Letters to the editor editor@fijitimes.com.fj
Legalise vans and carriers
I WAS watching Fiji One and saw a problem that has been going on for years the illegal use of vans and carriers for public transport along with the LTA not legalising them for public transportation.
I recommend that these vans and carriers be legalised. Allow their operators he use of meters to determine fares.
Travelling via these vans has a few advantages: there are more seats available, so groups of people of more than six or seven don't have to take two trips in a cab.
In Lautoka, we have problems finding public transport in town after 8pm, unless you go all the way to find a taxi stand.
Even then, most cab drivers are to afraid to go out at night. All you see are van drivers dropping and picking up passengers at night.
I recommend that the LTA legalise these vans and carriers with a few things added such as meters and improved conditions.
I know many people may disagree but if you look at it in the long run, it will take care of a problem the Government has been trying to fix for years. There will be less illegal drivers on the roads and, of course, less drivers getting booked.
SAM DEACON, Lautoka
Family in pain
PLEASE allow me to correct the information attributed to police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri on the children who were victims of an accident this week.
The children were not alone. They were accompanied by their mother. The accident took place in broad daylight while the family was walking on the footpath.
A child died as a result of the accident and two others were admitted in hospital with one to undergo emergency operation. Their mother was also injured.
I visited the family and shared with them their grief and frustration over the senseless "killing" on our roads.
The mother is still in shock over the traumatic experience that her young family has had to undergo.
She is grieving a son's death while trying to allocate time between her two surviving children in hospital.
She does not need a lecture during what is probably the most difficult period in her life.
A bit of empathy and fact-finding before the authorities and the press issue statements will save women and families such as this one from more undeserved heartache.
EVISAKE KEDRAYATE, YWCA Fiji
Pedestrian knowledge
I HAVE been really annoyed by people walking in the middle of the road during the day and mostly in the afternoons which is totally prohibited.
This causes accidents and deaths as well as tension for motorists
I think the government should take this matter in deep consideration
VICKY VIMAL NARAYAN, Lautoka
Galoa fare
I HOPPED on this bus on Saturday, March 5, at Galoa to come to Suva and was charged the fare from Pacific Harbour which was $5.45.
The bus - FK444 - stopped along the route to pick and drop passengers like a normal domestic one.
What I saw was unbelievable.
All passengers picked before and after Pacific Harbour were charged the same fare with Pacific Harbour written on our tickets.
When I enquired, the checker said it was the right fare and they were helping passengers.
The normal fare from Suva to Galoa Village is $4.60 on a domestic bus and $4.80 on an express.
About 12 to 13 passengers boarded the bus in between Galoa and Suva.
It's a shame that such a wonderful company as this is doing such a thing to poor people like us.
I request that the LTA look into this matter as some drivers don't seem to be following the rules.
I wonder what fare they charged the boy who got off at Monfort Boys Town and the woman at Lami, and what was written on their tickets?
What would the couple say that paid the fare to Navua town but was instead dropped off on the bridge because the bus did not go into town?
Reverend TOMASI KOLINITOGA, Galoa
God cares
MY modem from Unwired Fiji was damaged after a child tripped on the cable that connected the modem to the computer.
Unwired Fiji technicians advised that they could not repair it and that the only option available to me was to buy a new one.
I took the modem to a technician on Waimanu Road in Suva who advertised that he could repair all electrical items but he admitted he couldn't fix this one.
With my never-say-die attitude, I tried fixing the problem myself using an extended office clip.
After one hour with little response from the modem, I said to myself that I am going to try one last time before throwing the modem into the rubbish bin.
I put my hands on the modem and asked God to fix the problem because I did not want to buy a new one and that through this medium I get to glorify Him in this column.
Imagine my surprise when the lights on the modem lit up after connection to the power supply and computer.
God cares.
SAVENACA VAKA, Suva
Commonwealth games
DO we have a real chance of participating in the Commonwealth Games this year or are they just toying around with us?
Or are we just toying around with ourselves?
DONALD SINGH, Beijing, China
Local councils
PROFESSOR Reddy (FT 08/03) acknowledges some of the problems with local councils.
One remedy he fails to consider is the possible abolishment of local councils altogether.
A small country such as Fiji is over-governed and as such, does not need to have another tier of bureaucracy to oversee simple functions such as rate collection.
Monies used to support council staff could instead be diverted to support infrastructure.
At the moment, the Government has taken the first and correct step by abolishing mayoral positions.
However, the crucial step in getting rid of local governments and allowing the State to take over its functions, albeit with job losses, is yet to occur.
Be brave.Think differently.
JATIN CHAND, Sydney, Australia
Police service
I APPLAUD the police force for introducing free internet services for students in Suva.
This will greatly benefit poor students who cannot afford internet services.
A big vinaka vakalevu.
CHRISTINE SANIPATE, Suva
Inhuman combustion
ONCE again we hear of fire engines rushing to a fire in Lautoka. It's Tuesday night and three fire engines are on their way somewhere.
From our vantage point, we look over Lautoka and what a beautiful sight the red glow makes against the skyline. Each time I hear a fire engine scream, I imagine the siren saying, "Oh no, not again".
The sky is lit with a reddish yellow glow and every now and then flames flare up and the sky turns yellowish. If only it wasn't a home or office burning, it would be a pleasant sight.
What's happening to our society? Is it spontaneous inhuman combustion? Are we so protective that we forgot the small things that cause fires?
Haven't we learnt anything? Let's take stock and dig deep down because something seems amiss.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON, Lautoka
HOT TOPIC: GIRMIT
When is the right time
WITH reference to Praneet Singh's letter (FT 10/3), can he be good enough to tell us when an apology is offered?
RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia
Taking the high road
PRANEET Singh's comments (FT 10/03) about taking the high road to forgiveness by the descendants of the Girmitya make for very hilarious reading.
I guess, next there will be suggestions that others like the Jews, the Koreans, the Vietnamese, the Armenians, the Ukrainians, the Poles, the Afghans and the Iraqis, to mention just a few of the wronged people in the history of our world, to say the same to their oppressors.
I think the Girmitya have already forgiven their oppressors. Isn't it time, the so-called oppressors did the same? After all, dialogue is a two way thing.
Not only Hinduism, but virtually all religions preach a man's greatness can also be measured by his willingness to say he's sorry.
I do not think that the descendants of the Girmitya feel that all the Brits and all the CSR people were bad and inhumane.
It is the policy that they are hitting at, individuals have nothing to do with what is at stake.
Reminds me of when Ronald Reagan was the president of USA and was asked what he thought of the Russians. His reply was that all Russians were bad because they were communists. When asked how many Russians he met and knew, his answer was "None".
Like Anne Frank (1929-1945), the little Dutch-Jewish girl says amongst other things in her memoirs that, "In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart".
Let's hope the same applies to the British Government and CSR Company in the case of the Girmitya.
ZORAWAR SINGH, Australia
Girmit period
THE Girmitya were not told about where they were going or how far. They were all given a rosy picture of a better life, money, etc.
What the Girmitya went through only they know. People like Dennis Singh will never appreciate that.
Australia could have also said, "Why should we apologise to the Aborigines since they are much better off now than they were 200 years back", and the British could have said, "Because of child migration their generation are much better off now in Australia".
But no, they chose to apologise.
So, what is the fuss if the British apologise to Indo-Fijians. We're not asking much, just an apology.
NARDEO MISHRA, Suva