Letters to the Editor: letters@fijitimes.com.fj
Commander’s reassurance
WHAT an encouraging message from the new Army Commander, Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga.
Under his leadership, the RFMF will ensure that the safety and the security of the people of Fiji are paramount.
They also vow to obey, defend and protect the Constitution and the new democracy that we are all creating.
These are certainly reassuring and positive comments and we do really appreciate the spirit that came with it.
Indeed we are so comforted by both these assurances with the view that all would be fine and so we are all anticipating a thriving and a prosperous Fiji in the not too distant future.
My sincere acknowledgement goes to the village of Muani in Kadavu for a life so well-nurtured that this son of yours managed to become not only a distinguished military officer but also a gentleman at heart.
Secondly, Dudley High School must also be acknowledged for your excellent mentoring of the Brig-Gen in his early years at the school.
To Brig-Gen Tikoitoga, we the people of Fiji will always stand by you and we wholeheartedly wish you well in your new position.
Sir, may you be blessed in your tenure as army commander.
JOELI NALECA
Suva
Emotional moment
IT was an emotional moment to see the military commander take his last leave from the military camp.
His comrades did it with pride in true military tradition.
Being comrades for a long time, they slowly escorted him in a memorable and glorious event. The famous and not so famous were there wondering what to do next.
I’m sure if the commander was to return as the next prime minister, he will surely review the benefits of the men who looked after him. Not only them, ex-servicemen and their dependent’s allowances too. These men have served this country gallantly in whatever theatre of operation.
Indeed the new commander has a big shoes to fill and he knows he is in charge now.
Amenatave Yaconisau
Delainavesi
Not convinced
THIS is in response to the article, titled “Relocation” (FT 4/3), March, 2014.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s reasons for the relocation of the parliamentary complex in Veiuto back to the Government Buildings, Southern Cross Road are, with due respect, not convincing.
In dealing with the physical establishment or relocation of major government institutions, such as parliamentary complex, within city or town; fundamental matters such as physical planning, location, traffic, parking, compatibility with adjoining uses and environment need to be considered carefully.
Since democracy is for the people of this nation and parliament is the institution that reflects the values of the people, it is obligatory on the part of Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to:
* Explain to all of us in a proper public release the reasons and criteria for moving and building the parliamentary complex in Veiuto where it majestically stands today; and
* The substantive reasons and criteria for moving the complex back to the Government Buildings.
To think logically, the reasons and criteria for moving the parliamentary complex back to Government Buildings must surely outweigh the reasons and criteria of building the parliamentary complex where it majestically stands today.
PITA KEWA NACUVA
Speaker of the House of Parliament 2006
Suva
No dictionary in the library
I visited the Levuka Public Library (managed by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage) yesterday morning to see if they had a Fijian dictionary.
They do not.
There is none to be purchased in Levuka.
I wonder if the schools have a copy?
Further to that what Levuka needs is a “crying room”. That would be a small private room where one can perhaps pay 20 cents, close the door and cry.
This room could raise the money to purchase a dictionary for the library?
Mike Reid
Vagadaci
Ovalau
Medical issue
The other night I watched the episode three of Satyamev Jayate program hosted by well-known Indian actor Amir Khan.
In this episode he highlighted the corruption in the medical profession in India.
He provided evidence of systematic corruption from admission to medical colleges to practising doctors who breach their professional code of conduct and get away scot free.
Simply because the Medical Council of India has miserably failed to enforce law. They too are part of this mega corruption cycle.
Pharmaceutical companies, supported by mafia paddle their brand of drugs. Doctors get their commission and prescribe drugs which may not be needed by the patients.
Caught in this vicious cycle the cost of drugs keeps escalating well beyond the reach of majority of poverty stricken Indians.
Now some states in India have started opening generic drug stores.
The costs have come down dramatically and well within the reach of all. In Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh they have experimented with mass health insurance schemes involving farmers and other poverty stricken people.
Thus putting the most sophisticated surgeries within the reach of the poor.
In recent months the cost of drugs in Fiji too have escalated well beyond the reach of people in the lower income bracket.
Can we learn from India and do something about lowering the cost of drugs in Fiji!
