Grog dopeys
So, the thrashing meted out by Ireland to the Flying Fijians last weekend was the referee’s fault! Again. Any wins by the Flying Fijians are never the referee’s fault. How much of a Third World mentality and pathetic are the grog dopeys of Fiji? When will Fijians stop blaming everyone else?
I guess wrecking the RFNS Puamau was also the referee’s fault and the fact that the people and government in the country are useless is also the referee’s fault.
JAN NISSAR, Sydney, Australia.
FNPF contributions
Can the Government please reconsider the re-entry of people that had no options but to withdraw totally.
On the first occasion I withdrew to help my parents pay for my wedding. On the second occasion I had to withdraw for my mother’s medical expenses.
For the past 16 years I have been working but despite making several requests I have been told I cannot rejoin.
My reasons were genuine.
Please can I rejoin for the rest of my working life which could be anything between 6-10years?
TAI SMITH, Nasinu Secondary School Rd, Kinoya, Nasinu
Family reunions
It has always been my policy to refrain from engaging in debate with overseas correspondents, like me, who are not resident in Fiji.
Fiji Times readers, I feel are more interested in domestic affairs instead of slanging matches between offshore letter writers.
Yesterday’s letter (FT 25/11) from Jan Nissar though, screams for a response.
He asks: “Why was there such great pomp, ceremony and celebration? Is there something wrong with living in Fiji?”, when writing of the departure of PALM workers family members. All of this above a tag line of J.N. Sydney, Australia! After years of separation while striving to increase their family life style, these families now look forward to a better future. Yes Jan, they have won the lottery.
They are coming to join you.
Who did you vote for?
TERRY HULME, Australia
Milky water, stench
Who is responsible for the enforcement of regulations for the very milky water and the unbearable stench present in the Yarawa Rd creek in the Raiwasa area in Suva?
The Suva City Council, Ministry of Environment, and the Water Authority of Fiji have been approached and responded but the problem is still there.
Who should we approach now?
ASISH VINAY PRASAD, Park Rd, Raiwasa, Suva
Transport payment
The truck/carrier operators on Ovalau are infuriated regarding the much delayed RSL Education Transport Payment.
Such an issue was not experienced during the term of the previous government. If there was a delay, it would take only a few days for the MOE to effect payments, unlike now.
Payments are long outstanding, not for weeks but months and numerous calls to those responsible at MOE have proven futile.
One wonders, were the payment funds diverted to cater for the 50-plus COP29 group expenses or to cater for Government’s weekly globetrotting or for their soqo and kalavata?
A service has been provided and payment is long overdue.
What’s happening? Who’s responsible for such a “botched up mess?”
ANTHONY SAHAI, Levuka, Ovalau
RFNS Timo
I hope our Fiji Navy sailors don’t have the misconception that the new RFNS Timo is a landing craft and try crossing over a reef. Sobo!
WISE MUAVONO, Balawa, Lautoka
FNPF pensions
Although I am grateful that Parmesh Chand has publicly acknowledged that what was done to us FNPF pensioners in 2012 was wrong while under his chairmanship of the FNPF Board, I am very disappointed that he took all this time to come out and acknowledge this. Shame on you Mr Chand.
ROBERT MANOA, Nasinu
16 Days of Activism!
As I flipped through the World Health Organization’s page, my attention was drawn to the wealth of information presented on the global 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women, which is a key international moment to call for an end to violence against women and girls. It runs from 25th November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10th December (Human Rights Day).
WHO shared that violence against women happens in every country and culture, causing harm to millions of women and girls. WHO added that around the world today, prolonged and intense conflicts have resulted in a continuous rise in of all forms of gender-based violence.
I salute WHO for playing an active role in strengthening health systems and for calling all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect women and girls from gender-based violence and ensure access to essential health services.
Activists marched in Labasa town on Monday during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. They were in high spirits, making every effort to end violence against girls and women. Our ‘iron-lady’ Shamima Ali is spearheading this campaign, and alongside her, women and girls need our support!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu.
Drunkards in town
West Police SP Lakobo Vaisewa’s stern warning of arresting disorderly drunkards has had negligible effect as groups of unruly people continue to consume alcoholic beverages in plain view of the public. Police patrols are rare whenever there is a drinking assembly within the city boundaries, despite the Lautoka Police Station located just metres away from all the drinking hotspots.
