Fijian Drua thumped by Waratahs!
The NSW Waratahs trounced the Fijian Drua 50-14 to claim their fifth Super Rugby Women’s title. They scored eight tries. The victory was the Waratahs’ first premiership since 2021. The Drua had won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, but this defeat was heavy. Our poor discipline and decision-making made things hard for the Drua. The Drua briefly threatened an unlikely comeback with two tries either side of half-time. A penalty try and a five-pointer from winger Merewairita Neivosa cut the deficit to five points, but poor discipline cruelled the Drua as they were quickly reduced to
13 players — Jeniff er Ravutia and Adita Milinia sent to the sin-bin. The Waratahs made the most of our ill-discipline and piled points. Putting aside the thumping, the Drua must look ahead. Mosese Rauluni has some serious questions to answer about the girls fitness. Our locals in Senirusi Seruvakula and Inoke Male did wonders, winning in 2022 and 2023, while overseas-based Mosese Rauluni gifted the trophy back to the ‘Tahs! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Reverse migration
Migration of our people for greener pastures including improved health and educational opportunities is a testimony to our training programs back home but a huge cost as the brain drain trend continues. Current statistics is not only alarming but a trend which will continue, thereby we have to think of another approach. Can we introduce strategies to switch the brain drain to brain gain
For example, can we lure our former citizens to invest and or reside back home? Can we streamline application processes to starting up new business and lease applications? Is it about time to facilitate discussions and consultations which explore reverse migration opportunities and interest of former citizens? All in all, one should not stop our people from migration as well as returning home. Floyd Robinson Micronesia
Religious Fiji
With the likes of Dewan Chand and Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa espousing their religious knowledge of their respective faiths, the righteousness, and their compelling arguments to the rest of us, the people and the “churen”of Fiji are truly blessed. I have said many times before, the people of Fiji know more about foreign religions and faith than anyone else in the rest of the world. That may go some way in explaining why Fiji is where it is. Jan Nissar Sydney, NSW, Australia
Smoke ups anxiety, tension
While many think that smoking is a stress reliever in this day and age, thus giving more craving, in fact it increases anxiety and tension. The majority of people who smoke use it as self-medication to ease stress. However, I believe smoking causes addiction. Probably, nicotine improves mood and concentration, decreases anger, stress, relaxes muscles and reduces appetite, but regular doses of nicotine lead to changes in the brain which then lead to nicotine withdrawal symptoms when the supply of nicotine decreases. According to a Fiji Times news article yesterday, and I quote: “However, research has shown that smoking actually increases anxiety and tension that all come from nicotine, which creates an immediate sense of relaxation, so people smoke in the belief that it reduces stress and anxiety”. According to an article published in The Fiji Times on October 8 in 2023, more than 1200 Fijians are killed annually and of this 852 (71 per cent) of those deaths are among individuals under the age of 70 classified as premature deaths. It is, therefore, better to quit smoking for better mental health. Indar Deo Bisun Sakoca Heights, Tamavua, Suva
Emigration issue
Your correspondent Dewan Chand (27/4/24) writes that “mass migration .. started way back in 1987 with the first coup”. This is commonly believed, but is not true. Someone with access to the statistics could give more accurate data, but I certainly recall that in the 1970s an average of over 2000 people were migrating every year, and that about 90 per cent of these were Indo-Fijians. So such migration did not start in 1987, but it increased. Paul Geraghty USP, Suva
Health and wealth
FMA president Dr Munshi most likely was overwhelmed by the occasion and while addressing our health sector problems, in a somewhat spur-of-the-moment fit, spoke about a $3-4billion budget allocation. We do understand your emotions Doc, but do you even hear yourself? Our health sector is in its current situation for more than a decade and I have never heard you asking for such an amount to fix it prior to this. It was probably a deep cave you came out of to make such a demand. Doc, are you even aware of the total of our annual budget? Both sides of the balance sheet I mean. It seems like you don’t know what our annual budget looks like. Of course there’s been neglect in the past decade or so, but it sounds politically motivated for you to ask for astronomical figures like $3b for health only. You do make sense in suggesting for an increase in the percentage of the budget that we spend of the total GDP on health care. But $3b? Brother! Either you are totally overwhelmed by the disaster called health, or totally out of touch, or maybe have a political motivation factor. You have correctly said that we need to become smarter and more innovative, and that we have to start listening to the right people and start addressing some big elephant in the room which is financing. You have suggested that the $3b if given, should not be siphoned off for any other purpose. What are you aware of that most of us are not? Please elaborate. You may well become an important part of current and future investigations on health funds abuse. Dr Munshi, our health sector needs a major overhaul; however, please be realistic with your speeches at conferences and not pretend to be the Mr Fix It. Please ask for $500m for health and a similar amount for infrastructure and a little more for education. Then please hint at or provide direct advice on how to maximize the allocation. Otherwise, please immediately retreat to the cave you emerged from.