I appeal to the authorities to seriously look into this matter.
Dewan Chand
Suva
Hardworking nurses
THE field of nursing is a tough job with a lot of responsibilities and I believe there are some hard times when proper equipment and resources are not enough to cater for patients.
All queue with frustrated sickly persons are making all sorts of comments however, we should be thankful to all hardworking nurses who are doing a tremendous job against all odds, especially all those nurses who are out in the islands and far from the city in the smaller towns.
We are very glad that they are able to see and help us with all sickness and medical problems.
This goes especially to Lami, Navua and Korovisilou team of nurses who see many outpatients every day despite the odds they face.
Vinaka and I humbly request, please smile a lot.
NEEL SINGH
Lami
Do the job well
I DON’T really care where parliament convenes as long as representatives get the job they were elected for, done well.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON
Nadi
Forever illegal
MAN-MADE substances such as alcohol, cigarette and food kills. Also, knowing too much can kill you. However, organic weed makes you rapidly rich but kills you softly. The reason for branding the plant forever illegal!
AREKI DAWAI
Laucala Bay
Garden of Eden
LAST Sunday was the lotu ni sevu in all Methodist churches in Fiji. We had ours at Rakiraki Methodist Church, thanks to all the hardworking men in my village. It was just like the garden of Eden, full of fruits and vegetables. Proverbs 12:11 – Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
MELI NAICERU
Rakiraki
Dengue death
MY sympathies to the Ram family of Labasa who lost their daughter Ruth Ram through dengue. We really need to take this seriously and start cleaning our surroundings. Who knows, you could be next.
ASHNEEL SHANKAR
Nasinu
Vaccine danger
ONE must be aware that we are now dealing with a multi-billion dollar vaccine industry whose ethics renege on production and profit. Gone are the days when we used to surrender one hundred per cent to our doctors, rest assured they will do the best for our sickness. We only hope our peoples are not used as guinea pigs to test out new vaccines for the giant vaccine companies.
ARUN PADARATH
Nasinu
Potholes
I pity the Roads Authority workers patching the pot holes in Navua. They look all confused as to which ones to fill in and which ones to ignore. There are so many potholes!
Avinash Khatri
Beach Rd
Navua
Responsibility
Should mentally ill people be held responsible for their actions? A question like this may immediately bring up several legitimate issues. The most obvious is “could there possibly be a more politically incorrect and insensitive question?” I’m asking because I saw a guy the other day at Vidilo St wearing a T-shirt with no trousers or underpants. Hang-loose as some people prefer to call it.
Wise Muavono
Lautoka
Clean cash crop
Tessa Miller’s suggestion of getting rid of “number one killer” sugar, and planting hemp instead is hilarious. That’s a perfect recipe for creating a country of blissed-out smoking zombies.
Imraz Sahib
Auckland
NZ
My fight
DEAR readers, I hope some of you will find a little help from my ongoing experience.
Last Saturday (1/2/14) I came down hard with high fever, body pains, and general body weakness, and, thanks to the TV and newspaper advertisements I’ve been watching, I diagnosed myself as having a “bout” with dengue.
So I responded by staying in bed, taking Panadol every four hours, drinking water (when I can) but having a terrible time of it.
I found having cold press with a damp towel helps keep the body temperature down when the fever kicks in. Fortunately, I have a great nurse in my corner (my wife).
Day two, Sunday, no improvement and the lack of appetite, hence not much eating, made me even weaker. Dengue was having the upper hand.
Day three, Monday, I went to see the doctor first thing.
He agreed the culprit was indeed dengue and changed my medication to Panadeine because it also contains Codeine which fixes the body pains (it does). He also told me to keep doing all the things I’ve already been doing: drinking lots of fluid (more than two litres and can be Powerade, bu and water) eating a little at a time as often as I can manage. And lots of rest.
So I dropped all further engagements and concentrated on “my fight with dengue”.
Day six, Friday, I’m now on the mend and dengue is losing.
Today my corner lady says I must go and get a white-blood-cell count, just to be sure. I think she’s been getting lots of amateur advice, but I’m going along just to keep her on my side.
I feel I now have the upper hand as I feel a lot better.
