Proud Fijian
Your article titled “For Fiji ever Fiji” in Goal Fiji contained the story of Trina Davis, who is a star in the making on the soccer field after making a name for herself in Fiji’s emphatic 5-1 win over Pacific Games gold medallists Vanuatu.
On her debut for Fiji against Vanuatu, the 17-year-old USA-based striker scored three beautiful goals in front of her family and friends from the Sugar City.
Reading about how she was brought up I must give credit to her family for nurturing our soccer star. Trina was called in to join the team after exchanging emails with our player turned coach Marika Rodu and did not let him down as she led the Fijian onslaught against Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.
Despite drawing with the Solomon Islands nil all, I believe our women’s team did well and should have little problems beating American Samoa, who lost both their games. I wish Trina all the best and hope that she will answer the call of the nation in future and avail herself to represent our island nation.
On the other hand, congratulations to the mighty Rewa U19 football side for successfully retaining the Vodafone U19 Youth League championships.
I also commend the Seaqaqa side for finishing second after upsetting Ba 2-1. Thank you The Fiji Times for publishing Goal Fiji. It’s worth the read!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Meth math
OK, let’s kinda add-up on the meth problems. With the fire raging, we could just dump these hard drugs into it.
Inhaling the plume created will not only clear our nasal passages, will also give us a sense of euphoria and wellbeing; not to mention we will talk endlessly about all and sundry on an empty stomach at that too. For a bit at least! All kids to be masked.
Now! This is an anecdotal take on the serious social issues we are facing today. We all know that we “Fijians” can laugh in the face of adversity. Oh! Did I mention that meth can also make you “oh so laughfy?” So if you have a chuckle reading this, guess I made your day for sure.
Like I said, just an anecdotal take.
Manoj Lal Patel, Drasa Ave, Lautoka
Adult children
It’s funny how we don’t see children disposing of their rubbish carelessly from moving vehicles! It’s only the adults doing it! Plastic bags and bottles and snack bags and takeaway boxes are the main items!
If all the children see are their own teachers teaching them that it’s right to just throw trash out of the vehicle then how on Earth are children ever going to learn that it’s wrong?
Habit is the best teacher! And adults (if they haven’t woken up to the fact yet) are the teachers! Children are the emulators!
So if any mind-sets are to be changed, sadly it’s that of the still-dopey adults who have the mind-set of a child and are caught up in the body of an adult!
Simon Hazelman, Rava Estate, Savusavu
Swimming event
From a public perspective or viewpoint I personally believe mental toughness was missing, although team Fiji did not win any medal which is disappointing as a host nation, but the children have managed to set themselves record times and personal best for Fiji standards, but the opportunity to participate with the exposure is the best one swimmer can get.
Incident free and it is the first time for our country to host an international swim event but one can visibly see the lack of patriotism and support from the Fijian public in the empty seats at the grandstands.
An excellent idea was to sing the Isa Lei to close the curtains but they were unsynchronised and perhaps my tovata Ben Rova with all his Fijian swim officials and the parent supporters should have been included to assist our children swimmers sing the famous farewell song with fanfare, harmony and great melody.
With practice comes perfectness and congrats to all the sponsors, Fiji Swim officials, Ministry of Youth and Sports and all our swimmers, we do hope the exposure will make a difference in our medal tallies come 2020.
I do hope the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Youth and Sports will consider recommending to the Mr Tuitubou a budget to rope in and facilitate the necessary professional technical expertise to assist our swimmers and the sport in general.
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Namaka, Nadi
Sugar to smoky city
YOU said it in your editorial comment, Fred, Lautoka turned from the Sugar City into a smoky city, may I add-acrid smoky city.
I do not have any breathing ailments, but my grandson has, he was affected and I could see the fear in his eyes because he has experienced breathing difficulties in the past when neighbours lit fires in our area.
To prevent him inhaling the acrid smoke, we had two fans and closed up the house, than we took him and other family members away.
Just imagine there are many people who live in the Waiyavi area who burn leaves and cut-grass, every so often.
Clothes get soiled with the fallout and asthmatics get affected.
Then there are babies and the elderly.
As I went about Lautoka this week, people living here longer than me have said that the dump fires occur at least three to four times a year.
And recently the fires have become bigger and bigger.
With more and more people suffer from an asthma attack and died, I have never forgotten that.
This is the reason I am going all out for something to be done to stop for good, the fires at the dump and for something to be done regarding lighting fires in densely populated areas.
I plead with the authorities for the sake of my grandson, the elderly, the sick — do something to stop the dump fires and residential burning.
This grandpa pleads especially for his grandson.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Paying attention
I HOPE our medical authorities are paying close attention to the investigation taking place in Samoa.
