From despair to hope!
The story of Inoke Yanuyanutawa, which made the front page of The Fiji Times (16/11), is an eyeopener and a reflection of the power of helping drug users. Now that drugs have gripped their tentacles around many, including the young, rehabilitation must be provided so that these users are assisted. Inoke, who turned to drugs because of what he claimed were financial problems, was addicted and crime and prison beckoned. I’m glad that the rehabilitation centre provides a combination of spirituality and medicine as a healing balm to help addicts walk away from their obsessive dependency on drugs and return to normal life. There are others out there like Inoke who need assistance, love and support from those around them. We can join hands to help drug addicts rather than pointing fingers at each other. Our religious and community leaders play a vital role in addressing drug issue. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Empowerment not a problem
Why does the GCC keep on harping about the iTaukei and their empowerment? They have been harping about this for more than 100 years. The iTaukei own more than 93 per cent of the land and they now make up more than 70 per cent of the population. Is the problem that they will not be satisfied until they own 110 per cent of the land and make up 110 per cent of the population? Will they be empowered then? What then? Who will be there to blame then? Why is it left up to me to tell the GCC that they are barking up the wrong tree? iTaukei empowerment is not the problem. The GCC is the problem and playing on peoples’ sentiments with buzz words with no action is not going to cut it. What happened after their poverty alleviation trip to China this time last year? Jan Nissar Sydney, Australia
Thank you
Our sincere thanks go to owner/driver of Nadi taxi ND0784 for his honesty. He is definitely exemplary to all Nadi taxis. After Mass on Sunday at 9.15am (10/11), he took us home via RB Patel Jetpoint at Martintar, Nadi. Somehow my wife left behind her wallet in his taxi. We received a call from this honest driver early in the evening. He returned the wallet and all its contents, still intact. We recommend him for a reward from Nadi’s Land Transport Authority for his honesty. He deserves this. His taxi is clean, neat and tidy – a perfect example to too many dirty taxis “allowed” to operate throughout Nadi Town, Martintar and Namaka. LTA Nadi should do a blitz on all dirty taxis and improperly dressed drivers. I highly recommend this to improve customer service which is badly lacking. Furthermore, the two Martintar-based taxi companies are most unreliable. Their favourite reply, 9 times out of 10, “taxi coming” – and half an hour later; they are still coming. All drivers are employed on “contract basis” – around $80 per day to owners. These drivers hate short runs. We are forced to engage taxis from Namaka and Votualevu….. at a cost for their reliability and punctuality, when needed…. often booking, well in advance. LTA Nadi must attend to this poor public service with vengeance. Stiff penalties and deterrents are vital. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Crumbling school structure
A recent picture of crumbling structures of a prominent primary school in the outskirts of Suva has sent shivers down our spine. The level of decay and neglect is simply unbelievable. In my childhood we were told that schools are temples of learning. They are our alma mater and appropriate sense of respect must be accorded to teachers and other ancillary staff and the school property. Our day began with greetings: good morning sir, or goodmorning madam and children greeted each other with broad smiles, giggles and laughter as children disembarked from school buses or family cars. Such simple etiquette brought so much happiness and camaraderie. Children were eager to do their duties and prefects and duty teachers ensured that the interior and the exterior of the school was kept neat and clean. School gardners kept the school flower gardens well manicured. Children were taught good manners such as saying thank you or walking in lines on one side of the corridor, or washing hands before eating and brushing teeth after eating or washing hands after visiting the toilets. They were taught to respect books and other school equipment in the laboratory or the computer room etc. This enabled children to form good reading and learning habits with joy. The day began with school prayer and religious teachings were compulsory so that children could learn vital societal values. Prayers and verses were memorised which lasted a lifetime. These enabled the schools to produce well educated and well characterised students who became valuable members of our society. But look what transformation has taken place with human and child’s rights. The sense of reverence and respect has gone out the window. Dishonesty and misbehaviour cannot be punished. School counsellors and religious teachers have been removed from the school system. Other teachers are helpless spectators and at the first opportunity resign to migrate or find another job. Teaching and learning has become a farce! School managements have been reduced to mere puppets. Their powers have been usurped by the Ministry of Education and the school management has no say in who can be the head of their school. The Ministry of Education claims they pay the teachers and provide funds for capital development and therefore they call all the shots. It is this attitude that has led to the current state of affairs. No one seems to bother about the school structures where 900 students receive education. We must stop and ponder whether we are doing the right thing for our children. No use crying that there is too much drug trafficking in schools or there are too many teenage pregnancies or too much of STD (sexually transmitted diseases) or utter lack of respect for teachers and parents. We have to ensure that our schools remain the temple of learning and not a place of wokish experimentation. Stop the rot now!
Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
Special needs
A recent study commissioned by the Fijian Government and UNICEF has revealed that the annual cost of violence against children in Fiji amounts to more than $459million, or approximately 4.23 per cent of Fiji’s GDP (The Fiji Times 11/11). Given the magnitude of the problem and the need to address it I believe the Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection should make a donation of $1000 just as she did to the Pacific Autism Centre to address the dire needs of these special needs children. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
What’s happening?
Who has paid attention to Aman Ravindra’s Singh’s case so far? What are we waiting for? A decade of Christmas? Time is passing by with a great lawyer’s absence. Let’s just not only talk about justice but take action, from the very point it’s needed the most. Kirti Patel Mohan Singh Pl, Lautoka
Which café for you?
Recently I stopped for an iced coffee in Pacific Harbour on my way back to Suva from the Coral Coast. I went to the café I had stopped at once before but it was closed. I was told it opened at 10am and it was about 9.30am at the time. I knew there was another cafe nearby so I walked to it. There were five people there before me. I order and was served in a prompt manner. The coffee was 50 cents less than the one that was closed. My drink was very nice, indeed. Which one might I be calling into next time? It became easily apparent the first café was not rushing for my business. One asks why are they there in the first place? Julie Sutherland Delainavesi
Leung on new law firms
In the photo accompanying the article ‘Leung on new law firms'(FT 9/11) Graham Leung, the A-G with a hat on, looks like a character out of an Al Capone film. Very distinguished. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Still don’t believe it!
My brother returned from holidaying in Spain including Valencia where he was one of many tourists happily wandering around the city. It looked like a very lovely place. The very next week the image of Valencia I saw on the news was one of destruction and death. Is there anyone that seriously doubts that climate change isn’t real? Dennis Fitzgerald Melbourne, Australia
A funeral that united Fiji!
Fiji’s featherweight boxer, Ubayd Haider, who was known as the ‘Prince of Fiji’, united Fijians. His funeral gathering brought people from all walks of life as they filled up the National Gymnasium to pay their last respect to a golden talent. People put aside ethnicity, colour and gender as they gathered as a family to bid goodbye to a boxer whose journey to hospital made headlines. His funeral was fitting for his name. A sympathy message included that from Sonny Bill Williams as well. Ministers, former ministers and sports personalities gathered to salute a boxer who alongside his brother, Sebastian ‘Sniper’ Singh, inspired young boxers. Sebastian’s words, “Sa mosimosi saraga noqu rosi. You will forever be in my heart. Your legacy will live on. Love you my bro”, brought tears to many eyes. The multi-ethnic gathering during Haider’s funeral spoke a lot about his humility, character, fighting spirit and the relationship he had with everyone. Haider has left behind a vacuum. Until that glorious morning, rest high Ubayd Haider! We shall sing your praises and ponder on your epic achievements! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Policy matters
I feel sorry for the people of Fiji who bear the burden of the policy interpretation regarding overtime and time-off in lieu at the Ministry of Health. I refer to the circular which those at Ministry of Health HQ hold on to as the gospel truth and no-go zone released by the Ministry of Civil Service. The work of doctors, nurses and other specialists at the Ministry of Health should never be affected by the new TOIL circular. They have a role that is engraved in the right to health Section 38 of the 2013 Constitution which determines that:
- The State must take reasonable measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realisation of the right of every person …;
- A person must not be denied emergency medical treatment; and
- In applying any right under this section, if the State claims that it does not have the resources to implement the right, it is the responsibility of the State to show that the resources are not available.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Professor Biman Prasad, in The Fiji Times of November 8, 2024 supports that when he says “the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Service must sort out issues arising out of …(the)… new policy on overtime and time-off in Lieu (TOIL)…(since)… the issue was not a question of insufficient funding… (or) … of funding not being available”.
“I believe that all staff at MoH need to own the primary role invested in the ministry by the Constitution and the power invested upon them by the State Services Decree 2009. They are to ensure that Fijians needing medical assistance in Fiji are provided the services on time and not fighting against the unions on policy issues such as this which I believe they are wrongly interpreting. If the ministry fails to heed this one cent input, then they are not fulfilling their constitutional role. Life is the most important policy, please. Setoki MB Mataitoga Rokosawa Rd, Cunningham, Suva