Warning! I think this is the most critical time in the fight with dengue. Some people feel they’re getting better and the bout is over and they can get out and resume normal life.
My doctor warned me not to make this mistake.
The virus is still alive in the body and can flare up again when we stop taking all the above treatments.
The relapse can be much worse.
At this stage of the “fight” the best thing to do is REST.
This is very hard for active people who do not like lying in bed when they feel they are well and should be up and about doing something. It is the biggest mistake.
This is when you need a good corner lady to keep you in your place.
Even watching TV, especially Marist Sevens and Super Rugby are not recommended (…groan, groan) because they keep your heart pumping in the excitement, and you may be lying down but not resting at all.
This is the stage of the fight you will win only with a softly, softly approach.
It is the hardest part but the most critical. Most people get floored and end up in hospital.
As for me I will have a fast from rugby, I’ll even skip church this week-end but by next week I expect to have given this dengue the worst licking of his miserable life. I’m going to win!
WAQA LEDUA
Namadi Heights
Suva
It can be achieved
DENGUE fever can be contained or even eradicated.
As a janitor at an Indian (Telegu) temple, 20,000sq.ft. , I single-handedly eradicated rats and cockroaches.
Since food is prepared daily and eaten and stored like a grocery store, these critters were having a field day.
When I started at the temple 30 months ago the place was so infested by rats and roaches that a snake somehow made the temple it’s home by feasting on the rats.
That was the first and only time in my life will I see a snake in US.
My point is if I eradicated thousands of these vermins, so can anyone.
Clean up your environment and destroy breeding places for mosquitoes.
Just do your part, make an effort. Please!
SUSEN SAKAL
USA
Simple tips
HERE are some simple tips that are cost effective:
Avoiding mosquito bites (by using oil of lemon eucalyptus or mosquito repellents)
Using camphor as a repellant also works wonders. Light camphor in a room and close all the doors and windows.
Leave it this way for about fifteen to twenty minutes to have a mosquito free environment.
Always cover the trash-can when not in use and dispose of rubbish properly
Eliminating pockets of stagnant water that serve as mosquito breeding sites at home, workplaces and their vicinity, keeping your compound neat and lawns properly; cutting, trimming of hedges.
Wearing protective clothing like long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes when outdoors. Using mosquito nets when time of sleeping or napping.
Covering overhead tank to prevent access to mosquitoes apply when storing water.
Wash hands at all time when eating or preparing for food or handling children’s necessity.
Dengue is a completely preventable condition; all you have to do is take a few steps to keep yourself and your family safe.
NEEL SINGH
Lami
Bean cart observation
AT a bean cart last Saturday morning, in a very short time I observed a dozen persons consecutively buying The Fiji Times newspaper.
Of the dozen persons, only one bought sweets with the FT newspaper, the rest only bought the FT.
I have also observed this at other outlets, but this bean cart between Nadi market and bus stand is frequented by the grassroots.
Does the landslide at the bean cart mean anything?
RICK EYRE
Nadi
Wrong statement
THIS is in reference to an article that appeared in this column on 03/04/2014 in regards to control children.
It stated: I don’t ever see police or elders telling children not to play in floodwaters.
This is just not true as police have always been at the forefront of things during natural disasters and always advising people before, during and after, on safety and security situations.
On the other hand parents of these young children must be advising their children about their safety during a natural disaster but it comes down to two things, attitude and ignorance on the part of these children when they know it is not safe but they keep on doing it.
If he was a concerned citizen what has he done about it. Have you tried to advise these children or you just simply carried on to your destination.
JUKI FONG CHEW
Jakarta
Indonesia
Women’s day
WISHING all the women throughout Fiji and around the globe a happy women’s day.
Every woman deserves the respect and dignity that they are entitled to.
Gone are the days when women were confined to household chores and were treated as pecks of dust.
Today we have women who are venturing into the same field of work as men and have even been successful.
We have had women leaders such as the late Indira Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto, Sonia Gandhi, Hillary Clinton and many others who proved that women can also rule the countries like their male counterparts.
Their zeal and leadership were also scripted in many works of art and they were also given titles such as the iron lady of India Indira Gandhi.
