Portable camera AREKI DAWAI SUVA
THE Fiji Police Traffic Department officers frequently stand (sometimes hiding) on the roadside with their speed camera radar device (without warning) to stop and fine drivers driving over the speed limit on the highway. On the other hand the Land Transport Authority has fixed speed cameras installed nationwide with a one kilometre warning sign ahead. I believe the Fiji Police use no warning signs but will use the displayed speed limit in their defence while the LTA clearly warns drivers way ahead with the “speed camera ahead” sign. Recently the LTA is deploying a deceptive method to hide themselves and place their portable speed cameras hidden or covered on the roadside. It seems like the LTA is a money making department nowadays.
Parks and gardens GEOFFREY CHAND LAUTOKA
THE Sugar City, once well known for its green trees, beautiful gardens, marine drive and Shirley park areas is slowly becoming a run down polluted city. Few new benches and ugly looking rubbish bins don’t make the place look neat and tidy. The special administrators and whoever is in charge of parks should visit My Suva Picnic Park and learn from the Capital City about how to develop parks and how to do gardens in the city. Lautoka once had better parks compared to Suva but looking at My Suva Park development, it has left Lautoka way behind in park and gardens development. Look at Ratu Sukuna Park. Shirley park, Botanical garden the controversial Coronation park are only three in the middle of Lautoka City and still those making decisions in the Lautoka City Council building plan to sell them. Why can’t Lautoka get someone with a similar vision as Suva in developing parks and gardens. Have the special administrators looked at the Market Triangle in the city? Those trees are all cut, Market Triangle or Globe Triangle where many used to sit down under the shade of those Christmas trees are all destroyed and replaced with ugly looking low grade steel and tarpaulin structures. Is that development? Come on Lautoka City Council, visit Suva park and see for yourself, get out of the greedy money ideas and think about something good you can do for your people in sugar city that people can be proud of.
Taste of India SAMU RAILOA NADI
FIJIAN boxers got a taste of India boxing last Saturday in Suva. The Zeg Kings promotion brought lowly ranked boxers from India who were quite convincing in winning their bouts over our local heroes. Even though it is an ancient sport, India’s boxing success is quite recent. A robust amateur system, club boxing and the Indian Army have played major influences in harnessing boxing talent which has contributed some world-class pugilists who have won three Olympic bronze medals and some world boxing championship titles. Fiji boxing can take a leaf from India. Inviting their boxers to feature in our boxing promotions is a good start.
Drug arrests DAN URAI LAUTOKA
THERE is an increase in arrests of people dealing with drugs. I believe the change in government has brought about this development.
Someone else’s fault JAN NISSAR SYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA
IT is clear from what has been said by the leadership of the NFP that all the issues they are now facing are not of their making. Everything has been due to outside forces which are out of their control. In other words, it is all someone else’s fault. I believe the most likely culprit in all of this drama is the previous government. We will let the NFP investigate and confirm.
Road humps WISE MUAVONO BALAWA, LAUTOKA
ROAD humps should be painted because it improves visibility and safety. Can’t Fiji Roads Authority afford to paint road humps around the country? Sobo!
Congratulations India RAKESH CHAND SHARMA ADELAIDE
AUSTRALIA INDIA won the Women’s World Cup Cricket final beating South Africa by 52 runs in Mumbai, India. Apart from the US$4.48 million prize money, Women’s Cricket will receive approximately US$14m by BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).
Council meetings RAJEND NAIDU SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
JAN Nissar reckons the main problem in Fiji is there are just too many chiefs and not enough Indians (FT 1/11). I reckon the main problem apart from mediocre leaders is there are too many lawyers and not enough respect for the rule of law in the country.
Drinking in public places DAN URAI LAUTOKA
IT happens in every town and the two cities. Why are those in authority allowing this to happen?
Rebuilding trust SELWA NANDAN LAUTOKA
THE Opinion titled “Reclaiming Fiji” by Dr Naren Prasad (FT 1/11) is a must read for all policymakers and planners. In fact, I would also implore the Prime Minister, all ministers, and parliamentarians to take time to read it too. If not the whole article but at least the final paragraph which has been very aptly summed up – I quote: When a nation begins to lose its people, it is not the migrants who have failed, it is the policymakers who have stopped imagining a future worth staying in Fiji for. Fiji deserves leadership that restores that imagination, rebuilds trust between government and citizen, and makes this land once again a place where people choose to live, work and dream. The exodus of skilled and experienced workers is not only a brain drain and loss of productive labour but a testament of erosion of trust in our system. As Dr Naren has postulated, the dependency culture perpetuated by the remittance inflows is detrimental to the long term sustainability and growth of our economy. As they say easy come, easy go. We need to act pronto before it is too late to reverse the trend.
One for the crowd! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM NADAWA, NASINU
THUMBS up Jonacani Lalakobau for capturing that special moment (ST: 02/11) when Malolo fullback and my man-of-thematch Douglas Daveta dived over to score the last try in the Skipper Cup grand finale that the giant slayers won in a heartwarming and emphatic style, defeating Naitasiri 41-16! This picture deserves the Fiji Sports Photograph of the Year Award, just as Baljeet Singh delivered it when his winning click captured a flying Selestino Ravutaumada scoring a try for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua against the Western Force at Churchill Park. The Drua hammered the Force 38-7. Saturday’s David vs Goliath battle was about pride, passion and baptism of fire for Malolo, playing in their first Skipper Cup final. The sold-out HFC Bank Stadium enjoyed every bit of emotion, drama and entertainment as Malolo played like men possessed. They were driven by the desire to win. Full stop! The team from Lawa took control of the second half as they trailed 12-10 at the break. As I read Fred Wesley’s editorial titled ‘When they dare to dream big’ (ST: 02/11), I reflected on how big the win was to Malolo. When they upset Nadroga, I realised Rupeni Nasiga and his coaching panel had something up on their sleeves. The win was a dream. Wesley aptly summarised the win via his editorial, “They (Malolo) packed fire in the belly. They packed enthusiasm and a great desire to win in their first try. They played their hearts out and won. Greatness does not belong only to the giants. It belongs to those who dare to dream big and work hard.” Indeed Wesley, “Malolo’s triumph is a testament to what can happen when preparation meets passion, when faith meets focus, and when a team refuses to be defined by others’ expectations.”