Just last week, while on my usual early morning walk, I observed a lone police officer armed with a police baton nonchalantly approaching a drinking party consisting of rowdy teens at the Pacific Energy Service Station premises (a very common drinking base) situated across the Vomo St junction.
Assuming that the lawman would dutifully confront and detain these hooligans for public drinking and disturbing the peace, I was shocked to see this officer informally conversing with these drunkards and shaking hands with them. After the pleasantries were exchanged followed by a kaila, the police officer casually strolled away, leaving the drunks to continue their alcohol binge. I wonder if the situation would have been any different if the guilty party belonged to a different ethnicity, since the two-tier law and justice system is quite dominant in our communities.
Law enforcement officers are generally expected to maintain the law, especially in cases of public disturbances or recurring issues like public drinking. When officers appear to be lenient or indifferent to such behaviour, it destabilises the rule of law and often leads to a loss of confidence in the police force.
With such lack of commitment to enforcing the law, no wonder the Men in Blue continually gets a bad rapport.
NISHANT SINGH,Lautoka
Suffering in Baku
I believe that the way the Assistant Minister for Women has described the suffering of the Fiji delegation to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan one would have thought they travelled there on the back of camels in a caravan through an unforgiving desert in the year 1524 (not 2024) without food, water and medicines to reach Baku. It appears they are the only delegation who have stayed away from their families, missed meals and the usual comforts of life at home, suffered from cold and wet, flu and blisters. We all know that people living in Fiji never miss a meal. No other delegates have suffered these things. I have always known that Fijians are resilient and hardworking people who seem to have been allocated tents in Baku while all the other delegates from the developed world travelled by modern jetliners and are staying in luxury hotels and have a lot of money and help.
I do not know about anyone else, but I feel for the suffering of the Fiji delegation and the sacrifices they are making for us, for a better Fiji and a better world! I am genuinely concerned about their treacherous camel ride back to Fiji. Are they strong enough to make it back safely?
We all should appreciate the hard work they are doing and not be sceptical or critical. I do not for a second believe that the Assistant Minister is being a drama queen.
JAN NISSAR, Sydney, Australia
The ban
IF the Tui Namosi has decided to ban land owners or the people of Namosi caught for their involvement in drugs, then perhaps it will be even-handed for him to also banish thieves, sex perpetrators, domestic abuses etc., from the province. Anyway, I wonder if Ratu Matanitobua was literally better advised or has sought guidance from a legal counsel before giving out his command? Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, I hope you have not looked away from the issue!
AREKI DAWAI, Suva.
GCC use by date
Like Nishant Singh of Lautoka (F/T Nov22) and other writers to this column the GCC has already expired their “use by date” and should be abolished. Former prime minister Bainimarama did the right thing by banishing them under that famous mango tree. They should have been left alone to continue to enjoy themselves under the tree. What good has the GCC ever done for Fiji?
ROBERT MANOA, Nasinu
Our schoolies
Our local schoolies
where do they go?
Not to a hotel on an island overseas,
but usually to an island home,
across our seas.
EDWARD BLAKELOCK, Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour
Social media ban
It’s the parents who should be banned from using social media, not the children. Children copy what their parents do. If the parents stop wasting family time on social media then so will their children.
AREN NUNNINK, Hooper St, Savusavu
Failure!
A failure on every front: Pacific climate advocates decry COP 29 outcomes (RNZ/ FT 26/11/24). The biggest Pacific Island country Papua New Guinea anticipated well and decided not to send any delegation to COP29 saying it’s a waste of time. Fiji sent a bloated delegation of 56 to what has turned out to be “A failure on every front”. But the people of Fiji remain truly blessed with such profound political leadership.
RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia
Optimistic
The Coalition Government in New Zealand are optimistic after completing the first year. Can the same be said of our Government?
DAN URAI, Lautoka
Drugs and coconuts
The Fiji Times news on drug in coconuts (FT25/11) will affect the sale to some extent. Travellers stop to quench their thirst by drinking this safe natural drink. We are well blessed in our tropical climate. Such publications may affect Fiji tourism. As I stopped for a green coconut drink the vendor said: “This natural drink is good for health.”
TAHIR ALI, Hamilton, New Zealand
Pool saga
THAT swimming pool, is it still in the pipeline? Oh, I see time to review the pipeline. Mmm!
NAVNEET RAM (TD), Lautoka