And these doesn’t only finish with these ladies, we have many women like Nazhat Shameem, Dr Nur Bano Ali among others who have proven that women can no longer be looked down upon.
Happy women’s day ladies.
AVITESH KUMAR
Ba
WEEK ENDING 24/2-2/3/14
Speed limit
I’M wondering if government vehicles are allowed to be driving over the national maximum speed limit which is 80km/hr.
If they are, then I wouldn’t mind driving one.
Can I?
WISE MUAVONO
Lautoka
Rugby ‘monsters’
WATCHING old DVDs of Fiji 7s games, commentators would refer to Sireli Bobo, Ifereimi Rawaqa and Naevo as monsters.
In commentary Keith Quinn would say as Bobo holds the ball in two hands and runs to the try line, “How do they stop this monster of a man.”
And he adds, “There are tall buildings in Hong Kong, these men will not look out of place here”
Do we still have these “monsters” in Fijian rugby?
Allen Lockington
Namulomulo
Rugby stars
Some say stars are born on the rugby paddocks. Some argue that stars are obvious at night in the dark.
Whatever one’s views, let’s just hope that there are some surprise stars at the Fiji Bitter Marist Sevens tournament this weekend. In this way, games will be more interesting.
More importantly, let’s hope that they shine so that they do catch the attention of the coach and those who report to the national coach.
Floyd Robinson
Nasinu
Sevens tries
After the last few legs of the IRB Sevens Series, one marvels at the level of fitness and individual skills displayed.
There were some individuals who undoubtedly stood out from the rest, likewise, there were one or two teams that really impressed.
The South Africans and the All Black Sevens teams are undoubtedly the teams to beat right now.
Fiji’s inconsistencies has taken us out of the equation and until the end of this current series, we will just be there to make up the numbers.
Indeed a bitter pill to swallow, but swallow we must and digest it thoroughly so that we can prepare ourselves better for the next series.
Gordon Tietjens can attest to this fact, but we can’t win all tournaments so why don’t we target three or four tournaments in which we have done well like the Gold Coast, Wellington, Japan and Hong Kong and concentrate on those and for the other meets, the best we can do is try winning our pool and go on from there.
Team composition is a very crucial element in this process so we must get the right people into the team. Get them into the right frame of mind and see that the team is very well balanced.
I vividly remember the words of one of Fiji’s former coaches, a former sevens rep himself who told me that picking players used to losing games will only give you a losing team. To them, all the glory is outside the field and losing a game makes no difference.
I support Ben Ryan and urge us all to do so. Best of luck to the squad in your preparations and to the final twelve, make it count.
JIM JOHNSON
Kinoya
Flood victims
My heart goes to all the people affected by the recent flooding in Fiji.
Also to those who have lost their loved ones during the disaster. Our sympathy and condolences from abroad.
Be strong and trust in the Almighty. Our prayer will always be with you all
Moses mani
Manukau
Auckland
Encouraging words
I HAVE been a regular reader and read letter to the editor from your daily newspaper.
Many a time I came across articles where quite a number of writers have formed the habit of writing negative points.
As soon as some when they see something like water disruption, power failure, road conditions, prison breakout etc, they start to write and blame the authorities concerned that the authorities are not doing their best.
To let the public understand, these are bound to happen.
There are no guarantee that things will remain perfect 24/7.
The public, instead of pin pointing their fingers towards these authorities, should form the habit and appreciate that these authorities are vested with a very responsible job and they are trying their best and are doing a fantastic job ensuring the wellbeing and safety of the public.
Incidents like water disruption, power failures road conditions and prison breakouts, etc, are some that are bound to happen.
For some it might sound easy but for those authorities who manage and control these type of work they very well know and understand how difficult it becomes for them from time to time.
Please, stop criticising and learn to appreciate.
You won’t lose by appreciating but rather gain by encouraging the authorities.
INDAR JIT
California
USA
Counselling centre
IT’S good to hear that a new $150,000 center in Lautoka will offer specialised counselling and consulting services to the public of Fiji.
While Fiji does not have a culture where people easily tend for counselling, its high time such services are available so that the old mind-sets of people could be changed and those who need help are given all the support.
Coming out of the egg shell to admit that one needs help is a challenge in itself and when we don’t have such services it only makes the situation worse.
