Letters to the Editor: letters@fijitimes.com.fj
Bulletproof BMW
MUCH has been said in regards to PM Modi’s bulletproof car.
I reckon we should really appreciate that we got a chance to have a glance of one of the world’s best automobile (armoured vehicle) on our roads.
The above mentioned automobile can withstand AK-47 gunfire and costs around $300,000 to own one.
I guess most people even may not be aware as to what BMW stands for and where it originates from.
Well it’s a German made automobile and “BMW” stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, when translated in English it’s Bavarian Motor Works.
SHAMAL CHAND, Kuku Bau Rd, Nausori
Birds of Fiji
AT least this year we have time to repair the damage and avoid a repeat of last year’s lulu fiasco.
Contrary to the assertions of Andhy Blake, I wonder where he gets his information from, as reported on (FT13/11), kula refers to the collared lory (Phigys solitarius), which is a relatively common bird throughout Fiji, and certainly not restricted to Ono, Kadavu.
The feathers have never been used as fans, for which they would be quite ineffective, but have been used to decorate fans, and also formerly mats, which is why the coloured wool now used to decorate mats is called kula.
The bird shown on the five dollar note is a different bird, kulawai (red-throated lorikeet, Charmosyma amabilis), a rare bird of the highlands. Finally, while the lakalaka has been performed by Lauans since around 1890, it was originally and still is a Tongan dance.
Paul Geraghty, USP
Eyesight restoration
IT is unfortunate that so many people in Fiji are blind for years before finally receiving cataract surgery.
Because of chronically recurring iritis, I had premature cataracts.
While I was living in Fiji (1994-2004), the cataracts became bad enough that I either had to have cataract surgery or stop driving at night. It was becoming impossible to see adequately when there was glaring light.
At St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, I had my right eye operated on first and the left eye operated on the next year.
Lenses were implanted into both eyes. The surgery was 100 per cent successful.
The surgery for the right eye was completely painless and there was almost no pain for the left eye. Complete recovery took less than one week.
There is no need to wait until vision has been seriously impaired before having cataract surgery.
The best time to have the surgery is as soon as cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities.
I hope that in the future, people in Fiji will be able to get cataract surgery promptly as soon as their vision begins to deteriorate.
Frank R. Eggers, Albuquerque, US
Housing assistance
IT’S encouraging to see Government’s housing assistance to first time home owners.
Listening to the presentation by the Minister for Finance in his parliamentary comments on Fiji One news on Sunday, November 22, loan write off, for requests from home owners with special financial hardships?
How does one qualify for that? It would be interesting to find out the eligible criteria for such cases.
Finau Naigulevu Turaga, Nadi Airport
Future of 7s stars
Referring to Henry Robinson’s letter published on November 24 titled Sevens payment.
Mr Robinson wrote that the payment made was a “one-off payment to our 7s gladiators for bringing glory to Fiji”.
I would like to advise Mr Robinson that this payment can be negative for the 7s team as it may lead the team to lose out on good players because recently it was in the news that some national 7s players had signed contracts with FRU with an annual salary of about $20k per year and obviously this being a big figure the contract eventually would come with conditions protecting FRU and their sponsors therefore receiving this payment might destroy the future of these 7s stars as the contract could be terminated.
So I would like to ask if this was actually a payment for bringing glory to Fiji.
Jignesh Kumar, Nakasi
Medicalm charges
AFTER reading Finau Turaga’s letter F/T 25-11, about exorbitant private physicians’ charges, I have gone through that on many occasions in Fiji as well.
One was in 1995 coming back to the US my eight-year-old daughter got sick, so a friend takes us to this private doctor in Nadi.
The receptionist says the charge is $35, but when the doctor realises that we were from overseas (daughter spoke in English) he secretly summons his receptionist that the charge is $55.
I have experienced these types of double charges in various aspects. It’s what I call making-money out of people’s misery or like robbing from the dead.
Susen Sakal, Hayward, US
Sunday games
IT’S about time Suva soccer moved away from hosting local league games on Sundays only.
There are many talented players out there who are just not able to participate in league games because of their religion prohibiting sporting activities on Sundays.
As a matter of fact, local league games used to be played on Saturdays in Suva and I request this be introduced again, only then will we be able to see the amount of talent we have in Suva.
A lot of potential is out there waiting to be tapped but the only thing holding these youths from engaging in soccer is the Sundays in which games are organised and thus these youths tend to participate in rugby and other sports that host their games on Saturday. I’m sure FIFA fair play epitomises religious equality and so Suva soccer must embrace this moving forward.
Soccer is not only a sport for one race or religion, it is a sport that knows neither. There are a lot of positives if games are hosted on Saturday. Spectator numbers will surely be boosted and interest will surely peak.
This is something that lacks in the sport and can definitely be boosted with Saturday games.
There are teams in the Suva local league that are unable to field their best eleven simply because some of their best players aren’t able to play on Sunday as they have to attend church.
I urge Suva soccer to please exercise fair play and consider the advantages of hosting games on Saturdays so that no one is left out and everyone enjoys the beautiful game.
ROBERT GIDDEON, Suva
ISIS in Europe
DAILY Mail UK reported (25/11/14) that Dimitri Bontinck, a Belgium decorated army veteran renowned for rescuing youths from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has warned ISIS was placing sleeper cells in the UK and other European countries after he liaised with members of Jabhat al-Nusra, a branch of al-Qaida, and other contacts with close links to ISIS operations.
