Late start a worry for Drua!
Late start and allowing the opposition to score quick tries in the first half have dented the Drua’s hopes of a top eight finish. Against the Brumbies and Chiefs, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua conceded soft tries and almost a 19-point deficit in less than 20 minutes. By the time the boys came back into the game, the damage was done, and we lost. Thus, head coach Mick Byrne and the team management must address this slow start and ensure the boys play 80 minute rugby if they are to compete at Super Rugby Pacific level. This week our boys, who are out of the top eight and are now ranked ninth after the Force beat the Highlanders 30-17, host the Blues, which thrashed the Waratahs 55-21, at Churchill Park in the Culture Week round. The Blues will be no pushover despite playing in front of thousands of passionate Drua fans. Our boys will have to intensify their preparations. We have the armoury. It’s just doing basics right and minimising the error rate. Looking forward to the Drua vs Blues battle in Lautoka! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Make it more interesting
Rewa still leads the DPL points table after they managed to edge Nadi 3-2 at Prince Charles Park on Sunday. This was the jetsetters second loss in a row at home. They had gone down to Ba earlier on. Few people had turned out to see the contest on Sunday which is indicative of the fact that your fans were not happy with your team’s performance. While the team struggles to find the winning combination, the association as a whole was also in bad shape due to shortage of funds. Desperate time calls for desperate measures and I hope the front runners will not waste any time but to quickly join hands and find the money before things get worse. This is not the time to abandon the ship but to help salvaging it. At this juncture, I think to lure more spectators to the ground you need to include club or secondary school competition as curtain raiser. At the moment the invitation is just not there. Gate taking is a source of income but you need send the invitation so that your games are watched by more people rather than few. Double header is also an attraction if you like. Let’s make the league a better attraction. Make it more interesting. Suresh Chand Nadi
Mixed reactions
The National Economic Summit of the Coalition Government is now over. Fijians are currently talking about the participation from the selected 500 brilliant minds of Fiji, excluding the FFP personnel who chose not to attend. Their submissions in the NES is the talk of the town. Actually, there are mixed reactions and a different sense of insecurity. The most common NES submissions under scrutiny include those that call for raising the VAT to 15 per cent, completely removing VAT from the zero-rated items and lowering the income tax threshold from $30,000 to $16,000. This may mean harder times for the low-income earners. Even though none of these suggestions have been implemented, some people are questioning whether we chose the right candidates to fill the Government. After the dust settles, I believe the Government’s course will be crystal clear. Though the policies of this Government may appear harsh at first because we were accustomed to being spoon-fed under the FFP leadership, I am fairly confident that the Government’s decisions will be beneficial for everyone in the long run. Let us not jump the gun. Waraka! Namaka! DINESH KUMAR Ba
ANZAC Day
ANZAC Day commemorates, the brave and gallant fallen, from Australia, New Zealand and some Pacific nations, who had made the ultimate sacrifice, for world peace and freedom, by giving their own precious lives, after they first landed in Gallipoli, in Turkey on 25 April 1915. The Day also fondly remembers, the fallen in other wars and conflicts, around the world since then. As you go about your own daily lives today, think of those who paid the ultimate price. At the going down of the setting sun and in the coolness and quietness of a new morn, we shall never forget them. We shall always remember them. Lest we forget! Or we will forever regret. Edward Blakelock Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour
Wake-up call
AJAY Bhai Amrit’s empowering message with wake up call in The Fiji Times (23/4) with his healthy picture at a fruit and vegetable supermarket should inspire us to take care of ourselves for a healthy and long life for our wellbeing. At times we are too careless when it becomes too late for the expensive treatment. The risk factors suchas drug and substance abuse, unhealthy food, less physical activities and misuse of phone and social problems lead to obesity with NCDs. There is an urgent need to sacrifice to control these issues to save ourselves and save others. It’s sad to note that thousands of Fijians are killing themselves with stress before their time, as Amrit writes. Let’s aim for a happy, healthy and wealthy lifestyle for our wellbeing with our family, with less stress on health authorities. It’s our choice — what we put in our mouth matters most. Golden rules: only eat at meal times, avoid commercial ready meals, eat purposefully, avoid unhealthy food, party but payback. With sacrifices and concerns, most of these factors are easily reversible and in many cases preventable. Prevention is the key. TAHIR ALI HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND
Spot on
“MAKING things right: Recovery should not come at the cost of our people – Gavoka” ( FT 24/4 ). The Deputy PM Villiame Gavoka is absolutely spot on in spelling out how the Coalition Government intends to govern by putting the people at the centre of its endeavours and ensuring the rights and freedoms guaranteed in a true democracy. The people of Fiji deserve that. They have waited 16 long years for it. RAJEND NAIDU SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Why two?