I hope people who need help seriously take advantage of these services that are being made available
Avineel Kumar
Nadi
Mission possible
THE police urgently need to mount a massive nationwide manhunt to capture all the wanted criminals who are on the run for quite a while now.
Their immediate capture and trial will bring some relief to the people they wronged.
It will also restore the respect and dignity of our force.
Police have to justify with valid reasons as to why they are unable to capture the absconders in months, if not years.
For a tiny island nation such as ours, where have these law breakers sneaked to that they can’t be found?
If anyone doesn’t know what I am talking about then please watch the Crime Stopper’s segment on Fiji TV on Sundays before the news.
Overall, I feel the crime rate in Fiji has reduced significantly for which I commend the force.
I was only worried and concerned about the number of missing, wanted criminals and I know police are too.
Mission is possible.
I’ll repeat the famous saying: “Justice delayed is justice denied”.
SURESH CHAND
Nadi
ECE review
TODAY early childhood education seems to be the only program in Fiji which is paid for and on the other hand, it is vital as the foundation learning of a child.
Last year the PM announced there would be a review of the ECE program.
There are many early childhood professionals waiting to see the outcomes of this review which will be a milestone for all.
Can the PM’s office update us on what has happened so far?
MOHENESH SINGH
Nadi
Enrolment fees
I WAS so happy to learn the government has provided school fees for students in the new budget.
This is a huge step and will ease the burden many parents had to face in the past.
Soon Fiji will be counted among the countries with a high literacy rate.
Schools are going to get so much from this grant and please schools stop charging enrolment fees!
Some schools are charging enrolments from students every year even when students remain in the same school.
I believe enrolment means entering for the first time – so why enrolment fee for each year of study in the same school. $2 or even $5 is a bit OK but $40 or $50 is far too much.
I request the government to look into this matter please.
Roshni Devi
Vatuwaqa
New ID card
THERE seems to be a lot of people from outside Lautoka taking time-off from work to apply for their new TIN / FNPF card at the new FNPF centre.
Wouldn’t it be wise to hold a road-show where members can apply and collect their new TIN/FNPF card. Just a thought.
Wise Muavono
Lautoka
Act now
WHEN nature wreaks havoc only the well prepared will reign.
Early, timely preparedness during natural disasters helps save properties and lives.
People who adhere to advisories and act accordingly cut out the burden and risks involved should the need for an emergency rescue operation at the height of a disaster arise.
In contrast, those who are complacent and act too late only repent for a long time.
Their inaction and laziness puts a lot of other people’s lives in danger.
Unlike before, people are now blessed with better warning mechanisms.
The authorities now sound timely warnings well ahead of approaching floods or storms.
But experience should now make us better respondents when disasters loom.
Please heed warnings seriously.
SURESH CHAND
Nadi
Hemp plantation
I TOTALLY agree with what Tessa Miller (FT 7/3) has said for the introduction of commercial hemp plantation in our country.
From the beginning, we have been painted with a very negative picture of hemp and even marijuana (cannabis).
Just because a small percentage of the population abused the use of these products, its a tabu for all of us.
It is now time for us to look out of the box and see the positive side of such an industry and the benefits to us rather than shutting it off completely.
Tessa Miller has already written about the benefits of such an industry and that is not all.
There are 101 benefits for that and if we have controlled farming like in US, I am sure it will be a major revenue earner for our country.
NARDEO MISHRA
Suva
Rewa soccer
COMPARED with other soccer districts in Fiji, Rewa Soccer Association also has talented and skilful players who are capable of toppling any soccer district but I feel, unfortunately, they lack good officials who can prepare and guide the existing players in the right direction.
In every super premier match some youth players should also be included on a regular basis to achieve better results.
Needless to say that players should be selected according to their worthiness and not by the face.
The way things are going now, I doubt Rewa will win any major tournament this year unless some drastic steps are taken forthwith.
TITUS NARAYAN
Former Rewa soccer official
Suva
Player transfer
THE player transfer is like a circus, look at Lautoka.
All this is the result of the messy transfers of players every six months.
Top of the table Suva is likely to tumble with the transfer of their top players.
