Issue of Concern
The Minister for Immigration, Hon. Pio Tikotikodua has rightly raised his concern over how passports were issued to the two children of Grace Road workers. The minister, the permanent secretary and senior immigration officers have no knowledge of the issuance of the passport. It has also been reported that the father and the children have since left Fiji.
It is imperative that a thorough investigation be done at the earliest and personnel involved be brought to justice.
The integrity of the Immigration Department is at stake.
ARUN PRASAD, Dilkusha, Nausori
Illegal issuance
So passports were issued to children of individuals associated with the Grace Road human rights allegations while Fijians who are entitled to it face difficulties in obtaining one. I’m sensing fraudulent and dishonest activity here.
Sobo!
WISE MUAVONO, Balawa, Lautoka
Pio offers to step down!
After earning praises in his role to deport British porn star Tia Emma Billinger aka as Bonnie Blue, the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Honourable Pio Tikoduadua, has offered to temporarily step down from his position pending an investigation into the unauthorised issuance of Fijian passports to two children on individuals associated with the Grace Roads human rights allegations. I salute Hon. Tikoduadua, for his stand as he believes that it is necessary for the investigation to be conducted without any perception of influence from the ministry. Hon. Tikoduadua has set the benchmark for ministers, assistant ministers and government officials. Let’s have a free investigation.
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu
Step aside
While Pio has offered to step aside, many before him chose to side step. Observe and learn!
MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF, Natabua, Lautoka
Upholding integrity
By offering to step aside to allow a probe into unauthorised passports issued to Korean church company Grace Road people to proceed without let and hindrance, the Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua, has shown a good example of upholding the integrity of democratic governance (FT 22/11).
Some other high profile state officials in the Rabuka Coalition government can learn from Mr Tikoduadua’s example. It would be interesting to discover how the passports in question got issued without proper authorisation.
RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia.
Year 8 results
I would like to extend my hearty congratulations to the 19,359 Year 8 students across Fiji who sat for the Fiji Year 8 Examination in September, across 717 centres. The provisional results were made available online yesterday. I encourage both teachers and parents to engage with their children in a positive manner regarding their results. It is important that we empower our children to strive for improvement, rather than demotivate them. I always advise my own children not to compare themselves with others but to focus on surpassing their previous achievements, setting higher personal goals. Remember, this examination is just a pen-and-paper test and does not entirely define your potential. Keep believing in yourselves and continue striving for greatness in all aspects of life.
DINESH KUMAR, Ba
Amusement rides
We are into the rainy season and it was very sad to note that the OHS department allowed ferris wheels to operate while it was raining midweek at the Sigatoka carnival.
I hope the operators and OHS understand that big rides vibrate a lot as they are mounted directly with the single cylinder engine and even light drizzle makes the ground soft enough for same to tilt.
Once tilted even a fraction, the cable goes off the wheel and buckets spin at will and can result in riders being thrown off as the brake is disengaged.
Being a retired engineer I understand the consequences and hope the OHS department pulls up their socks and be more attentive to this vintage old rides rather than letting operators operate at will during bad weather.
Human life is of utmost importance and we hope there is no repeat of the Showcase incident.
Let us all join hands and make this year free of any incident.
SEN KUMAR, Sigatoka
Drug shock!
Given the revelation in yesterday’s Times that, thus far at least, the under 18 age group are not “heavily into drugs at the moment”, the burning question therefore is how to influence them to stop getting into drugs.
It is a sad fact of life that this age group is far more influenced by visual things like TikTok and other social media outlets than the traditional values like religion, the family, the vanua, whatever. So why can’t we use the visual media, in the school setting for instance, to deter them from trying drugs?
What is needed is a graphic, unpleasant, nauseating video garnered from numerous overseas sites showing addicts in various states of addiction lying in streets, walking around like zombies, people with shot out veins trying to get a fix, others dying in the streets before somebody can shoot some Narcan into them, and those in Hospital Emergency Departments being worked on aggressively to save their lives often without success. Such a video can easily be put together by the Health and school ministries at little cost but it must be graphic in order to be of use.