Donald Singh Suva
Fiji Finals
During the opening and closing ceremonies of the upcoming Coke Games, can we please have less speakers and short speeches. May I also humbly request the chief guest to please limit his/her speech to less than five minutes. Anthony Sahai Levuka, Ovalau
Request declined
It’s sad that the request from a certain mataqali in Naitasiri to have its case assigned and heard by an iTaukei judge was declined. Issues involving iTaukei affairs can be extremely sensitive, close to the heart and deeply rooted in cultural, historical and spiritual values which only an iTaukei can fully comprehend and understand and judge. Wouldn’t it work out well for the iTaukei to have their own indigenous court where their cases can be heard by iTaukei judges and where they can satisfactorily receive their answers and rightful solutions? Noleen Billings Savusavu
Brumbies rugby
I believe the Drua players know that Brumbies rugby is Wallabies rugby. Never know what is happening until the time subsides. Jioji O Toronibau Tunuloa
2013 Constitution
First, the FijiFirst regime seized and burnt Professor Yash Ghai’s 600 copies of the draft constitution, and now the former A-G wanted to assist the Supreme Court with the background of formulating the 2013 Constitution. What a hypocrite this Aiyaz is. Nishant Singh Lautoka
Defensive focus
In my view, both the men and women (Drua teams) struggle to defend when dummy runners are used. This has been particularly evident when backlines utilise this tactic while stretching the field width at pace. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
New stadium
Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka announced at the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants’ Congress that a Cabinet Paper would soon be tabled for construction of a new stadium in the West that would have more than double the capacity of the two stadiums on the mainland. With money on Lautoka’s so-called “International” swimming pool project fully drained out, looks like a new project to throw money at has been identified! Inoke Vakalabure Yasiyasi Rd, Nadera, Nasinu
Change of leaders
Reading ‘Change of leadership at FICA’ (FT 29/4) made me wonder when we will see change of leadership at Fiji FA? Change in leadership is important to avoid stagnation. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Suva soccer
To the Suva FC, I will infer, bring back Babs. Manoj Lal Patel Drasa Ave, Lautoka
Textbooks
I write this open letter to the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, requesting him to investigate the fishy atmosphere surrounding the printing, distribution and preservation of textbooks.
Free textbooks for students was initiated by the FijiFirst government purportedly to reduce the financial burden on parents. However, this ambitious scheme ran into difficulties from its inception. The textbooks could not be delivered on time as printing difficulties arose. Then the late delivery and students were asked to share the textbooks. This was simply an impractical and unacceptable situation. However, the school administrators kept their mouths shut for fear of being victimised. To make matters worse the Government Printery at Vatuwaqa was closed and printing was shifted to private printers. As the former principal of Bhawani Dayal Arya College, I have first hand experience in running a textbook bank scheme. It is not an easy operation. It involves meticulous planning, processing and then distributing the textbooks. Simply stamping, recording and giving out books to students is full of peril: defacing books, losing books, stealing books. As the books are free the students and teachers have scant respect for them. This lackadaisical attitude has been the biggest problem of the free textbook scheme. All schools must have ample textbook storage space and the space to treat these textbooks by strengthening the spine by staplers, applying clear varnish on the edges to prevent moisture absorption, putting on a clear plastic cover and then stamping them to indicate that it is the school property. Mechanisms must be set in place to ensure that damaged, stolen or lost books are replaced. Committee consisting of teachers and students must be appointed to keep watch over this project if it is to succeed. Private printers have reduced the size of Basic Technology Workbooks from 16″ X 11″ to 12″ X 8″ and this is creating problems for children as there is insufficient working space left. Small prints make it difficult to read. How could the Ministry of Education allow this to happen? The minister must check on this and rectify the situation. We have reached the end of the first school term and the textbooks are nowhere in sight. How long can the students go on waiting? This situation has affected the quality of education delivered to the students. What a shame! The Ministry of Education must wake up to this reality and take some decisive action! Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
Brumbies and Drua
The Brumbies fans are still celebrating after their team became the first team this season to defeat the Hurricanes 27-19 at home, last week. I believe our Fijian Drua team still has the second half switch off mode, which will make it difficult to win overseas. The Brumbies are on a high and will try to win with a bonus point against our Drua team, but we know what our boys can do when they too are on fire. The Drua still sit on 7th spot with 17 points while the Highlanders are now on 8th position with 15 points, while Moana Pasifika is on 9th with 14 points. Every game is important for the Fijian Drua and we all hope they will lift up their game this week and if possible, upset the Brumbies on their home turf. Toso Drua, toso Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa Tacirua
No more gap
I did see “Closing the gap in Fiji” last Saturday. Will we ever see “No more gap in Fiji”? It hasn’t happened in over a century. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