Since the death of two babies on Savaii, after being vaccinated, more parents have come forth with similar tragic stories. I believe that we should not assume that all vaccines are safe until we have done our own independent research.
We need to find out why the Japanese government has banned the MMR vaccine since 1993. We need to find out why Spain, France, India and Japan had filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of the HPV vaccine.
We should go through our records and find how many of our own babies have suffered after being jabbed.
Maybe we should reopen the case of the 12-year-old girl from Savusavu who died soon after receiving the HPV vaccine a couple of years ago.
GABRIEL SIMPSON, Rakiraki
A second chance
My class was given the opportunity to visit the Nasinu Corrections Centre on Monday (27/08/18) as part of an institution visit report assignment. We were also given a chance to speak to the prisoners and officers there and find out more about the prison system in Fiji.
One inmate in particular that I had spoken to, is currently taking an engineering certificate course that is provided as one of the courses the inmates can take while at the detention centre.
He explained that most of them who are schooling there are the ones that are currently serving a long-term sentence. He mentioned that after graduating they will be released and allowed to join the workforce with the help of the prison ministry.
While he was explaining all this to my friend and I, he had a huge smile on his face and seemed rather excited about the whole idea of leaving soon and joining the workforce. This made me appreciate what the government is doing through the yellow ribbon program in ensuring that these inmates are given a second chance in life.
This inmate like many others are given a chance to do better and contribute to society and the economy and I am happy that we as a nation can give them hope and help them on the journey of becoming a better person.
Joyce Hicks, Rifle Range, Vatuwaqa, Suva
Dangers of illicit drug
Methamphetamine has increasingly become popular among Fiji’s illicit drug trade compared with marijuana.
This popular drug is in demand because of its quick reaction to reaching the blood stream either through injection when dissolving with water, inhaling, swallowing or snorting. Users tend to get high very quickly, but the effect does not last very long hence addicts often use frequent doses.
Long-term effects of using such drugs include extreme weight loss, very violent behaviour, sleep deprivation, confusion, intense itching, dental problems, hallucination to name a few. Users are also at risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis B and C.
To tackle this issue, more awareness needs to be raised not only among schools but the community at large. People need to be warned on the dangers of consuming such addictive drug and perhaps showcase the different types of drugs as most have never seen them in reality.
Jone B. TIKOICOLO, Suva
Thank you
I wish to commend the editorial staff of The Fiji Times for doing an excellent job selecting and printing the letters that seemingly pour in numbers on a daily basis. I think most letter writers would be with me liking the way the column is balanced and presented each and every day.
Every day the column is filled with interesting letters which is no doubt made possible through the hard work and dedication of your staff.
I don’t think there was a day in the life of your esteemed paper that there were no letters. Commendation goes to the writers but I think without your input and encouragement this was not possible.
When our letters are printed we feel so happy. Thank you, sir, for acknowledging our written work.
To my fellow writers, please continue with the good work and presentation.
Vinaka The Fiji Times.
Suresh Chand, Nadi
Hard drug worry
After reading yesterday’s The Fiji Times about the impact of the highly addictive methamphetamine on the youth in particular, I am worried about the catastrophic effect it could have on our society, which is undergoing transition because of the impact of technology and social media. I plead with the relevant authorities to walk hand in hand to address the local production of methamphetamine.
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Taxi permit
Had an interesting conversation with a friend who is a winner of a taxi permit in the grand (blind) lottery draw. As soon as he was notified of the same, he resigned from his job to purse his win to be his own master.
Albeit he is still waiting and with no end in sight to the freeze, he is wondering how he will feed his family as his savings are now draining. There may be others in the same situation.
Hang in there folks. I just wish that there is an amicable resolution to this debacle. At least for my friend’s sake. Failing, some sort of compensation should be on the cards.
Manoj Lal Patel, Drasa Ave, Lautoka
Six PMs
In response to Amenatave Yaconisau (FT 27/09), having six prime ministers in 10 years is surely a sign of fragmentary in government which will eventually trickle down to society.
Wise Muavono, Balawa, Lautoka
Writ of elections
When will they announce the writ of elections? Why are they keeping everyone in suspense, and how will they receive the outcome of people’s choice?
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Traffic congestion
With reference to the traffic issues commuters face daily, can any relevant authority state the ratio of vehicles to population in Fiji?
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Unsealed road
We refer to Simon Hazelman’s letter dated (28/08/18). This unsealed road is constantly monitored and maintained by the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) contractors.
The road is included in our Forward Works Program as part of sealed road extension. FRA will continue maintaining the road for better and safer access for the public until such time the road is upgraded to sealed road.
A/CEO Robert Sen, Fiji Roads Authority
