interest can very easily settle in. For better or worse, history will then become the best judge. We shall then reap what we sow. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Vuvale spirit
Hope the newly-appointed Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s visit to Fiji (FT 26/5) will also generate the vuvale spirit among Fijians who have become a fractured society because of political antagonisms in the post-coup environment. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
That umbrella
When I see someone else holding the umbrella of our government leaders and ministers, I go, isa, my paternal and maternal grandmothers and great grandmothers used to hold their own umbrellas. May their souls rest in peace. Isa. Anthony Sahai Suva