Navua is facing the same fate with the likely departure of their top players.
Players should at least complete their season with one team.
I will blame the Fiji Football Association which is eventually going to kill soccer in Fiji.
I am an ardent fan of soccer and with this system, I feel the game is not worth watching.
AJAY SINGH
Lautoka
Tank inspection
ONE issue I’d like to raise with the relevant authorities is regarding the conditions of the water tanks that cart and distribute water to residents during shut downs and emergencies.
Does the interior of the water tanks go through periodic inspections as far as rust and residues are concerned?
One may have noticed the exterior of water tanks rust stains.
If the exterior of water tanks are seen with rust stains and residues, one can imagine the interior condition of the tanks.
Its obvious that water and metal go hand in hand to form rust with other chemicals such as carbon dioxide and oxygen that may react while water stays in tanks.
It would be much appreciated if the authorities and private contractors took heed of this and carry out necessary tank inspections.
SHAMAL CHAND
Kuku Bau Rd
Nausori
Zebra crossing
INDEED we have some people who don’t know what the zebra crossing is for.
It works both ways.
In my case I would like to emphasise more on the drivers, especially the PSV drivers.
They seem to be participating in some race the way they drive near zebra crossings.
I nearly got hit by a taxi late last year on the zebra crossing.
While I attempted to cross very carefully, the driver actually increased his speed thinking he would pass through somehow.
The taxi only stopped when it was very close to me. My hands were on top of the taxi and the driver just seemed less bothered.
I obviously gave the driver a piece of my mind on his reckless driving but all he did was stare at me and it seems what I said went down the drain.
Upon lodging a complaint at the police station, he was charged and hopefully, that was enough for him to get the lesson but the thought of him not stopping at the right time or even me taking a single step further at that very actual moment would have been a total different scenario.
I hope all the drivers and pedestrians are careful near the zebra crossings and it will be much appreciated if some LTA personnel or police officers could monitor these areas, especially during the peak hours.
Certain people just don’t get it and it’s important to make them realise that the road is for everyone to use in a civilised manner.
KIRTI PATEL
Lautoka
Squatter settlements
GOVERNMENT’S effort in providing good housing for squatters is a positive way of reducing poverty.
As we can see a fast flow of rural urban migration.
However, the question is what happens to those old squatters that have new and improved houses.
Recently there have been huge developments in the Suva area and families have moved to these new houses.
However, can the old houses be demolished because we can still see these old squatter houses reoccupied by new families.
Road along these squatter area is unsafe for the motorist and pedestrians, as small children run across the road from houses that are built on footpaths.
The concerned people should not turn a blind eye on these while the government is trying hard to reduce poverty levels by providing better houses for these squatters at the same time the concerned authority’s should not allow any new squatter to come up .
FAIYAZ M. KHAN
Suva
Health care
“THANK God I live in the US and I know Americans are not like that.”
Francis Verma (FT 4/3/14) must live in a different US to the one where health insurance companies can cancel the cover on their sickest patients because they didn’t make a profit in one year, where the President (Obama) tries to introduce a public health care system and is voted down by the opposition parties because it is a socialist idea and will cost too much, where public hospitals will just let you die because you don’t have private insurance.
Which US is that one Francis?
But yes, I suppose they won’t deport you.
It would cost too much and you are going to die anyway.
RUSS GOLDING
Queensland
Where’s the humanity
FRANCIS Verma (FT4/4), even though he was an illegal immigrant, I totally agree with you about the NZ Government being heartless.
What if the man had developed the condition in Fiji and had never left Fiji?
Does it mean Fiji’s Ministry of Health needs to improve their health facilities to accommodate those requiring kidney transplants?
By the way, try saying that to the thousands of illegal immigrants deported from the US every year, that Americans are not like that.
Where is the humanity?
B. SMITH
Auckland
New Zealand
Ferry travel
AS a frequent traveller to Suva from Taveuni on passenger ferry vessels I am amazed as to what would happen should one of these road fuel tanker trucks catch fire.
On one occasion I counted four fuel tankers and a gas delivery truck all parked on the car deck.
My question is directed to the maritime authority is that has anyone ever conducted safety study as to how we, the travelling public, are to be rescued in the event of a fire?
