Yellow Card
ON Thursday, honourable Aseri Radrodro was sworn-in once again as the Minister for Education and the front-page headline of The Fiji Times on Friday read, “Back from a Yellow card,” describing his reinstatement. Congratulations, sir! In sports, receiving a yellow card is known informally as being sent to the “sin bin.” Double yellow cards definitely yield a “red card”. Any good sportsman would know that he would need to avoid that second yellow card at all cost. Dinesh Kumar, Ba
Right thing
Yes, MP Radrodro is now back in the limelight as a Cabinet Minister for Education and as SODELPA leader replacing DPM Gavoka. It doesn’t matter what had happened as that is the past now and PM Rabuka must be given credit for doing the right thing by saving the Coalition Government’s term in power. But we are lost on why PM Rabuka could not appoint Minister for Education Radrodro as Deputy Prime Minister because he has now taken over the SODELPA leadership role. That would have been healthy for the Coalition Government, but anyway, PM Rabuka has got nothing to lose, but everything to gain as they are now reaching the record half way two year mark. Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
Red Card
As Aseri Radrodro received a yellow card for his actions in Government, can those who were working on the Botanical Garden Swimming pool project get a Red Card since the Special Administrator of Lautoka admitted that there was mismanagement in the project. Start with those high ranking LCC executives to the HOD and those who approved and made payments. Geoffrey Chand, Lautoka
Scary and vigilant
Just when one thought the hard drug problem has slowed down, our law enforcement officers make another successful drug bust at a residential place in Suva. All in all, this is scary when one thinks about the possibility of this falling into the hands of innocent children and youths. Let’s continue to remain vigilant by always ensuring that we know who our children associate with, as it takes only one mistake to get them hooked to drugs which only leads to addiction and serious health and behaviour attitudes. Isa, it’s no longer the same old innocent Fiji we once knew. Floyd Robinson, Micronesia
USP’s placing
Hearty congratulations to the University of the South Pacific’s (USP) School of Business and Management (SBM) for reaching a significant milestone (FT 26/04). It’s a proud moment that USP is ranked fourth in the Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) category in Oceania by the Eduniversal Ranking 2024 Best Masters. USP is the only other university alongside the University of Hawaii at Manao, the University of Otago in New Zealand, and seven others from Australia that ranked in the top 10- 2024 Eduniversal best masters ranking for MBA in Oceania. This has affirmed USP’s strong position in the Oceania educational landscape. I salute USP for scoring in the top 10 Eduniversal Best Masters Rankings in Oceania in three other master’s programs which included Master of Commerce in management and public administration, which was ranked seventh, ninth in the Master of Science in climate change and 10th in the Master of Business Administration. The hardworking staff members of USP must be commended for their dedication and commitment to maintaining the high standard of delivering the internationally accredited MBA program USP, indeed, is an institution that works towards meeting the evolving development and educational needs of the Pacific and its people. Congratulations to USP! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
2013 Constitution
It is now very clear to the people of Fiji and the world that, apart from the leadership of the FijiFirst government who imposed on the people of Fiji the illegal 2013 Fiji Constitution, the other key stakeholder that has demonstrated in no uncertain terms by its conduct in the last 15 months on assuming office its support of this illegal document is none other than the Prime Minister, honourable Sitiveni Rabuka and his Coalition Government. It is unbelievable that both the National Federation Party (NFP) and the SODELPA have also by their silence clearly sacrificed their commitment to the principles of democracy, upholding the rule of law and universal moral values. All these are out of the window insofar as this Coalition Government is concerned. So the statement by the honourable Leader of Opposition Inia Seruiratu that this Government is not coming up with anything new is entirely correct. And the most significant policy endorsement of the FijiFirst government by this Coalition Government is none other than the illegal 2013 Fiji Constitution introduced by Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum. It is for this reason that the people of Fiji should now demand for an urgent national referendum to decide on whether to accept or reject the 2013 imposed Fiji Constitution. Whatever is decided by the majority of the Fiji population should then be subsequently legitimised in Parliament, courts, etc. Although we sympathise with Savenaca Narube’s Unity Party legal challenge, the only problem is that it can take years back and forth in the courts. And the same thing will happen with the cases already underway. Honourable Filimone Vosarogo’s proposed amendment to the Constitution on the issue of mineral ownership may suffer the same fate. The people of Fiji have suffered enough since 1987, and again from 2006! We can no longer wait, and continue to operate under an illegal framework. lt needs to be resolved now, and in totality! The only winners out of this mess are the lawyers and their firms, and the Fiji First leadership, and their new supporters in this Coalition Government. In these circumstances, it is becoming crystal clear that there is not much difference that exists amongst the political parties in Parliament. They may even form a Government of National Unity in future. Only time will tell. The biggest losers in all these are the ordinary people who voted these people in… so sad. Saverio Baleikanacea Delainavesi, Lami
