Medical care! – RONNIE CHANG MARTINTAR, NADI
RECENT reports on the nonpayment to General Medical Practitioners since July, by the Ministry of Health issues are a clear indication of the slackness which prevails. Businesses struggle to survive when timely payments are not adhered to. 90 to 120 days to clear invoices payable only leads to businesses collapsing. This is not acceptable. It is not good business acumen. The private — commercial sector needs timely payments within 30 days to survive. As a senior citizen, aged 73 and steadily inching my way to 74, and betrayed by FNPF since 2012, I too struggle to survive today. Following my recent Nadi Hospital SOPD, the hospital pharmacy ran out of Aspirin 100mg Tabs (blood thinners); and Tamsulosin Capsules 0.4mg for my prostate issues. These cost me almost $25 for a month’s supply. Many seniors are far worse off than me and cannot afford these “shocks” and “life’s necessities” for their survival. So much medical hype about taking care of prostate issues. Survivability today, is an acutely finebalancing act. Betrayed senior citizens, after 14 painful years, courtesy of an irresponsible FNPF team “hiding” under a “Bainimarama-led FijiFirst government FNPF Decree”, continues to inflict daily harm and puts us in a path of perpetuated pain and suffering. Irrevocable FNPF pensions were stolen from us in broad daylight. This is a known fact. Our pensioners’ numbers dwindle each month. I plead with our honourable hard working Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka for immediate relief. Time is running out on us. You are our salvation. No one else cares. We count on you, sir. The government ministries concerned with the above, need to sharpen their skills and do their part in caring for the sick and the seniors, with pride, respect and dignity….. in a precisely timely manner. Respectfully, you are falling short, in my view. Medical care is not 100 per cent free when your pharmacies are out-of-stock and invoices from GPs remain unpaid, on time. I raise these concerning issues as the “caring voice of the silent majority” — particularly here in Nadi.
May we discover peace! – COLIN DEOKI AUSTRALIA
IN the soft dawn light over Bethlehem, the hills shimmer with the same quiet beauty they held more than two thousand years ago. It was here, in this small town under Roman rule, that a baby was born whose life would alter the course of human history. His name was Jesus, a Jew from the ancient land we now call Palestine. Though the term Palestine wasn’t used officially in His lifetime, it refers to the same sacred landscape which is the land of Judea and Galilee, of Nazareth and Jerusalem. It was a crossroads of empires and faiths, where olive groves and desert winds whispered stories of prophets and kings. This is where Jesus lived, walked, taught and healed in a land that shaped His heart, His message and His mission. Jesus was born into a Jewish family, raised in a culture steeped in prayer and tradition. He worshipped in synagogues, celebrated Passover and spoke the ancient Aramaic tongue of His people. Yet His message of love, forgiveness, compassion and justice reached beyond tribal and national boundaries. He saw humanity as one family, bound by the divine thread of love. In those turbulent times, Palestine was under Roman occupation. Taxes were heavy, soldiers ruled the streets and hope was hard to find. Yet from this land of hardship came a voice that spoke of a higher kingdom -— not of power or conquest, but of peace, humility and mercy. Whether we call Him Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Jew, or Jesus of Palestine, His life remains a reminder that light can emerge even in times of darkness and that love can grow in the shadow of oppression and that peace begins in the human heart long before it manifests in the world. Today, as the land of His birth still wrestles with division and suffering, the message of Jesus feels more urgent than ever. His call was simple: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” May the same land that gave the world its greatest teacher one day rediscover the peace He so deeply desired for all humanity.
Living overseas – TAHIR ALI HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND
MORE Fijians living overseas (FT 22/10) is our pride for all Fijians. They are globally marketable, as they are well recognised for their hard work. Work is worship.
Writers writing! – JIOJI O TORONIBAU NAVETAU, TUNULOA
I THINK some overseas writers are writing genuine articles while some write on anything that moves in Fiji, even the leaves that falls.
Second chance – VIJAY P. MADHAVAN BORRON RD, SUVA
IT is sad to see the prominence given to a convicted rapist by Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam and The Fiji Times (Page 26, FT 25/10). The Yellow Ribbon project is all well and good but in this case do they realise the pain and torture the victim is going through seeing the garlanded rapist being welcomed back in society. Shame on them.
