A milestone
This is yet another milestone achievement of 152 years of publishing the first daily newspaper in the world where the new day begins.
Vinaka editor, Fred Wesley, with your professional team updating us Fijians wherever we are in this modern world.
Keep the flag flying and long live The Fiji Times.
God bless Fiji.
Tahir Ali, Hamilton, New Zealand
Happy birthday Fiji Times
Happy many returns of the day and wishing all the best in your future endeavours The Fiji Times, one of the oldest newspapers in the Pacific to be published since 1869.
We are proud of this moment to be part of as I write my contribution with this letter to the editor.
Correct me if I am wrong that we have daily fresh news with other educational and current affairs with coffee first thing in the morning.
Started from Fiji’s Old Capital of Levuka, and still going strong now operating right at the heart of the city of Suva, the day wouldn’t be complete without reading authentic news and sports.
For many generations this also serves as an educational platform for both online and the hard copy where children of today can learn about the past.
There are many more celebrated historic and future events to cover.
Wishing happy birthday to The Fiji Times and all its hardworking staff and management.
Vinaka for putting in the hard effort, not forgetting every other member of the team.
I leave you with a quote: “It’s amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper.” – Jerry Seinfeld.
Vinaka.
Neelz Singh, Lami
Odyssey Odyssey
We add our voices to the wide chorus of congratulations to The Fiji Times on achieving its 152nd anniversary.
It’s been an odyssey unlike any other.
Our time in the newsroom more than 50 years ago came when Fiji was moving through a momentous transition from colony to an independent state.
Reporting on that gave us unique and lasting perspectives, especially on the complex nature of Fiji society.
That, of course, defined the news environment and still does.
Both of us went on to separate careers but never regretted working at the Times as news gatherers and writers.
The newspaper occupies a unique place in the annals of Fiji.
We are looking forward very much to reading its history, so closely entwined with that of Fiji, by our friend Anurag Subramani.
He has made his mark, not only as a gifted chronicler of national milestones and things idiosyncratic, but also as the founder of the new town, Dakuwaku with its MadRappers and peculiar goats.
Matt and Emelita Wilson Votualevu, Nadi
Curfew and virus
I agree with Dan, the curfew is not about containing the virus.
I believe it is to protect some and keep the others at home.
Well, the ComPol said crime had come down.
May I ask, does the virus only roam around at night hence the curfew?
“How can you curfew a virus?”
I doubt it because with the curfews in place the virus was still mingling with the people, especially the grog snipers.
I bet it was even calling taki, and ‘namuring’ cigarettes also.
The Suva peninsula was so dotted with red dots, it looked like my face when I had a bad stint with pimples during my puberty years that I went to school with a mask.
So, having the curfew is not about the virus, remember the blerry thing must be really thinking that’s why it’s morphing.
By the way, how was your Father’s Day Dan, hope you weren’t out during curfew hours.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Lautoka
Address it
Prince Charles Park traffic lights have stopped functioning from last week and it would be appreciated if they are fixed as soon as possible.
It is one of the most heavily passed vehicular intersections in Nadi Town and you can imagine the danger and inconvenience the situation puts the users in every day without lights.
At least put a traffic controller to ease the traffic flow here till the lights are back on.
Any situation of this nature calls for your immediate attention and intervention without any reminder if you care and understand your moral obligations.
Furthermore, discourteous drivers who are a menace to other road users are kept at bay that is only if you are present there.
I think both FRA and police must know this and must take appropriate action swiftly.
I hope you took this matter seriously.
Thank you.
Suresh Chand, Nadi
Mask dilemma
Walking in the mornings from Namaka to Martintar in Nadi is a bit dangerous.
Some walk with no masks on their face;
Some walk with a mask but nose is exposed;
Some jog with no mask or their nose is exposed; and
Some walk with a mask pulled below their chins.
I consider them either ignorant of the consequences or selfish.
Some walk with a mask covering both mouth and nose; I consider them kind and unselfish and true heroes.
Conan Hatch, Nadi Airport
What’s in a name?
Thanks for the giggle, Allen – great picture of everyone running around with inky fingers!
My letter (FT 3/9) was, I confess, a little tongue in cheek – until I decided to check our COVID vaccination cards.
Guess what?
Mine is in the name of Susan Elizabeth and my husband’s is John Victor Martin – no Cauty!
A friend confirms that she, too, has a card in her first two given names without a surname.
Surely, this problem with names needs immediate investigation.
What’s in a name, indeed?
Why bother to have an official one at all?
Sue Cauty, Pacific Harbour
Payment to our Olympians
Recognition and respect is earned like the statement of Fiji men’s 7s coach, Gareth Barber about former 7s captain Paula Dranisinikula.
He acknowledged the contribution made by all the players such as Paula that did not make it to the Tokyo Olympics team.
These players also deserve some form of monetary reward from the Government or FRU.
