Letters to the Editor – Tuesday, September 29, 2020

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It is expected that the new cybersecurity policy would address the issue of protecting critical information infrastructure in cyberspace, build integrated capabilities to prevent and respond to cyber threat. Picture: WWW.FINANCIALEXPRESS.COM

Cybersecurity issue

The opinion (FT 26/9) written by Ilaitia B. Tuisawau is absolutely fascinating.

Quote –– A critical component of cybersecurity today isn’t technology – its policy –– cybersecurity policy has to be holistic and not only consider the technology, but also the human factor and environment or context. Governments need to commit to the free flow of information, and to make it harder for others to censor unilaterally –– Unquote.

Not being at all “cyber- savvy” I read this opinion piece twice, then yet again to ensure that I understood exactly what he was explaining.

Mr Tuisawau’s opinion piece is extremely informative on this rarely challenged and debated subject.

Sue Cauty, Pacific Harbour

Daylight saving

With respect, Bimal Prasad is incorrect when he supports the idea that the introduction of daylight saving be postponed for at least one year as stated in his letter published on September 26 and he offers no good reason.

He appears to suggest that social interaction increases the possibility of contracting COVID-19.

How does he explain the crowds of thousands of people that watch rugby or football games live or go to the cinema or attend funerals without one case of COVID-19 resulting.

Is he really suggesting that it is safer and better to sit around the yaqona bowl rather than playing rugby, football or, more importantly, cricket.

Peter Ian Knight, Suva

Legal drug

I refer to the article in The Fiji Times (27/9) where kava is classified as legal drug in the Education Ministry’s school policy and procedures on drug and substance abuse.

I remember about 10 years back or so there was a circular issued by the Public Service Commission stopping civil servants from drinking kava during official hours except during special functions or ceremonies.

Does the person who wrote this policy realise that if kava was a drug, Australia will not use kava pills as anti-depression.

Also if kava was a drug then why it does not show in the drug test done by the police?

It would be more appropriate if they would have told the teachers not to drink kava during official school time instead of calling it a drug.

Nardeo Mishra, Suva

Term three

My best wishes to the teachers and students as they kickstart term three from today.

Term three will be important for Years 12 and 13 as they will sit for their external exams.

Years 1 to 8 and Years 9 to 11 will also need attention from the teachers so that they complete the year on a high note.

All the best!

Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu

Global solidarity

In the testing times of economic devastation amid COVID-19, there are long-term implications.

Climatic change and the COVID-19 pandemic are major threats for small island nation states.

Fiji’s PM has called for global solidarity, commitment, and for urgency on the global platform.

Fiji can pat his back.

We have gone through 150 days of zero community transmission, but the global fear of this highly contagious virus is having a major impact.

All have to come together to work in tandem to counter this major threat.

But until an approved vaccine is released, it will not be easy to defeat the virus.

Besides international solidarity, each nation has to fight within themselves to unite against this deadly virus such as Fiji citizens need to abide by the lockdown rules and follow necessary guidelines.

So that one day may come where FT does give news of “zero curfew breaches” on a certain day.

Waiting for this to happen soon.

Dr Sakul Kundra, Lautoka

Confused students

Yesterday morning, while I was coming to my office, I was surprised to see few primary school students in school uniform headed to their schools.

We saw one student making his way to school on Narewa Rd and one group returning from Mount St Mary’s in Martintar after finding the premises shut.

Obviously these students had no idea that the schools were opening on Tuesday and not Monday.

Confused indeed!

Suresh Chand, Nadi

Their address

I heard the address of President Trump and the address of President Xi to the UN General Assembly.

I believe President Xi’s address was by far more presidential.

And Mr Trump is the leader of world democracy.

Shamed to say he didn’t look the part.

Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia

Sports awards

Some awards are easily recognisable such as the Pineapple Cup and Farebrother Sullivan Trophy.

Lately in Fiji, trophies handed out to achievers in various events hardly contain distinctive imagination.