He claims they are waiting for the right time to unleash war on the European states and to take revenge against the West for an all-out assault on them.
As the ISIS reach increases, the fight against them becomes unprecedented.
With heightened international response we hope that this rebellious and notorious group, which is the most dangerous and extreme, is destroyed before it advances their ideologies.
Anish Chandra, Lautoka
Bulletproof car
Well if you shift to Suva, you might understand why the Indian PM travelled in a bulletproof car then met with the public at Albert Park Sukha Singh of Labasa (FT 25/11/14).
JAYNESH PRASAD, Nasinu
Allen’s budget
If Allen’s budget initiative (FT 25/11) were to be imposed, there will be uncontrolled black-market trading all over the country. I hope he will have the budget to curb the underground economy that will rise with it.
Pat Vuli, Suva
Freehold lots
Does it make any sense barring foreigners from purchasing freehold residential lots? Does it mean native leases do not enjoy any investment respectability nor priority, hence foreigners are forced into a corner with no choice.
JOE SMITH, Pacific Harbour, Deuba
Bickering
The Public Accounts Committee can do themselves and the people of Fiji a lot of good. Somehow politics does strange things to good people. Get on with the job, many of us want to know what happened to our tax.
Allen Lockington, Mulomulo
Keep it simple
WHEN they share funny stories, jokes, raise awareness of keeping healthy, family bonding, sports incentives, education significance, community work, etc, it balances their vital function on TV and radio. Now seeing these men talking about political affairs of the nation on air, the Bati ni Tanoa crew are unwisely engaging themselves on expert matters. Keep it simple, balanced and entertaining gentlemen!
AREKI DAWAI, Suva Point
Auditor’s report
Thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money is misused every year as per the Auditor-General’s reports. I believe the sad fact is no one gets reprimanded. Except for Allen Lockington being warned for banking an extra two cents while serving in Levuka. (F/T/28/10/14).
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Salary review
I DON’T know if it’s right or wrong for Ro Teimumu to ask for a review of salaries of the Opposition leader and other Parliament members. I would like to know how many hours of actual work does a member of Parliament do in a year. You can include sitting in Parliament as double time. I have always wondered what criteria was used for determining the new pay rates. The difference between the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader’s pay is huge and I know this must be causing a lot of stress to our honorable Opposition leader.
SUKHA SINGH, Labasa
Roads and more
With the biggest allocation of budget allocated to FRA, let’s hope to see more improvements on our roads and infrastructure.
That is from filling potholes to resealing, making accessible roads then clearing bushes, building waiting sheds then jetties alone and setting up road depots then building roads alone.
Rather than wasting the huge budget allocation on unrealistic developments, FRA should take a different approach this time around and be people focussed.
Don’t take development to them but try to see what they really need and lack.
People on my island of Matuku were promised an airstrip from previous governments but instead roads and jetties were built.
The result, people tend to buy fibreglass boats as the roads were not maintained.
An airstrip will surely boost people’s lives on the island economically and socially.
And it will be the gateway to other developments.
Isn’t that smart development?
PITA SOROAQALI, Suva
Political landscape
Dr Biman Prasad of the NFP labelled the 2015 Budget as “boring”, while Ro Teimumu Kepa of Sodelpa and Mahendra Chaudhary of FLP stated that it was “creative and interesting” and “ambitious and unrealistic” respectively.
They are the personal views of the three political leaders concerning the $3.3billion budget recently announced by Minister of Finance Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
As always there are negatives and positives in Government budgets year in and year out. Hopefully, in order to deliver the promised goods to the lower, middle and upper class.
Clear and straight out deliverance is a must so all classes may know that at least they are partakers of their pound of flesh as promised by the present Government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Chinese President Xi Jinping visited our shores last week.
As leaders of the two most populace nations on earth. They came, they saw and understood the situation being faced by tiny nations like ours. Situated and drifting in the largest ocean on planet Earth: Pacific Ocean.
The Indian PM didn’t seem to notice the absence of Ro Teimumu and her party members who showed their democratic rights by boycotting his State visit.
For Mr Modi has come across more serious problems at home than what is taking place here.
Anyway, our political landscape forecast is a bit cloudy.
Hopefully the sun will begin to shine some day soon.
Osea Sivo Naisau, Nailaga, BA
Budget 2015
Congratulations to the Government for the promising budget for 2015.
You promised to give free education, bus fares, water and milk to students and you have done so but you had not promised to punish the poor.
We don’t have much choice for our entertainment and the poor people mostly rely on DVDs and what have you done, increased the duty from $2 to $5 for every blank tape. So how much will a person pay to get one with the film?
Is there a blank CD/DVD manufacturer in Fiji whom we are trying to help?
Secondly, every person whether young, old, male or female would like to use perfume, deodorants or after shave lotion but what have you done, increased the duty from 0 per cent to 32 per cent.
Lastly, in every budget we see the duty on alcohol going up and up and this year again went up by 10 per cent.
As it is most people can hardly buy any liquor now because of the price and only people who can afford are the rich ones. I believe we are depriving the poor from enjoying a little once in a while by increasing the duty. No wonder our society is becoming a grog addicted one.
Nardeo Mishra, Suva