On the same note, any news on the payment to our Olympians both men and women’s teams?
I didn’t see any publicity on our mainstream media?
Jioji Masivesi, Tadra- Votualevu, Nadi
Testing criteria
While the PCR testing capacity is around 3000 per day, the ministry is testing less than 50 per cent of its capacity because of the restrictive testing criteria in place.
The testing criteria should be relaxed to include non-high-risk symptomatic persons.
A person who is asked to assume that he or she has COVID-19 will generally take less heed of restrictive movement measures than a confirmed patient.
Therefore, since there is the capacity it should be fully utlilised which in turn will help reduce the spread.
Test! Test! Test!
KIRAN KHATRI, Samabula, Suva
Media reality
“Media reality” (FT 5/9) informs us of just how unpleasant, intimidating and coercive the media regulatory regime is in post-coup Fiji.
It is truly remarkable that the Fiji media has still made “great strides despite challenges”.
It demonstrates the resilience and resolve of dedicated media professionals to deliver on their democratic, watchdog duty to the public.
Hats off to all the good journalists who have stayed the course.
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
$360 assistance
Well the good Economy Minister in the 4 the Record program said the $360 grant by the Government was used by the people to pay bills, rent and food and if some bought six long neck (750ml beer) there is nothing wrong with that.
Thank you so much for your understanding Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, hope you continue the good work you have been doing.
Sukha Singh, Labasa
Dramatic decrease
How shall we interpret the dramatic decrease in COVID-19 positive cases as reported by authorities?
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Law and order
Wonders never cease, after all these years, we finally get the hit TV series, Law & Order on our TV.
Nigel Fiu, Owls Perch, Lautoka
Happy days
Happy Constitution Day.
Jaheed Buksh, Korolevu, Sigatoka
Constitution Day!
Today marks the eighth anniversary of our Constitution Day public holiday.
I took time to read Fiji’s Constitution, and I wonder if this holiday serves any purpose, especially if our rights are breached.
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
A reminder
Irrespective of how powerful you may think you are, I believe no battle is won if you choose to fight multiple fronts at the same time.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Parliament and voting
Edward Blakelock is a former secretary to the House of Representatives.
So his views on Parliament matter.
But, with respect to him, his letter yesterday (06/09) has totally missed the point of my Saturday article (“Who shouts, wins”).
There is only one important question about the Speaker’s new voting rule: Can we know, on any Bill or motion, how many members of Parliament voted in favour and how many voted against?
And the answer to that question is “no”.
And that is the problem.
Mr Blakelock is right that in many parliaments, a vote can be put “on the voices”.
And indeed, the Speaker may well say at times “the loudest side wins”.
But – and this is what is important – the losing side can then say “we do not accept that ruling. We want to see the numbers exactly”.
But in Fiji, no one can now find that out.
In the United Kingdom House of Commons, MPs not satisfied with a vote on the voices can demand “a division”.
When a division is called the bells ring and MPs are summoned to the chamber from their offices, the restaurant (or even the parliamentary bar, where they may be taking liquid refreshment).
MPs vote by walking through the “ayes lobby” or the “noes” lobby.
Their votes are counted.
The results are then presented to the Speaker, who reads them out.
So UK voters always know exactly how many MPs voted one way and how many voted the other way.
In past Fiji parliaments the Standing Orders were different.
The Speaker might rule that a vote was passed “on the voices”.
Then an MP might request a division (and some MPs would have to hurriedly return to the chamber from the big tanoa just outside where they, too, were taking liquid refreshment).
In Fiji, the “division” was taken by a roll call. Each MP remained at his seat.
When his or her name was called the MP voted “aye” or “no”.
Again — we always then knew how many MPs voted for, and how many MPs voted against.
The Standing Orders of the current Fiji Parliament on voting are different.
Under these Standing Orders (and if you’d read all the way through, Mr Blakelock, I did spell them out!):
- when it’s time to vote, the Speaker puts the question to Parliament. If no one objects, the vote is deemed to have passed;
- otherwise, MPs must vote “yes”, “no” or “abstain”, using an electronic voting system;
- if the electronic voting system is not working or the Speaker says it is unreliable, voting must be by roll call.
The Parliament secretary-general calls each MP’s name and they call out their vote – “yes”, “no” or “abstain”; and
- whether it’s an electronic vote or a roll call vote, the secretary-general must declare the result and record it in the minutes.
So the rules are now different.
But now — and without explanation — the Speaker has decided he can just change these rules by himself.
Now, he says, there will be only “votes by acclamation”.
No one can ask for electronic voting.
No one can ask for a roll call.
I go back to the question I started with: Can we know, on any Bill or motion, how many MPs voted in favour and how many voted against?
And the answer is “no”.
That is what is wrong.
And that is what is “strange” about Parliament’s new way of voting.
Richard Naidu, Suva (Mr Naidu is a Suva-based lawyer who does some work for The Fiji Times — Editor)
