Letters to the Editor editor@fijitimes.com.fj
Look to soccer AGM first
THOSE of you who are calling for State intervention in the affairs of Fiji Football must take Dr Sahu Khan's warning seriously, any intervention by the government and FIFA will suspend Fiji from international soccer.
Absurd as it may be this rule is clearly stipulated in Article 17 of the FIFA statute. Greece, Turkey, Poland and Spain have all been threatened with suspension, at one time or another, due to apparent government intervention.
Any change in the upper echelons of Fiji FA is up to the affiliates, the districts. Now, when's your district's AGM?
MITESH MUDALIAR
Christchurch
NZ
Connect responds
I REFER to the article on restrictions and charges (FT 06/02). While it refers to internet service providers in general - being Connect, Digicel, Kidanet, Unwired and Vodafone - the article indirectly suggests that Connect directly restricts data allowances by including user email download in order to ensure that we pay less to FINTEL.
Connect does not at any point restrict our users internet usage and or speed. We have tailored packages in order to satisfy the current market demand.
We have always, where possible, worked to provide our customers with the best value for service as reflected in 1997 when the company doubled the data allowance for all broadband customers on our network. This clearly reflects our commitment to provide our users with as many options as possible.
This year, we launched Connect NOMAD - which is aimed at providing our Connect Mobilenet users faster speeds and double the data allowance for only $4 more. Connect Mobilenet users pay $29 per month for 64kbps speed and 500MB worth of data, the Connect NOMAD which offers special discounts to our customers who wish to upgrade offers double the speed, that is, 128kbps and 1 GB of data for $33.95.
This is our commitment to Fiji, besides being the only internet service provider that offers nationwide coverage. It is discouraging when blatant attacks which have no basis are levelled against us and our corporate website is pictured. Should the writer have researched all internet service providers and their offerings, it would have become evident that Connect provides the best value for money within every data and price range.
Dwain Qalovaki
Marketing manager
Connect Internet Services
Ukelele offer
I DON'T read all the ads in the paper, but one caught my eye last Friday (5/2) - a really great ukulele offer.
However, being cynical in my old age, I suspect that, for strict truth in advertising, the advertiser should have inserted "Not included in kit" against the picture of Miss Hawaii 2006.
Peter Rodda
Lami
Gold find
THE people of Nabulini will be thankful for the find and some people could already be planning how they will spend their money. In the early 80s, as the story goes, a village somewhere in Fiji was abuzz with the discovery of white benzene and kerosene.
One friend from that village said, Sa kune mai na koro na karisisi kei na benisini. Sa na vaka rau oti na nei mami leqa. (Benzene and kerosene has been found on our land our problems will soon be over).
Sometime later I met the guy and asked him how they were going about the find. He said, in the vernacular, that they had disappeared because the gods were disappointed with things that were happening in the district. But he said that one of his uncles could verify the find because he had filled a 20-litre drum with kerosene and had given it to others who had filled their lamps and lit their cooking fire with it. He added that the reason it disappeared was because the find was not given its traditional protocol.
Back then I never even thought that kerosene and white benzene were refined products of crude oil there is no way it can come from the ground unless it was from a pipe line. I was delighted for the guy and for Fiji because we would soon produce the two products.
When Emperor Gold Mine closed down, we were told that the gold had been exhausted. Then a new company came and we were told that gold was in the mine.
Anyway, gold has been found in many parts of Fiji and this is a another find. I pray that it is a real find. We do need a pot of gold.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON
Suva
Wainibuka gold
PRELIMINARY test findings, as reported (FT 09/02), confirming the presence of high grade minerals including gold in Wainibuka, is very exciting news indeed.
During my countless travels on the Kings Road which snakes its way through this rugged, yet beautiful and serene region, my admiration always turn to wonder that God may have stashed something precious under the thick forests of Wainibuka.
The findings will definitely turn government attention to one of the least developed regions in Fiji.
There are lessons to be learnt from the past. Mining activities of the past have failed, often leaving the indigenous people to pick up the pieces.