I APOLOGISE in advance if some may feel offended by what I’m about to ask. Because that’s not my intention. So here’s my question; Why are there two teachers unions in the country that seem to be along ethnic lines? Why not one big union to cater for everyone’s needs. Or have I missed something? COLIN DEOKI AUSTRALIA
A couple of issues
I went to watch my granddaughter participate in Zone 2 athletics and was so proud of all participants for their efforts on the day. However there were a couple of issues I wish to highlight. Firstly the music was too loud and in fact under the OHS regulations someone could go and stop the games because this is a hazard. I was tempted to do that but thought against it. I had my ears ringing with the cheering and music drowning the cheering at same time. It stopped just before a race is run put on full blast when the gun goes off. Just a word of advice to those going to watch the Coca-Cola Games, remember if the music is too loud then you have every right to go and advise the organisers to either adjust the music or under OHS stop the games. As soon as the gun goes off the music is blasted and it drowns out the cheering of the schoolchildren. The students were screaming at the top of their voices and could not be heard because the music was blasted louder then the cheering. I wrote a letter to the Ministry of Labour about it but have not received a reply. Maybe the ministry should check this weekend. Secondly, they set off the fire alarm and where we were sitting we could barely hear the alarm. Must be because of the loud music, the alarm was not heard well and sounded in the background. No one moved at all. It wasn’t until someone came and announced that the fire alarm had gone off did the people themselves get up and move down to the grounds. One wonders what would happen if there’s really a fire. Fiji Sports Council, food for thought and points to consider at the next sports function otherwise someone could get a burst eardrum because of loud music and a civil suit be brought against you. Edwin RF Sandys Namadi Heights, Suva
Cheap shots
Jan Nissar is asking for the report from the Fiscal Review Committee and how much the members were paid. May I ask the memory loss Jan about the six 90 minutes football matches he refereed in Sydney some weeks back? Fake news saraga, like I said he cannot even run for seven minutes with me at the Lautoka Golf course. Soon, his base at the South Seas Club will reveal his time identity. He keeps firing cheap shots and this time that the summit resolutions is like a lot of hot air and are just words. Definitely the people of Fiji are truly blessed in all their exuberance. Power to the people, Mr Grog dopey of NSW. Take me on any time, anywhere as our Coalition Government is on the move to take Fiji forward. Want some kalavata uniform for the staff of South Seas Club, find my number and call me. I always walk the truth! Raymond Singh Golf Links, Lautoka
Thank you
Thank you everyone for your time and support in participating at the National Economic Summit. Good to see our educated citizens working together with the Government. It seems like it was a very constructive and positive one. Unkol Allen and I had attended many NFP campaigns before the elections and listening to the Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad’s speeches Unkol Allen always said he has plans to pay the debt. Yes, Minister of Finance has plans and I believe citizens should support the Government not just commenting negatively for the sake of it on the Government’s Facebook platform. I believe the current national debt is beyond human economic comprehension. Please, we should all work together for the common good of all people who call Fiji their home. May God bless our beautiful Fiji. Navneet Ram (TD) Lautoka
Water problems
Along Wairabetia Rd in Lautoka there are so many leaks that the water is flowing like two small rivers on both sides of the road. 1000s of litres of water is going to waste. Wake up WAF! Paras Naidu Lautoka
India and Fiji
India is now officially the largest country in the world in respect of population. Then we have Fiji, which, when you think about it, is really the centre of the world. Because they won gold twice in the Mickey Mouse game! So much exuberance over a seven-minute game and a Prime Minister appointed to ensure Fiji remains a proud Third World nation. Jan Nissar NSW, Australia
Bakery outlet
Congratulations to Raiwaqa Bakery and its owner Atela Yee for her plans to establish a bakery outlet in Flagstaff. As a regular customer at their shop in Nasese before closure, I have missed their products which has also been restricted by distance from their Lami shop. I have supported their business because of its contribution to community through the provision of employment for women who served at our Fiji Corrections Service facilities. I am patiently waiting for the upcoming opening of their Flagstaff outlet. Emosi Balei Suva
Patriotism
The Coalition Government extended a hand to the Opposition to work together for the good of the nation but the idea was not accepted. Therefore, in addition to grappling with the woes of yesterday left by the FF government, I urge the Coalition Government to inculcate and support initiatives for patriotism in society so that we move away from ingrained political rivalry to combined nation building. Ajai Kumar Nadi
Wrong parking
On Saturday morning, I was travelling to and from Nadi airport. Bus drivers stopped right on the highway to pick and drop passengers. The drivers did not park at any bus bay, and as a result, all other vehicles queued up to further traffic jam. I urge LTA to seriously monitor the issue concerning bus drivers. DAVID SUSHIL LAL Malolo St, Lautoka
Carnival time
Lautoka City gleams when there is a carnival. Two weeks ago the Hope Carnival was held and may be it did not turn profitable. The word Hope is a powerful word. The other reason may be because of rain and the carnival ground space has gone too small since the mall and carparks have been upgraded. It would be more fun and enjoyable to host it at Shirley Park. Navneet Ram (TD) Lautoka
