Fiji’s own ‘Little David’
THE article on Simione Turaga Kuruvoli by Filipe Marayawa (FT: 23/03) was a delight to read.
I have been impressed with Filipe’s stories on the boys who are representing the Fijian Drua side.
His stories shed so much light on the background of our stars.
The one on “Little David” was just an inspiration.
Simi’s rugby background has enabled him to be a successful player at a young age.
His hard work and dedication has seen him make a name for himself.
He was a stand-out player for the Flying Fijians versus the All Blacks last year during the back-to-back Test match.
Wishing our “Little David” all the best in his future career!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Wait, what?
IS our unpredictable Government now going to dictate the “areas of employment” to students aspiring to pursue an academic career of their choice? (FT 23/03).
Why are they being compelled to source alternative fields of study which would be of limited interest or relevance to them?
Why impede a national topper’s potential to soar to greater heights?
I strongly believe that Premila Kumar’s decidedly disputed proposition is indeed demoralising and lacks substance.
And sadly, that too being advocated by an education minister!
Please adapt a more coherent approach towards this matter of national importance madam minister.
You could perhaps take a cue or two from the minister for everything, as he was very impressive in providing immediate resolutions to the public during the budget consultations.
Rather than demotivating students and future scholars from chasing their respective academic visions, I suggest the Government create future employment prospects and turn this dashed dreams into reality, namely for that Year 13 SSKMC lass who notched the highest marks in Fiji.
She is a bright spark indeed, possibly much more than some of sitting politicians, me thinks.
Nishant Singh, Lautoka
Jump ship
Areki Dawai could not say it any clearer (FT 23/03) when he questioned the loyalty of politicians who were elected by a group of voters but jump ship midway during their term or hiding their plans to jump ship in the next election.
I would go a step further to ask why they do not publicly declare the change in loyalty to other masters now but instead maintain a false front to their supporters.
There is nothing worse than a representative who betrays the trust of their people by presenting a fake image and pretending to have their backs when their loyalty is elsewhere.
Just saying.
Emosi Balei, Suva
I’m mystified
I’m often mystified why good people get corrupted by big wealthy businesses.
And then I read about the 2018 US election and how private interests spent a staggering $US500 million ($F1.04 billion) on campaign contributions.
Then just as I was picking myself off the floor, the amount spent lobbying Federal officials blew me away – $US7b ($F14.6b).
Money talks, bulldust walks, or so the saying goes.
But it highlights, in a very unique language, who’s actually exerting the most powerful influence.
Puppeteering at its brilliant best!
And we thought only kids love puppet shows!
Colin Deoki, Australia
Sheer cruelty
AS per The Fiji Times of yesterday, caption of impounded cows has revealed their sheer cruelty at Sorokoba, Ba.
Permanent secretary for Agriculture Vinesh Kumar mentioned pasture was not planted in the impounded area since it was confined like a jail.
He added food was not cooked in the jail.
Human beings are aware that the law takes its course on any criminal activity.
Sadly, animals impounded are ill-treated in a similar manner or even more where they remain uncomfortable in soggy conditions.
A cow with udder full only knows her discomfort.
Furthermore, cows or cattle symbolise significant roles in Hinduism and Buddhism.
Minister for Agriculture and the PS should be more aware of these and learn to respect and love innocent animals.
SARITA LAL, Malolo St, Lautoka
Price hikes
THE unprovoked heavy-handed Russian unnecessary attack on neighbours, Ukraine, will have totally unprecedented price hikes on world-wide food prices.
Both Russia and Ukraine account for 30 per cent of the world’s wheat and barley production.
The bulk of this is imported by Asian nations.
Global food distribution will be badly affected.
Fiji must brace accordingly for tougher days ahead.
Fiji’s poor will suffer the most.
Their meagre income cannot absorb any “shocks” from any price hike.
Can the FijiFirst Government “wisely and compassionately” cushion pending pricing hardships, which seem almost inevitable?
Only time will tell.
It might pay to temporarily curtail infrastructure spending to allow the poor, sick, needy, elderly, physically impaired and social welfare beneficiaries put healthy food on their plates.
Half a loaf is better than none.
“Teen roti ke jaga; Ek roti meh kaam chalao” – older folks say.
