Stop judging
Let us just accept the Hong Kong 7s results, learn from our mistakes and move on. Bolaca was the ‘saviour’ and hero for his last minute try against France, which put us through to the Quarter finals. Hours later Bolaca was condemned for his ‘pathetic pass’ against the All Blacks. Why? Despite the defeat, even Osea Kolinisau, the head coach, has promised to continue using offloads. (FT 08/04) So why can’t we, the ardent fans, stop criticising the players and move on. However, I do concur with the sentiments expressed by my brother Rajnesh Lingam that Osea should be allowed to choose his own manager, trainer and advisers. DINESH KUMAR Ba
Hong Kong coverage
Media coverage from Hong Kong was unique. You made us proud, Fijian rugby at its best. Thank you The Fiji Times. NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
All Blacks 7s crowned champions
The urgency to participate in this year’s Marist 7s tournament paid off for All Blacks 7s head coach Tomasi Cama (Jr) and his boys, as they were crowned champions of the Hong Kong 7s tournament. The All Blacks 7s beat France 7-5. Prior to that, they out-muscled Fiji 19-12. The All Blacks were strong on defence and had speed to burn. They also took their chances and converted opportunities into points. After the loss at the hands of the All Blacks 7s, our coach Osea Kolinisau attributed our inability to convert opportunities into points as a major flaw. We tend to overdo things and cook up opportunities. Now that Osea has had the opportunity to see the boys, I’m adamant he will polish our weaknesses. I loved his positive attitude and spirit despite the loss and the fact that he will continue to use offloads as a weapon. Fiji has qualified for the Madrid 7s as part of the top eight. The Singapore 7s is next for Osea. A win and nerves will settle! To Rohit Deo and Baljeet Singh, thank you so much for the fantastic coverage — so many spicy stories to read! Vinaka vakalevu to The Fiji Times for empowering our sports journalists with the trip of a life-time! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Mighty vegetable
Recent heavy rain caused floods which devastated the low-lying vegetable farms in river valleys. Overnight the cost of vegetables has sky-rocketed and well beyond the means of ordinary people. A bundle of long beans can cost between $7 to $10 a bundle, egg plant (baigan) costs $7 to $10 a heap, pawpaws cost $7 to $10 a heap just to give a sample of the escalating cost of vegetables. Many poor families have resorted to eating tea-rice or biscuits or roti and potato curry for parcels. The mighty vegetable is no longer affordable. So sad! Dewan Chand Namadi Heights, Suva
Talk only
About three weeks ago there was a Women Invigorating the Nation Convention. During the convention, UN Resident Coordinator in Fiji, Dirk Wagener highlighted that despite outperforming men in education, Fijian women continue to face significant under-representation in the formal workforce. The convention was also attended by the Minister for Women where she talked about gender equality and women’s rights. However, this week we are hearing of attempts to remove Acting SOE Ana Mataiciwa from her post. Isn’t this hypocrisy? On one hand there are discussions on women’s empowerment and addressing under-representation. On the other hand, there are simultaneous attempts to remove women from top positions. The targeting of the acting SOE prompts further inquiry. Is it because she has referred some ministers to FICAC for investigation? If this is indeed the primary motivation behind the attempts to remove her, then it is outrageous! This is a glaring contradiction in Fiji’s approach to women’s empowerment. While in public there is emphasis on the need to address gender inequality and promote women’s participation in leadership roles, the reality on the ground tells a different story. This should not be allowed to continue. SANJEET PRASAD Mani Rd, Bulileka, Labasa
Flood, water, road challenges
Flood, water and road conditions are some on-going challenges in Fiji other than food prices. Definitely, VAT needs to be reviewed to some extent ease escalating prices of food items. Flooding is impacting greater communities in Fiji, and it’s not recent or new concerns or challenges, but prevailing issues for some time. Water woes are getting very frustrating in towns and cities, and life without water for weeks in these areas is miserable. The pathetic road conditions in the urban areas, and road users out for school or work with heavy and congested traffic combined with poor roads is another type of experience every day early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Some communities in Fiji are initiating ways and have taken initiatives to ease their flooding issues. This is commendable. But stakeholders must plan ahead to avoid flooding in flood prone zones, and it’s necessary to plan for long-term solutions. Let us invest in long-term infrastructure upgrades to lessen flooding by better drainage systems, water supply and roads. It is high time that we analyse capacities in these infrastructures and resolve bottlenecks, explore options to address the root causes. I know we have a political will from the Coalition Government to tackle “floods, water and roads” challenges ahead. Indar Deo Bisun (JPC) District Advisory Councilor Sakoca Heights Tamavua
Receipts for fees
One of the most common occurrences nowadays, is the non issuance of cash receipts by the receivers, whenever we pay them the required fees. Even at certain bookshop around towns and cities, photocopy works upon completion of doing photocopies, they are required to give us receipts of 50 cents or five dollars for typing, photocopying, etc. At toilet blocks around the towns and cities, each entry cost us 50 cents. The attendants must issue us receipts for 50 cents. This is not happening, and all towns and the two city councils must put their foot down on this. All monies received by the attendants should be shown on receipts to us. One has to see Suva market staff, to know what I am saying! Shocking indeed! The tactic used by carpark staff and the market staff officers, should be screened by city fathers/ checked daily! Plenty cars are parking free on provided spaces, some blaming faulty meters! Some restaurants around the country are so lucky as no receipts are given to us after paying for our meals! Food stalls in Suva market are lucky as well, as they do not need to write out the amount paid for food and tea et cetera! It is time, enforcements are done! This has been the missing link here! Isikeli Toroca Raiwaqa, Suva
Drua’s discipline?