From what I can make out the only way anyone could be saved would be by jumping overboard from a height that young children and the elderly would suffer serious injury or worse.
Considering events related to passenger ferry accidents in the Pacific over recent years I ask as a concerned traveller, has our maritime authority ever considered our safety?
My understanding is that nowhere else in the world would you find road tankers transporting fuel on passenger ferries.
If this is so, why are we continuing to allow this unsafe practice?
In fact since there had been an incident related to a vehicle catching fire, I am reluctant in allowing my family from travelling between Taveuni and Savusavu on these ferries.
P. KUMAR
Taveuni
Parliament house
THIS government has done great things for our country and her people.
They have taken this country forward in leaps and bounds and I congratulate the PM and his team for this.
However, their decision to move parliament house back to the government buildings is simply taking a huge step backward.
To the PM, good sir may I suggest you utilise the $1million set aside to renovate the old, old parliament house and put it to good use; renovate the complex built for the chief’s offices in Nasese.
Upgrade this complex into a modern, state of the art parliament complex for all Fijians to be proud of.
In the meantime, keep up the good work and let’s all work towards building a better Fiji for our children and their children.
George Kutty
Namadi Heights
Suva
Forgive from the heart
MY friend Ashneel Prasad from New Zealand has forgotten that both the parliamentary complex still hold scars to all Fijian hearts until this day.
To really move on, we need to forgive from the heart and not from the mouth and forget (completely erase) even though we still bear the scars of those terrible days.
A great philosopher gave a famous quote and he said, “I can forgive but I will not forget is just the same as I will not forgive.”
My friend Ashneel, I will pray that the Lord gives you the heart to forgive whatever has been done and whoever has done it.
And surely its dark memories will also fade away like the mist of the morning.
SAKIUSA SAKITI
Nasinu Secondary School compound
Grog swipers
MY friends Joseph and Lasaro were heard discussing the latest events in Lautoka City.
Joseph said it was so good of the city council to start work on building a facility where women from the remote farming areas could take shelter while selling their produce at the market.
Lasaro said, “I’d like to ask the city administrator if he would kindly remove the grog swipers from the market with all the smoking and spitting about those guys do, the ‘trying luck’ and immoral language, they are a real hazard.
“The LCC should build a suitable site for them somewhere but where?”
Old Ben of Veisari said: “I suggest the city council build an open structure on piles over the Vunato rubbish dump; then they can smoke and spit as much as they like without harming anyone.”
Albert O’Neill
Lautoka
Tourists and beggars
CRUISE ships come to the cities and an increase of aggressive beggars in public becomes noticeable.
MELI NAICERU
Rakiraki
Know your body
MY most fervent wish now is for everyone to try and have a better understanding of the functions of the different parts of their bodies.
This will lead to more appreciation as well as more consideration of the way they look after themselves.
Meanwhile, we all need to take steps by doing a lot of reading and seeking advice and not just waiting for sickness to get to us before we act.
I just did and this has completely changed my view about the significance of keeping a healthy lifestyle.
Please take the necessary steps now.
It might save your life !
JOELI NALECA
Suva
Rubbish in the creek
HAVE you seen our rivers lately after this spell of bad weather?
I came past Nabukalou creek the other day and the tide was in and lo and behold, there was rubbish galore in the water.
It was not only an eyesore but a sad sight to see in our nation’s capital.
And by the way, that’s what greets our visitors as they get off those cruise ships.
Yet we are complaining about global warming, trues up!
LAWRENCE WARA
Suva
LETTER OF THE MONTH
JANUARY WINNER
Speeding vehicle
I HAVE always wondered at the mind-set of people who think that speeding in a vehicle is a game to be played with police.
They consider that it is cheating and unsportmanlike if the police hide behind something with a radar gun. (Of course good sportsmanship appears to be largely a lost attitude nowadays, anyway.)
Do these people also think that companies that employ security guards are also cheating in not giving burglars a fair go?
PETER RODDA
Lami
LETTER OF THE MONTH
FEBRUARY WINNER
Use it
TO BE smart is not a sin but to be smart and not use it is a sin
JOELI NALECA
Suva