There was a Middle East “war” some years back code named “shock and awe” which was successful in its aims. I firmly believe a bit of shock and awe against drugs in the school environment will work wonders.
ALLAN LOOSLEY, Tavua
Chaudhry’s ambitions
Colin Deoki should focus on the pressing issues facing indigenous Fijians, rather than worrying about former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry’s political ambitions.
With 75 per cent of the iTaukei population living below the poverty curve, Colin should perhaps collaborate with the traditional and archaic leadership of the Great Council of Chiefs and develop strategies to lift his people out of the poverty misery, while also addressing the deep-rooted socio-economic disparities affecting them.
So, take a bow and stop worrying about Mahend.
NISHANT SINGH, Lautoka.
Freedom of choice
Life is a journey filled with choice
This journey is riddled with poise
Without choice, we will be at a halt
We need choices to be inspired to bolt
Some choices are forced, like the need to sleep, eat and drink
They are positive and motivating vibes to think
Health is determined by the choices we strike
It matters what we choose to eat, thoughts we spike
Using time wisely is a choice
This is crucial in moulding life’s voice
Some choose a pen to articulate one’s voice
A powerful weapon to express one’s deep-seated choice
Some choose violence to achieve their goals
Some choose peaceful means to fulfil their souls
Some choose hope over despair
Some choose despair over hope
Life offers us a wide vista of options
How we filter these choices is a matter of motions
Showing respect to one and all without discriminating their background
Is a choice deeply ingrained and grounded on the struggle ground
Our success and failure are a net result of countless possibilities
Investments in sincerity, faith, compassion and trust are probabilities
Choice is one of the most fundamental foundations of our society
For it can change a government in its entirety
One’s freedom of choice is inextricably tied
With the freedom of choice of others
Freedom to choose a leader at every level count
The success or ruin of a community, society and nation mount
Freedom of choice spurs creativity
Creativity enthuses and ignites life in its intensity
Freedom to choose is such a profound and crucial gift
That decides life’s greatest lift and shift.
BHAGWANJI BHINDI, Laucala Beach Estate, Nasinu
Plight of pensioners: Personal reflection
I was chair of the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) from 2009 to about May 2010.
At this time, the fund was thinking about reducing certain pensions, and taking other measures it felt to be in the interests of protecting its solvency.
There was opposition from the pensioners who argued that if the FNPF followed through, it would be in breach of agreed procedures and committing a betrayal of trust. They rejected the contention the FNPF faced a major financial problem.
The FNPF’s ideas turned into plans, supported by the government of the day. These were implemented in 2012. Pensions were cut, some very substantially, while some of those affected took offers of lump sums, leaving them without any regular pension payments.
I have been following the renewed efforts of the pensioners to reverse the 2012 decisions, including existence of Decree 51 to stop them using their right to appeal to the court system.
They had a significant victory this year when the honourable Minister of Finance, National Planning and Statistics, announced the Coalition Government would restore reduced pensions to their original rates.
The honourable minister also agreed the cuts to pensions were illegal and that the statutory arrangement and trust between the fund and the pensioners had been broken. He also referred to the denial of justice caused by the former Government imposing a law to restrict court challenges by the pensioners to their unfair treatment.
I affirm that I now support the pensioners. The stance I took when I was FNPF chair reflected a reality I had to contend with. This is a new era.
My changed position is significantly influenced by research outcomes and analyses I have read in the media from pensioners such as Professor Wadan Narsey and Jackson Mar.
Their assertions about the financial stability and strength of the FNPF are more than persuasive. I also applaud many other members of the affected group who have been active in promoting their cause through the media.
I am confident the case presented by the pensioners in the current stage of their campaign will be successful in this new era of democracy. It is time now for the FNPF to follow the example set by the Coalition Government. It should bring to an end discrimination against, and penalising of, a group of senior citizens.
Understandably a speedy resolution is critical.
I owe an apology to the pensioners for the original stance I took, and for the lateness of this statement. I wish them well.
(Written in my role as a private citizen)
PARMESH CHAND, Nadi