My advice to my naita is to guard against the undesirable changes that will flow in with the economic windfall.
Samu Railoa
Nadi
Referee award
OVER the past two days, I have had a number of calls and queries regarding the Air Pacifc/Fiji FA Referee Award, and I believe it has also been a subject of discussion on some talkback shows as well.
Please note that the Referees Association is no way involved in the nomination or selection of the referees for this award.
I would appreciate if all questions or enquiries are referred to the parent body, Fiji Football Association.
Mahendra Singh
Acting President
Fiji Football Referees Association
Soccer for life
I DON'T know why people complain about Fiji FA.
After all, according to Wikipedia, the officials at Fiji FA affiliate districts want the current president to serve for life. It's on Wikipedia so it must be true.
Praneet Singh
Sacramento
USA
Cooked seafood
IT'S good to see that the law will come down like a ton of bricks on any vendors selling pre-cooked seafood or those who use illegal means to catch such mouth-watering delicacies.
The Health Authority should not concentrate only in the main urban markets. It should also start targeting the rural towns and their markets.
Why not just ban the sale of pre-cooked seafood altogether and just sell it raw?
WAME GONEWAI
Nadroga
Congratulations Mr Sharma
MANY congratulations to Mr Sharma on his achievement. I remember him when he worked as a clerk. A thin figure travelling from Ba to Lautoka. I remember him because I am a former librarian of the Supreme Court of Lautoka.
Vishwa might remember his older brother Vinay Sharma and I worked together at the Western Regional Library.
Seeing Vishwa's name in the news brought some wonderful memeories back. I remember having lunch at his Ba home on our trips to Western schools.
May your career flourish. God Bless.
Pushpa Naresh
Elk Grove
USA
HOT TOPIC: Wellington win
Triumphant combination
It's in the mind
A LOT has been said about our sevens teams win in Wellington. Take nothing away from them, they are deserving winners.
Never have I seen a bunch of young boys play with such tenacity and resilience.
What impressed me the most was their discipline right throughout the tournament. I guess this is where a sports psychologist comes in handy.
Apart from the coaches and trainers, you now have someone who can teach you all about learning to control your emotions and thoughts during these games.
The mind is crucial to performance, it is your thoughts, beliefs and attitudes that shape and govern how much of your potential you achieve.
I think these boys are lucky to have someone like this helping them out.
Will the real Gaylene Finekaso please stand up. Vinaka vakalevu. Your contribution has not gone unnoticed.
Simi Kuruvoli
Nasinu
Sevens victory
THE Fiji Sevens team demonstrated an outstanding performance at the Westpac Trust Stadium last weekend.
It reflected a transition from the first leg of the series in Dubai and George respectively.
It was great to see the players being in the top form and playing to their level best which made the nation proud.
I wish all the very best to the team at the USA 7s. Strive for excellence and success will follow.
Bhavik Khatri
Nadi
Clean performance
ONCE again, discipline proved to be the key factor in Fiji's recent win - congratulations Fiji Digicel 7s team.
No cards at all throughout the tournament. Fantastic achievement. It also shows that managing the fundamentals first, brings the required glory.
The power of fundamentals is slowing down and doing things step by step, getting the basics right, getting all things in place, including playing with the heart, and tries - not just one but many, will be scored consequently.
I wish the team best of luck for the rest of the series.
Hamidan Bibi
Suva
Kolinisau's try
IT was interesting to read in yesterday's Samoan Observer that a reader thought that Osea Kolinisau's try should have been disallowed because he did not ground the ball properly. Obviously our friend had not listened to Keith Quin's comments after the try had been scored or bothered to read the Rugby Rule book that quite clearly states that the ball only needs to be grounded in the in goal area and may be done so with the hands, arms or any part of the body from the neck to the waist.
Once again hearty congratulations to "Tiny" Tanivula and his band of brave warriors for a clinical performance in Wellington where they brought back the fast free-flowing magic of Fijian rugby at it's best that has led the world to think of only one word when Seven's rugby is mentioned - Fiji. Go Fiji, go.
Ofa Gucake
Savusavu
