Battle for trophy
Western fans had an opportunity to support their teams in the final round of this year’s INKK Mobile Battle of the Giants.
The hosts, under the guidance of up-coming coach Anginesh Prasad, qualified alongside giant-killers Nasinu, who upset Nadi by a single goal.
I commend the efforts of Tagi and the Nasinu brigade for proving critics wrong especially after the (4-0) drubbing at the hands of Lautoka.
Furthermore, the Babasiga Lions, who had been impressive at Ratu Cakobau Park, beat Tavua (2-0) while Rewa, after the earlier disappointment at home, held Lautoka to a (1-1) draw.
On the other hand, the do-or-die clash between Suva and Ba drew a lot of interest and the men in black, who had been boosted with the presence of Vanuatu striker Tommy Micah after the suspension of nine regulars, came out firing but were unable to beat 10-men Suva and the defending champs bowed out.
The semis are set — Labasa faces an in-form Nasinu side while the battle of the cities is sure to spark fireworks.
My best wishes to the Lions in their bid to win the trophy since the last win dating back to 1997 at Subrail Park via Tuilevuka’s “golden goal”.
Finally, the “voice of soccer” deserves a pat for the delicious commentaries!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Isolated views
It has become common knowledge that our education system is struggling with students’ behavioural problems.
No arguments against the details.
Recently, there was an incident where a child struck another with a pencil.
The Minister for Education had labelled it as an “isolated event”.
It has also become common knowledge that the crime rate has reached concerning levels.
No arguments against the details.
The recent mugging in Suva has been labelled by the Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president as an “isolated event”.
These are far from being isolated events but their comments are surely “isolated views”.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Special selection
Thank you for the selection of special administrators and members.
I can see they were chosen on merit.
However, could their credentials be made public, for those who don’t know them.
I hope they will be apolitical.
When I say apolitical, I have been told that there would be no mayoral elections because from history, the person has been known to be affiliated to a political party.
And thus, I hope they are not in any way affiliated to any party.
No special favours when hiring but like all things only time will tell us.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Supermarket issue
We refer to Dewan Chand’s letter titled “Supermarket issue” published in The Fiji Times on July 25, 2019.
We acknowledge the writer for highlighting a few issues on consumers’ responsibility when shopping.
The council would like to highlight that we are well aware of the issue and have consulted the traders on numerous occasions in this regard and one of the reasons cited for this discrepancy is “human error”.
We had found traders also making excuses such as “the cash register was not updated” or “there was a misprint on the display price”, and other lame excuses.
This is unacceptable and traders must exercise more responsibility to ensure that consumers are not charged incorrect prices for items.
While the council continues to raise these concerns with traders and the relevant authorities so that these issues could be curbed, we also wish to continually advise consumers to take note of point of purchase prices and compare these prices to those at point of sale.
Consumers are urged to make a habit of tallying the figures on their receipts when they are at the counter and to inform the cashier of any anomalies.
Consumers should also be assertive when shopping and not hesitate to point out any incorrect prices they are being charged.
And the golden rule must be followed all the time – check your receipts with what you have bought.
Seema Shandil, chief executive officer, Consumer Council of Fiji
Protection cord
I thought Raksha Bhandan is an Indian festival celebrated to show the love between a brother and sister or cousin sister whereby the sister ties a protection cord around the brother’s wrist and an exchange of gifts takes place.
In one of the advertisements on one of the Indian language stations, the sister will tie the protection cord only after she is taken to a big shopping complex.
I would love an explanation from the concerned radio station.
Sukha Singh, Labasa
So sad
Both mother and son and the pilot of the helicopter chartered for an emergency medical evacuation are believed to be dead although so far only the mother’s body has been found.
Such tragic accidents and loss of lives really touch our hearts.
We can only pray and wish that their souls rest in peace and the grieving families find strength and courage to overcome the loss.
Unfortunately, no one survives to tell us the cause of the accident.
Let’s hope that the remaining bodies are also found soon.
This is another very sad story.
