Constitution amendment submissions
LISTENING to submissions on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, I am saddened that so many are about titles, power, identity and Sunday restrictions. Where are the proposals to cut poverty, create jobs and unite all ethnic groups? Unity is the root of prosperity, yet we keep looking backwards. Some iTaukei demand their land back, yet kava, yaqona and dalo are being stolen from iTaukei farms, often by iTaukei hands. Police stations across Fiji have the reports. We cannot claim to love the land while stealing from it. If the land is God’s gift, we must use it to meet our needs and keep our youths safe from drugs and crime. Village laws and programs should be modernised so young people may want to stay and build their futures in rural areas and not drift to the towns and cities. Times are changing. We either adapt wisely or argue forever. Will each proposal make life better for ordinary Fijians? That is what matters. Paula Kaloukocei, Levuka, Ovalau
Listening to young voices
THUMPS up and bravo, Hefrani Matavou, deputy head girl of Jai Narayan College, and Finau Vitukawalu, head girl of William Cross Primary School, for speaking their minds during consultations regarding amendments to Fiji’s Constitution. Matavou spoke about positive discipline, while Vitukawalu suggested the removal of the chastisement clause. I agree with the duo because our children need love and not corporal punishment. Matavou said children should be corrected through responsible parenting and guidance rather than physical punishment, while Vitukawalu called for a constitution that would protect her and other children. She stressed the need to protect children at home, at school and in their communities, adding that discipline did not have to involve physical punishment. The duo spoke their minds and hearts out, and we must respect their views. To these two brave girls — our future, best wishes to you both! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu
A test of leadership
THE article: “Museum calls for halt to sand mining project” (FT, 24/10) is a well-articulated call highlighting the risks of environmental degradation and the threat to the archaeological, cultural and historical heritage of the Sigatoka Sand Dunes posed by the proposed mining project. A responsible government would never allow such destruction of an invaluable national heritage site. Is the Rabuka-led government such a government? RAJEND NAIDU Calgary, Canada
Senators’ pay
DO we have enough in the national coffers to accommodate the remuneration for members of the Senate if it does come back in the near future? AREKI DAWAI Samabula, Suva
Overseas travel
IT is frustrating to realise that you no longer have the freedom to travel overseas whenever you wish. It must be even more annoying when you once held the highest political office in the country, only to find yourself now at the mercy of the very system that dictates where, when and whether you are allowed to travel. DANIEL URAI Lautoka
Two-tier justice?
WILL the “matanigasau” trump the law again? While defending indigenous chiefs, Fiji Teachers Association general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga reportedly unleashed a social media tirade threatening to “roast” critics in earth ovens. Such racially divisive rhetoric, especially when accompanied by threats of violence, is deeply disturbing and deserves serious scrutiny. If police complaints have indeed been lodged against him, can our “highly acclaimed” Fiji Police Force enlighten the public on the status of the investigation? We have witnessed individuals being charged by the Cybercrime Unit over alleged online threats, hate speech and racially inflammatory remarks. Will the same standards apply in this case? Or will the investigation quietly disappear, eventually being sasa-broomed under the carpet? Paula has reportedly apologised and expressed regret. While an apology may be a gesture of remorse, does it automatically pardon someone of potential criminal liability? Surely, the question is whether the available evidence warrants further legal action, regardless of the individual’s position or influence. Or will we once again witness Fiji’s all too familiar ritual of apologies, loud church services, requests for forgiveness and lavish feasts, after which everyone returns home as though nothing happened? The matanigasau may have a place in the indigenous culture, but it must not become a convenient substitute for the rule of law. Fiji has a long and painful history of democratically elected governments being toppled, followed by countless apologies and the forgiveness of those responsible. The public deserves a clear answer on the status of this case. If there is sufficient evidence to prosecute, the law should take its course. If there is not, the police should explain the outcome to the eager public. Otherwise, the perception of a two-tier justice system will only deepen in our banana republic. The outcome of this investigation will be an interesting test of whether the law stands above cultural status, public influence and political sensitivities, or whether the matanigasau remains Fiji’s most convenient escape route from legal consequences. So will the law finally have its say, or will a well-prepared lovo (minus the roasted vulagi) conveniently bury the whole saga? Paula? NISHANT SINGH Lautoka
FNPF amnesia
PROFESSOR Wadan Narsey’s critical analysis “FNPF’s amnesia and use of selective statistics” (FT24/10/26) sets the record straight by exposing what seems to be the half-truths and falsehoods propagated by FNPF. It is high time the injustice of the pension misappropriation was remedied. It is a crying shame that so many pensioners who fell victim to this pension removal have died waiting for the restitution they were owed. RAJEND NAIDU Calgary, Canada
Rabuka backflip
ONE day PM Rabuka tells the Fijian people Lynda Tabuya is a top contender for the vacant attorney-general position. Then virtually the very next day “PM Rabuka rules out Tabuya for attorney-general role”. This is a classic Rabuka backflip — the kind of political U-turn that the Fijian public has come to associate with his leadership. RAJEND NAIDU Calgary, Canada
Protect the sand dunes!
THE nation must unite to protect the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, which is a unique natural wonder, sculptured through centuries by the forces of nature. The sand dunes provide an exceptional walking and hiking trails and adventure trips for nature lovers, friends and families. The sand dunes also offer breathtaking views, especially of the waves crashing against the shore. A trip to the sand dunes is affordable for locals and tourists alike. The sand dunes have a rich cultural history, with pottery shards and stone tools found at the site. They allow visitors to unplug, soak in the serenity, reconnect with nature and let happiness flourish. Our rugby players have shed tears and sweat at the dunes in their bid to bring glory to our nation. Ben Ryan, the winning coach who led Fiji to gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, took his players there to feel the intensity of battle and the weight on their shoulders as they prepared to capture Fiji’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. The boys went on to bring home that historic gold medal in emphatic fashion. Hence, the sand dunes run in the veins of those associated with this natural wonder, and every effort must be made to protect them. The concerns of landowners must not fall on deaf ears. RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Fake or hopeful news
THERE have been rumours that Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of North Korea, had died but unfortunately this was actually fake news. He and his daughter did a “proof of life” visit to a shop. Sometimes, rumours have a partial basis in truth. The Sussexes are wandering around as though they were still royals. The important word here is “were”. They were royals once, quite some time ago, but today they are commoners like me and most other people. Donald Trump claimed the 2020 US election but that is fake news. If our leaders and the news about them aren’t true, then what are we to believe in? Who do we follow and what is in everyone’s best interests? I would like to drive to some hidden cabin and stay out of sight for a few years but I can’t afford the fuel. DENNIS FITZGERALD Melbourne, Australia
Media polls
I WONDER if the media would ever return to facilitating elections media polling that we used to see in previous elections. If I am correct, Tebbutt Research conducted The Fiji Times polls, while the Western Force was featured in the other daily newspaper. I understand that the election poll results became controversial during the previous administration. Perhaps it is time for our two major daily newspapers to commission fresh polls, particularly with the national elections approaching. This is, given the pending elections and the rushing of political objectives by the current establishment. What are the people really thinking? Are they keen on turning up to vote? What is important to them vs what the establishment appears to think? Now that we have a more free media environment, it would be insightful to gauge what the silent majority think, prefer and need, leading up to the elections. JOPE TARAI Tamavua, Suva
Homeless day
World Homeless Day was marked in Fiji and around the world on October 10. The international day needs more awareness. No one chooses to be homeless. Life’s circumstances may sometimes force people to take to the streets. But when life gets hard, try to remember the life you often complain about. For some people it may only be a dream. TAHIR ALI Hamilton, New Zealand