RONNIE CHAND, Martintar, Nadi
Culture of dishonesty
AS usual, Richard Naidu does a penetrating analysis of what the Economy Minister has called a “culture of dishonesty” in Fiji (FT 19/3).
Since the 2006 coup, the people of Fiji have a good sense of the perpetrators and perpetuators of that culture.
The people are not fooled by the minister’s idea of a “culture of dishonesty”.
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Shattered dreams
This week, I learnt a very important lesson – ordinary people should not dream big.
Children of the poor have no right to dream beyond their standards if their parents cannot fulfil them because it hurts a lot when dreams are shattered.
Having aspirations in life can be futile if you do not have the financial backing to make your dreams come true.
Everyone has the right to dream, only if they have the bank balance to pursue it?
DINESH KUMAR, Ba
Patching potholes
IS it an in thing now to be patching potholes in rainy weather?
Anthony Sahai, speechless saraga o au my boy!
Wise Muavono, Balawa, Lautoka
‘Boot them out’
“Boot them out” says the front page of The Fiji Times.
Didn’t the person who said this do exactly that in 1987?
So, what has changed?
He keeps saying he has changed, but as someone once said “a donkey will always remain a donkey, you cannot change it into a horse”.
Jan Nissar, NSW, Australia
Packaged food
ALL packaged food items are required to have ingredients and nutritional information.
However, not even our bread has that information, let alone the food in restaurants.
How will the public make informed healthy food choices if such information is not provided?
Can we have an emergency law passed for this?
Kiran Khatri, Samabula, Suva
Not anymore
Creating fear may have worked once for Bainimarama’s Government, I believe not anymore.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Doing the opposite
HAS anyone noticed that many trees are being cut by the Lautoka City Council lately?
Something is wrong in the horticultural department and I wonder why the council decides to cut trees.
The Government planned to plant a million trees but LCC is doing the opposite.
Lautoka City Council what can you say about this, hope LCC don’t decide to stay quiet again.
Shalendra Reddy, Sukunivalu Rd, Lautoka
Shakespeare’s plays
DID you know women were not allowed to act in Shakespeare’s plays?
The role of Desdemona, the devoted, loving wife murdered by her husband in “Othello”, wasn’t performed by a woman until 1660 – about six decades after Shakespeare wrote the play.
This is because when Shakespeare was writing for the early modern stage where young men and boys performed all the women’s parts.
The restriction has long puzzled scholars, mostly because no clear legal statute prohibited it, and women acted professionally in other countries during this period.
Also, women could perform in other venues where dance, music and spectacles were enjoyed by aristocrats in England during the 16th and 17th centuries.
According to many anti-theatricalists, plays were “sinfull” because they promoted pleasure and encouraged people to watch an “ungodly spectacle” rather than working or attending church.
For women in particular, it was generally deemed indecent to participate in and make money from such public performances.
Even though many writers condemned the practice of men’s wearing female attire on stage, to them it was still preferable to having women become public spectacles on the professional stage.
Now women can play men.
These gender reversals are a reminder that much has changed since men and boys played all the women’s parts, and that much more will continue to change as society grapples with questions about gender, identity and performance.
As a side note, women were not allowed to play golf either.
GOLF is an acronym for gentlemen only ladies forbidden.
Women have come a long way since then.
My wife is the boss at my house.
One day my friends and I were discussing what BOSS meant.
I said bickering over stupid stuff.
My wife walked in at that very inopportune moment.
I wore sunglasses for the whole of next week after that.
Maybe I will ask (perhaps request would be a better word) Shamima Ali to start MHCC – Men’s (Henpecked) Crisis Centre as soon as I feel brave enough.
Don’t hold your breath though.
Arvind Mani, Nadi
Water woes
There is a very famous line in the poem, “The Rime of Ancient Mariner” written by Samuel Coleridge – “water water everywhere and not a drop to drink”.
It has a rather deeper meaning but it is usually translated as having abundance of water which is unsafe for drinking.
It is somewhat relevant to the plight of the Navua residents who related their water woes “as an everyday problem”. (FT 21/03)
I just hope that their request for water – a basic need – is fulfilled by the relevant authorities as we commemorated the World Water Day this week on March 22.
DINESH KUMAR, Ba
