Role of the media
WE learn from The Sunday Times editorial “Role of the media” (26/9) that the Assistant Minister for iTaukei Affairs Selai Adimaitoga said “dishonest media had played a role in every troubling event in Fiji’s history”.
That is clearly a case of not putting the blame where it rightly belongs.
Anyone who has been following “troubling events in Fiji’s history” will know that it has been dishonest leaders who have been responsible for them.
I challenge anybody to dispute this.
Shifting blame is something politicians are given to doing fairly routinely.
RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia
Shoot the messenger
IF one can’t respond to an issue just shoot the messenger.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON, Kava Place, Lautoka
Modi’s speech
THE 76th session of the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) is in progress.
The world leaders have gathered in New York to deliberate on global issues affecting humanity.
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India was the first speaker.
He spoke for 22 minutes and 30 seconds and delivered a thundering speech without mincing words.
He spoke on global issues around the world and the world listened.
At the outset he spoke about the effects of COVID-19 pandemic (the largest global threat in the last 100 years) and how the world had grappled with the situation.
He explained how India handled the first and the second wave of this deadly virus, the production of vaccines in an attempt to save lives.
But people died in millions causing a humanitarian crisis.
He paid condolences to the dead of the world.
He said India was the world’s largest democracy and the mother of democracies.
He emphasised that democracy can deliver and democracy has delivered on a global scale.
Further, he talked about integrated development which was inclusive, pervasive and universal.
He cited examples from India vis-a-vis: water, health, housing, banking, energy, education and property rights etc.
Role of drone technology and digitisation was emphasised.
Next Modi spoke about climate change and its effect on humanity.
He listed the ways in which India is attempting to be the largest green hydrogen hub of the world.
He claimed that the oceans were the common resource of humanity and it must not be abused.
The current generation is answerable to the posterity.
Free and fair trading on sea lanes to be protected.
Modi spoke on regressive and extremist thinking which has led to the threat of terrorism for global humanity.
Terrorism must not be allowed to be used as a tool by some to suppress the rights of women, children and the minorities.
He made reference to the situation in Afghanistan.
He said the world must come together to stop terrorism.
In his closing remarks Modi called upon the United Nations to institute reforms so that it still remains relevant and above board.
He called upon the United Nations to introspect to see if it is still relevant to current needs of the world.
At the close of his speech Modi was given a thundering applause signifying its impact.
DEWAN CHAND, Namadi Heights, Suva
Great minds
THOUGH I risk getting pelted with rotten eggs, I will still challenge all those individuals out there who claim that there is someone in Fiji who knows everything.
When I extensively searched for the world’s greatest minds, I could not find any names from Fiji.
What on Earth are you people talking about?
MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF, Natabua, Lautoka
Women empowerment
CONGRATULATIONS to Susan Dayal and Preetika Prasad for the new appointment by the President, Jioji Konrote.
It shows great empowerment with two women taking new executive positions.
JAHEED BUKSH, Korolevu Sigatoka
Byrne to steer Drua
I’M elated with the news that a calibre of a rugby mind such as Mick Byrne has been selected by the panel to steer the Fijian Drua’s Super Rugby course.
I’m equally delighted that Naca Cawanibuka was appointed as the new head of athletic performance.
I’m glad that both the positions have been filled by two great rugby minds who deserve them.
Mick Byrne, who has had a 23-year-old industrious rugby career, is no stranger to Super Rugby having been part of the Blues from 2012-14.
He has also tasted victories — Webb Ellis Cup, Tri-Nations titles, Rugby Championships, Bledisloe Cups and Asian Cups. Hence, he is driven to achieve success and greater things as a coach.
Naca on the other hand has been part of our 7s team’s success on the HSBC WRSS circuit and in the Olympic Games.
He has worked with Ben Ryan and Gareth Baber.
A down-to-earth, hardworking, passionate and enthusiastic gentleman, Naca is the right choice.