Project will take time – RAJEND NAIDU SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
MINISTER on Lautoka swimming pool: Project will ‘take time’ (FT 25/10). It has already taken one heck of a long time and a hell lot of public money. No wonder Lautoka residents are pissed off with the inordinate delay in completing the construction of the pool. It’s been a monumental disaster. And now the Lautoka City Council is talking about a plan to “develop” Coronation Park! It’s pathetic!
FRCS gang – PRANEET SINGH SACRAMENTO, CA
THE recent revelation by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) that criminal gangs have infiltrated Fiji’s key revenue and customs agencies should alarm every lawabiding citizen. When those entrusted with collecting the national revenue are compromised, the very foundations of the State’s accountability and security are under threat. Such infiltration opens pathways for tax fraud, money laundering, and the erosion of public trust. Wonder how long have the gang been involved. It is time for decisive, collective action to protect Fiji’s institutions.
Make it right! – RONNIE CHANG MARTINTAR, NADI
SADLY, extremely sadly, after the reduction of pre- 2011 FNPF pensions, by the then “power of two” in the FijiFirst government, and as hundreds of seniors, wait almost 14 long and painful years, our elected Members of Parliament, today see it fit to take a pay increase. Please reinstate and restore all monies stolen from us, with highest priority. Empathy is needed more than ever before. Decency and respect for older persons must be seen to be done. Spoken words and elaborate “speeches” ring hollow. They are worthless. Verbal jargon has no place in humanity. We are suffering in our twilight years. Hundreds of us were forced to regretfully take lump sum, for fear of more losses, after our pensions were reduced. Neither Bainimarama, Saiyed- Khaiyum nor the then have any right to reduce our pensions. Our fiduciary rights remain irrevocable, the day we accepted pensions. Some luckier pensioners who accepted the reduction have had their total contributions tripled, or greater. Their restorations leave us humiliated and hurt. The betrayal is prolongated. FNPF today cannot plead inability to make good, yesterday’s evils and wrongdoing. Will the Coalition Government, repeal that illegal FNPF pre 2011 decree, just as you efficiently dismantled the Media Decree, restore and reinstate every dollar stolen from us. In time, perpetrators will pay for their misdeeds, mark the wrath of this suffering senior citizen as he pleads, in good faith, a correction of yesterday’s financial cruelty imposed by the now deregistered FijiFirst Party. Shame on you. With each passing day, our days are numbered. Time could run out on us. We demand justice. Nothing less. I plead with the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, to have a heart, before it is too late. Make it right, without delay.
How safe are we? – AMINISITAI TORA NADERA, NASINU
READING the bus stoning incident in The Fiji Times is quite disturbing. Knowing about the hassling and robbery on our streets, reading about the stoning incident shows safety in Fiji is a problem. How safe are we in public? Or is it be in public at your own risk?
The rise of Malolo! – RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM NADAWA, NASINU
AFTER creating the biggest upset in the Skipper Cup competition quarterfinal, having seen off defending champions Nadroga, Malolo upset Jacks Nadi 31-19 to reach a historic Skipper Cup final. Malolo made a massive statement after reaching the final in just their first year after being promoted. In the quarterfinal, playing away from home, Malolo stunned Nadroga 23-22 to inflict back-to-back losses for Nadroga (having lost to Malolo 26-24 in round five). Malolo, which looks more like the Nadroga development team and is being coached by former Nadroga stars like Rupeni Nasiga, Jiuta Lutumailagi, Jone Qovu, Setefano Somoca and Josefa Domolailai. With the motto, ‘Small Boys, Big Job’, Malolo is in their hottest form. Malolo had thrashed Nadi 52-27 in round six and with the Nadroga armoury around, they had a bite at the cherry. The Imanueli Bari captained side, with prominent names like Aporosa Tabulawaki, Josevata Natoga, Meli Kurisaru, Aminiasi Naituyaga, Joseva Tamata, Tomasi Tawake, Simeli Karacia and Douglas Daveta, showed character and fighting power. Malolo’s achievement will go down into history books. Congratulations to the Malolo Rugby Union president (Ratu Jone Tuilawa) and his team for the hard work and perseverance!