Are the Drua to blame for their ill-discipline? In an 80 minute rugby game where the main opposing and the entire officiating teams are nitpicking every move the Drua makes and lets the home team run riot with every infringement in a game of rugby, can we blame the Drua players for their frustrations? Can the Drua management forward a replay of the Drua v Rebels rugby match to Super Rugby officials and point out the blatant infringements by the Rebels and why were they not called out by the three referees or the video referee? The Rebels forwards were continually taking out the Drua halfback, right in front of the referee, the two assistants and the video referee and yet, they waited until Lomani finally took matters into his elbow, then they showed him a red card. A non-existent head clash against Carter Gordon, got the Drua lock forward a 10 minute sinbinning. An apparent tip tackle and clear head clash by the same Carter Gordon later in the game was never called by, nor referred by the video and game referees! A head-butt which brushed past its intended target got another red card. And the video referee continually refers borderline infringements by the Drua, two to five plays after apparent initiation. And never once against the Rebels! Are the Drua so dangerous that rugby apartheid has to be levelled against them to ensure the livelihood of the other rugby franchises in Super Rugby? Are the Super Rugby board and management blatantly agreeing to farcical refereeing by game day officials against the Drua? And will we ever see a non-biased game against the Drua in Super Rugby? For the Drua players, frustration and apparent ill-discipline will continue because at every game they are not playing against just 15 players, they are playing against 19. A four-man advantage of the three and one video referees, will always triumph against a team playing hard clean, fast winning rugby. No amount of coaching, nor counselling against such odds will curb the ill-discipline. And if the game day referees will continue to officiate like we saw on Friday evening against the Rebels, then the Drua have no chance of winning, ever! On any given game day, with the same official quartet and the same type of officiating, the Drua will definitely finish a game with 10 men or less? Epeli Rabua Ragg Ave, Tamavua, Suva
Ebay probe
‘Crypto King’, Sam Bankman-fried, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for stealing $8billion from customers of the now bankrupt FTX Cryptocurrency Exchange. Can the relevant authorities please provide an update regarding the Ebay Shop investigation? Anthony Sahai Levuka, Ovalau
Water stress
Water connects every aspect of our life and its provision has to be “the priority”. Presently, we are facing water scarcity, where the demand exceeds the supply. Does the WAF have proper “as-built drawings” of its systems? I am certain that the available surface water resource has not been a critical issue. However, the problematic “aging” pipeline, as being claimed, is the result of the inadequate upkeeping of the water infrastructure. And that simply reflects the lack of investment, for almost always, the drinking water problem is rooted in financial and political inappropriateness. Water is the life blood of our bodies, our economy, our nation and our wellbeing. The world’s first and foremost medicine. We never know its worth, until our well is dry. Samu Silatolu Nakasi
2 in a row
Congratulations to the New Zealand 7s for winning two in a row. Superb because I don’t need to elaborate, Anthony Sahai. NAVNEET RAM (TD) Lautoka
Israel’s situation
From Nadi Rakesh Chand Sharma tells us Israeli PM Netanyahu “understands Israeli’s predicament better than any of us” (FT 8/4). So can he tell us ‘Why thousands protesting against Netanyahu’s government in Israel?’ (aljazeera 2/8). In fact can he tell us why ‘Tens of thousands of Israelis protesters call for Netanyahu removal’? (The Guardian 1/8). Surely the protesting Israelis understand the Israeli predicament a whole lot better than Rakesh Chand Sharma of Nadi, right? Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Pothole problems
The Fiji Times editorial on potholes (FT 7/4) and by many writers (LTE) it seems that potholes always appear on Fiji roads in any weather. It’s never ending. I feel the major reason is the excessive use of roads with ever increasing numbers of vehicles. Is there any way we can reduce the number of vehicles one per household, to save ourselves, accidents and unnecessary repairs on vehicles. Safety first to save lives on roads. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
