Letters to the Editor - timesnews@fijitimes.com.fj
Sukha Singh Massachusetts
FIJI survived yet another wrath of mother nature.
Seeing our beloved nation and her people struggling amid the recent devastating floods brought tears and sense of hopelessness and guilt, that we, who are well sheltered, warm and sipping English tea while hundreds and thousands of our fellow countrymen suffered.
While many families took heed and were prepared, some were unfortunate and got caught in the flash floods.
On the other hand, there were some people and even children who ignored the warning and were seen venturing very close to swollen rivers or even swimming in them. I only wished they would be careful and parents be more vigilant during these times for 'prevention is better than cure'.
The worst sights seen were of the few opportunists who took advantage of mother nature's fury and began stealing and looting properties.
Deepest sympathies to those who lost someone or properties and prayers for everyone who are now collecting through the debris and rebuilding their homes and lives.
A big vinaka vakalevu to the Prime Minister, government ministries, various non-government organisations and many more nameless faces who braved the adversities and like a good Samaritan, came forward to help those in need and simply vanished after doing their part.
Now as the waters have started to recede, the blue skies once more visible and the sun beaming, let us all get together and help rebuilD our beloved nation.
Together we can stand up tall and shine once again.
God bless Fiji.
Dr Arvin Chaudhary
London
Act of love
MY cousin who lives in Nadi was in Suva on Good Friday. His home in Nadi was underwater up to the ceiling and he was thinking about all that he had lost.
During the church service the pastor's sermon was about giving and caring and he related this to the floods and that many people in Suva were not affected at all and that they could give to a worthy cause.
And then the pastor thanked the congregation for what they had collected. My cousin found out the items were bed linens, kitchenware, shoes, clothes of all sizes and types, school supplies, school bags and there were even a few kitchen sinks.
He was overwhelmed by the generosity of the people that he broke down and with tears in his eyes he went around to all the members of the church and hugged and shook their hands.
Many of them were surprised by this. It takes a lot for my cousin to breakdown and cry because he is as tough as nails.
He was thinking of all the people in the cane belt, villages and settlements who had lost everything and the families who had lost loved ones. Especially a second time just when they were picking up the pieces.
What made him breakdown was the fact that the people who had given so generously are strangers to him and the people of the West.
Of course there will be family connections, but the majority didn't know who would get what they had sent and they had just collected and given without thinking about ethnicity or religion or whatever.
He knew that Liga Gukisuva of Vodafone Fiji had conducted a house to house collection and this finally broke his heart and he wept.
He wishes to thank every soul in Fiji and organisation, social and church group for the kindness they have shown. This is Fiji at its best.
While we are all Fijians and related in so many ways, I call the overwhelming generosity the kindness of strangers.
From our family to all the families in Suva, a big vinaka vakalevu and may
God bless you all abundantly.
Allen Lockington
Lautoka
Go Victorians
Congratulations to the Queen Victoria School athletes for retaining the boy's title in the Tailevu Zone with 27 gold, 19 silver and 10 bronze.
To all athletes who qualify to represent QVS in the Coca Cola Games, continue with your studies and train hard as the games scheduled for the end of this month will be very competitive with all the best secondary school athletes participating.
It's been some years now since QVS last won the overall boys title and all the old boys, parents and supporters are hoping that 2012 will be Vulinitu's year. Focus, give it all you got and never say die.
Savenaca Vaka
Nasinu
Have mercy
I hope God shows some mercy on the flood victims and stop the rain which is causing so much flooding.
The continuous rain has caused so much damage already and people have lost so much in this last four to five days.
I shall say being in Lautoka and Suva is like a blessing for most of us who are safe from this terrible flood ordeal. Just imagine all flood victims who have nothing left and are struggling to survive and updating their damaged homes.
I really feel sorry for them and would like to request the authorities to please assist these affected people in this bad times.
I also plead to the general public who are safe and have not been affected to help these needy people.
This is our Fiji and we are proud of it so let's take a stand to make it beautiful as ever again.
Every single donation or assistance will make a vast difference.
Only the one going through the actual sufferings knows the real pain so let's get together and raise our hands in helping the needy.
May God bless all of us in these hard times and help those suffering.
Kirti Patel
Lautoka