A dux recipient and sports winner should not get the same type of trophy (award).

The same case is for medals.

Distinction increases prestige.

Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka

Are we safe

Are we safe from COVID-19 if we buy overseas second-hand clothes?

Is it also been quarantined?

Kelera Talebulamai, Naitasiri

Trump issue

I believe former associates are turning their back on Trump in the lead up to the American elections, spewing their version of the man.

I believe a similar situation brews in our island paradise.

Dan Urai, Lautoka

Walk for life

With family commitments, the demands of work and the realities of living through COVID, walking is becoming increasingly popular.

Let’s take a walk for a lifetime family affair.

It’s also cheap and always accessible.

For many of us, it can be done more easily and regularly without even going to the gym.

With a lifetime habit of at least 30 minutes’ walk a day, one can become healthy, wealthy and wise, with a lot of savings on doctors’ bills.

It’s the cheapest and safest way to fitness.

Get up, move, move faster.

Tahir Ali, Hamilton, New Zealand

World Heart Day

World Heart Day is a campaign established to spread awareness about the health of the heart among common people all through the world.

This initiative is to inform people to take care of their heart and health.

Fiji is not behind as the Sai Prema Foundation Fiji has opened its door to Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Hospital.

Serving Fiji and Pacific children free of cost.

It is celebrated annually all over the world on September 29.

A huge percentage of the common people in society are suffering from heart diseases.

I believe heart problems are the leading cause of death in Fiji and other parts of the world.

Heart related problems and deaths can be solved by the active involvement of the public in the campaign of World Heart Day.

Various governmental and private organisations including NGOs all around world are working to spread awareness of heart related sicknesses.

It is a day when people become aware of overeating, unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, bad lifestyle, etc., causing heart ailments.

It brings some hope to people that heart problems can be prevented and controlled by following a healthy lifestyle.

The main aim of World Heart Day is to improve global heart health by encouraging people to make lifestyle changes and gain knowledge about ways to be good to the heart.

I believe there is a target by the ministry and other NGOs to reduce non-communicable disease mortality rate by reducing the premature deaths because of cardiovascular disease.

I leave with this quote: “Put a stop to it before it stops you”.

So on World Heart Day, get involved, eat your fruits and vegetables and get outside; both you and your heart will feel the benefits.

Neelz Singh, Lami

Drowning in questions

Drowning in fast-flowing rivers during flooding and in the sea, especially where there are strong currents but in a municipal swimming pool where a 14-year-old boy was believed to have drowned is incomprehensible.

How could this possibly happen?

Were there no lifeguards in attendance?

Was there not a first-aider at hand?

If they were, why did no one see a body lying motionless on the bottom of the pool until it was too late?

What kind of investigation took place: police, forensic, criminal?

At 14, the child should have had parents or guardians supervising him?

Are they held responsible for his death?

Has anyone been charged with anything?

This death took place on the Suva City Council premises?

Is the council not held liable?

We don’t hear anything further.

The child’s life is ended and reduced to just another drowning statistic.

As a lifesaver for many years, swimming, water safety and first aid were inseparable.

There were lifesaving carnivals which drew the summertime crowds to the beaches.

The competition was intense but without thinking, we would all know how to prevent drowning and how to attempt to save a life.

Our knowledge of first aid was as good as any first attender and while some things have changed, the basic principles have remained the same.

It became second in nature yet it taught us to value and preserve life over anything else.

Did anyone really know what to do at the time when the child was pulled from the pool motionless?

What provisions were there at the poolside to help save his life?

There are more questions than answers.

Is anyone at all interested in wanting to know the answers?

Does anyone really care that a child has lost his life so suddenly that it is too easily forgotten, except for the grieving family who will probably never stop grieving.

To end on a constructive note, both the Fiji Red Cross and St John’s Ambulance offer regular basic first aid, CPR and EAR courses for the public at $50 for two days.

Julie Sutherland, Tamavua, Suva

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