Suresh Chand, Nadi
Anti-poor policy
I believe banning sales of cigarette rolls is an anti-poor policy.
Why not ban sales of cigarettes?
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Strangest place
Hollywood star Margot Robbie reveals the strangest place she’s had sex in a candid interview (Yahoo Lifestyle 5/8).
Acha right, but why is that considered newsworthy for the rest of humanity?
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Lamb to cook
Every now and then we buy lamb for barbecue, or whatever way we cook it.
It’s expensive now, no, we can’t afford it now.
I believe the import duty rate is 15 per cent, Fiscal duty nil Import Excise plus 9 per cent VAT.
I know that 15 per cent fiscal duty rate is supposed to protect the local industry.
But is the local industry providing that much lamb to warrant protection from the quality imported ones?
Do away with the 15 per cent, put lamb on price control and monitor the market.
Simple?
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
PNG and Fiji
Flying their national airlines, the service by both airline crew members were superb.
The difference both in quality and quantity was on the food served in flight.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Tax collectors
How can the collection of revenue affect one’s health may I ask especially if it is one’s job to collect taxes?
Why would a tax collector allow him or herself to be stressed out about collecting due taxes?
If one cannot do such a job then one needs to go pick fruits in NZ or Australia!
The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service’s (FRCS) principal duty is to collect due taxes and that is what they need to be doing.
How they go about collecting taxes is irrelevant!
Our government needs every penny that is due to it and it is only proper that they get it.
One’s poor health cannot be because of collecting taxes but more so because of one’s poor lifestyle.
Simon Hazelman, Rava Estate, Savusavu
Marvellous job
We now read many letter writers who are very unhappy with the latest fee increase in certificates from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
I believe Government has done a marvellous job in bringing government services to all our doorsteps through its decentralisation programs where it has become convenient for all Fijians in the rural areas, peri-urban and all our urban centres around the country to access those services.
I believe many of these services were only available in Suva and Lautoka which used to be a very costly and inconvenient exercise for the many Fijians who could not afford the travelling costs and our post offices throughout the country have been used as a tool by government for such services to be made available.
I believe no one complained about the free education initiative, first home and landowners assistance, farming and agriculture initiatives, the after cyclone and flood care rolled out by our caring FijiFirst Government.
To all Fijians out there, please understand that the decentralising of government services all comes at a price, for example we must consider the following costs; photocopying and printing machines, rental of the office spaces, quality of the paper and its colour, ink, telephone costs, fax, emails and the manpower or labour.
Nothing is free where the same old principle applies, “User Pay System” or we all must just learn not to lose them to start with.
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Namaka, Nadi
Criminals react
I do agree with Mr Tudravu that police presence could not be everywhere.
This may be in the interior where police stations or posts are not available.
What about crimes committed right in the heart of Lautoka City?
I believe it’s common to see in broad daylight people drinking, and taking illicit drugs on a tramline in the city, at Marine Drive, and at Churchill Park, to name a few places.
Drunkards harass passersby and some have robbed them.
If this is controlled by police, definitely I believe the crime rate would decline.
Recently, a police officer was seen running towards the Lautoka Municipal Market, much to the curiosity of bystanders, assuming he was chasing a thief.
Instead, the police officer was after two rolls of cigarette from a juice stall.
I believe a bottle collector reported to police about solar lights being dismantled at Marine Drive.
The four lights have gone.
Some other common crimes committed are trespassing in someone else’s yard by climbing over the fence, stealing and injuring homeowners.
I believe at times criminals were questioned and released on the spot.
I believe laxity on the part of the police has left some victims opting not to report criminal acts.
To curb crime, I believe police officers should be duty-bound to attend to victims’ plight as soon as possible.
Also frequent checks alongside V-drains and alleys will be an added advantage where narcotics and methylated spirits have been consumed in broad daylight and evenings as well.
If police laxity continues, it will be a pity our future generations will take bold steps to follow what’s left behind for them.
Already there have been some very young people involved in illegal activities in our beloved country.
David Sushil Lal, Malolo St, Lautoka
