Building materials
In his opinion titled “Just follow the law” (FT 16/1) Adish Naidu makes some very pertinent observations and constructive suggestions about how we could improve the standard of our houses.
They should be taken on board by policymakers when developing and implementing disaster risk reduction initiatives. Apart from the issues he has highlighted regarding the quality of materials and construction, the competence of our contractors and building engineers should be also checked.
There should be stringent requirements for registration and licensing of these professionals.
One may have the best design and the highest grade of construction materials but if the house is not built, supervised and certified (correctly) as conforming to Category 5 cyclone standard, then it’s sheer waste of money.
We need to realise that most of the houses in the rural areas are ageing as they were built many years ago.
Because they fall outside the ambit of the Town and Country Planning Act, I believe it was not mandatory to submit any building plans. This is quite clear from the extent of the structural damage caused by the recent cyclones. Infestation from termite has also further exacerbated their vulnerability to natural disasters.
Are any inspections being carried out to ensure the process for treatment of timber complies with the industry regulations?
In terms of help with the rebuilding, my suggestion is that the grant available to first home builders should be extended to owners whose houses have been destroyed and wish to build a new Category 5 resistant structure. Otherwise, we will be caught in the same cycle as we are experiencing with our roads.
Never-ending repair after repair and patching after patching. SELWAN NADAN Lautoka
Voter fact or fiction
For someone who must deal with figures frequently, Mohammed Saneem, the Supervisor of Elections, needs to be correct in both his facts and figures.
He maintains according to The Fiji Times (FT 16/1) more females than males voted in the 2018 general election. According to him, as quoted in the article, it is on that basis one can conclude that it was because females felt safe. I, for one, was a female voter, and I never gave “safety” a second thought nor did I feel there was any cause to feel it might have been unsafe to vote.
Perhaps, instead, fewer males voted because they felt it would be unsafe.
Saneem’s assumption is flawed. One can speculate until the cows come home, but it is a non-productive exercise. Referring to the Voter Turnout and Survey Report, in Section 2.5.4 it describes the Eastern Division being consistent with the other three divisions, as Eastern Division also recorded more female voters than males.
Yet in the gender disaggregation table for Eastern Division voters, the number of males who “attended” was 9082 and females who “attended” was 8155; 927 more male voters.
Therefore, either the descriptive details or the data is incorrect. Reading the report, there appear to be other assumptions being made. Unless respondents made such statements in the questionnaire, making assumptions does nothing for transparency, accuracy, or usefulness. Julie Sutherland Tamavua, Suva
Dialysis treatment
One wonders why the FijiFirst government slashed the budget allocation for dialysis treatment from $3.5 million pre-election to $90,000 in 2019-2020, and $100,000 in the 2020-2021 budget, when many are suffering from this life-threatening disease?
As a dialysis patient myself, I can confirm that it costs me and my immediate family approximately $1000 a week for 3 x 4-hour sessions in order to remain alive. There are other costs involved apart from getting hooked up to the dialysis machine.
Medication, consultation, dealing with side effects, travel, specific foods and beverages, and care. If I cannot afford dialysis treatment, I will be dead within a couple of weeks.
The sad fact is that many cannot afford it and are left to succumb to death. What a very sad and heartbreaking situation for families, especially when there is technology available to keep kidney patients alive.
At the clinic I go to there are also patients from our neighbouring South Pacific Islands receiving treatment, and their total cost is covered by their government.
The Fijian Government should do the same for Fijian citizens. Cover the costs of treatment and let families take care of all the other added costs.
Patients receiving treatment at private clinics should also be covered. It makes no sense only covering those who go to government hospitals because the majority prefer to get treatment at private clinics because of the standard of service.
The challenge for kidney patients is as serious as it gets. Not only are we suffering physically, but emotionally, mentally, and financially.
It also takes a great deal of worry and adversity for patients and close family members. Mentally it’s not a good thing knowing that without treatment you could be dead in no time.
Fijians will continue to die if the Government sticks to its current stance. SOS! Simon Hazelman Rava Estate, Savusavu
All the best
Tuesday, 19/01/2021, marked the first day of school in Fiji as the academic year for 2021 commenced.
As I dropped off my last of the six siblings, Margreta Asilika DiKonstantino in her kindergarten classroom at Vashist Muni Memorial Primary School, my heart was overwhelmed with joy that all my children are growing up fast and are now all in the formal education system.
Even though I felt a little sadness within me that this is the first step of our children’s detachment from us parents, however, my hope and prayer that they would learn and grow up to be better citizens of Fiji and contribute to the betterment of our society.
In his address to the students in Fiji as they prepare for the start of the new school year, the PM, Voreqe Bainimarama, highlighted that every hour they study, learn and expand their minds is an investment in Fiji’s success as a country (FT 19/01).
With these words of the PM, I want to take this opportune time to wish all children of Fiji well for the 2021 academic year.
I also want to wish all the teachers well especially in the many sacrifices they make to educate our children and most of all, I want to also wish the best for my little angel Margreta Asilika DiKonstantino in her new journey in the path of formal education which many say is the key to every success. Blessed and successful academic year Fiji. Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Back to school traffic
I must express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to our hardworking police officers for keeping a good flow of the traffic although in some areas we had traffic jams.
The rush for back to school caught many drivers getting frustrated. On the other hand, our children looked smart and elegant in their school uniforms.
My daughter Mahika and niece Akshainie were excited to start school, and they made sure we left home before time.
A big vinaka vakalevu to the Australian Defence Force and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces team for the rehabilitation work that has been carried out!
Finally, thumbs up to the good Samaritans who distributed stationery to children affected by STC Yasa.
The smiling faces of our children said it all! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Best wishes
Best wishes to the teachers, students, school management, support staff for the new school year.
The school is a family of learning and a community of lifelong learners. Special wishes go to the first year students as they begin their formal education journey. Students need to have dedication and discipline in learning.
They need to focus and understand concepts and dedicate themselves to learning. Learn from anyone, anything and any experience. Teachers are the main pillars in the field of education. Great teachers are dedicated, committed and are prepared to go the extra mile in moulding students’ lives.
Best wishes to teachers in delivering the curriculum in a smart way. I urge teachers to make teaching interesting and interactive, giving a background on the concepts they teach. It’s important for teachers to encourage students to view ideas and sentiments from different perspectives.
Best wishes to the school management in providing the necessary infrastructure and learning materials/resources.
Best wishes to parents and guardians for preparing their children and wards for the school with learning material/resources, uniforms, food and emotional support. Best wishes to the Ministry of Education for facilitating the education system.
Martin Luther King Jr. so aptly said: “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
best wishes to all stakeholders who hold education to heart and to everyone connected to education. BHAGWANJI BHINDI Nasinu