I’m adamant of a good outing in Super Rugby now that we have the right minds for the Fijian Drua side!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Balgovind Rd, Nadawa, Nasinu
Voters roll
A LADY registered under her married name in the voters roll will have to register if she re-marries.
Whereas if she was registered under her maiden name she will not need to.
VIJAY MADHAVAN, Borron Rd, Suva
Birth certificate
“MUM, where is Fiji?”
“I don’t know daughter, but it must be that place where your married name is on your birth certificate.”
RICK EYRE, Labasa
Married name
DID I hear correctly!
They said for married women to change their birth certificate name to their married name.
Turaga levu!
Really!
Sa mosi noqu… OK levamine!
NIGEL FIU, Owls Perch, Lautoka
Speaker wrong
SPEAKER ‘wrong’: Lawyers speak out (FT 24/9).
The Speaker is not infallible.
He could be wrong to order “voting by acclamation”.
He should take up the advice to seek competent independent legal brief on the matter.
RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia
Gardener
IN the neighbourhood, a backyard gardener was busy spraying pesticide.
Along came the one well known in the community as the “spare searcher” who started off with his usual polishing as a build-up to the killer blow.
The backyard gardener sensed it and had his guards up.
Then it came from the visitor: “Do you have any spare pesticide?”
The backyard gardener floored the visitor with: “Segai bro, this is Panadol mixture.”
MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF, Natabua, Lautoka
Media swipe
THE honourable Selai Adimaitoga should have taken the privilege she was given to speak constructively by citing examples, not make sweeping generalisation.
She should elaborate facts because I believe majority of Fijians do not agree with her that The Fiji Times has been reporting recklessly.
DAN URAI, Lautoka
Language
ONE of my fishing mates John Barrot told me once language is power.
The more languages you know the more power you got.
He also told me a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.
I already knew a few languages, but I stopped working and started fishing full time.
SUKHA SINGH, Labasa
New breed
MY horse just called me from the Nausori Highlands, I think he was high.
“Boss,” he said.
“What’s this new breed of my kind called mares?
I told him to tone down, lest some people will come in the night and take him to Suva.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON, Kava Place, Lautoka
Voter laws
IT’S no rocket science and does not have to take prominent lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo on the front page of The Sunday Times (FT 26/09) to confirm that the recent amendments to laws on voter registration will affect some.
Obviously it’ll affect many, especially married women, and we can go on imagining the many challenges it will cause, but the fact of the matter is that the law has been amended, it’s been passed, and its now law.
Growth means change and change involves stepping from the known to the unknown, we learn, we overcome, and we grow.
Let’s not waste our time complaining about the changes, but take on the challenges it’ll initially cause and move on, for the changes most certainly has some value.
What has happened here is not important, but it’s how positively we react to it that matters the most.
SIMON HAZELMAN, Rava Estate, Savusavu
Burden on women
ALL countries including Fiji are committed to the sustainable development goals.
I’m surprised that in Fiji we are doing the opposite as we hear in media and social media platforms how our government leaders and respective ministers are all claiming to support gender equality, women empowerment and elimination of violence against women and girls.
A typical example is the extra financial burden imposed on our women to go and change their names on their 2022 Election Voting ID cards according to what’s on their birth certificates.
Why do some men in government leadership positions continue to put unnecessary burden on our women while men are not that much affected by this new law?
JIOJI MASIVESI CAKACAKA, Tadra- Votualevu, Nadi
Moral dilemma
I AM signing this letter with the first given name and the surname on my birth certificate.
I am in a serious moral dilemma.
I have evidently been living the life of an imposter since I entered this country and married nearly sixty one years ago.
During these sixty odd years I have made countless transactions and signed with an apparently unlawful name and voted illegally at election times.
I have been awarded medals by the President and I received a prize from the Government of the day for co-designing the Fiji flag.
But despite the hassle I will have to undergo to get my voter card correct, I am determined to cast my vote when the time comes.
CYNARA CHANDLER (aka TESSA MACKENZIE), Suva
