Letters to the Editor: editor@fijitimes.com.fj
Employment opportunity
IT is often the case that new graduates and school leavers willing to start work have to apply to several organisations before succeeding.
Every parent expects their child to secure good employment after leaving school. I would like to know why no business in Fiji is willing to give an oppurtunity. It is obvious experienced workers of any organisation would have started somewhere to gain experience.
The first place of employment enhances a worker's confidence, communication skills and productivity. The credit goes to the person/organisation who employs and trains staff members to reach the expected level of expertise.
I would love to share a simple tool to all business organisations in Fiji, "plant a tree and nurture it with your own hand to expect the best fruit out of it".
Furthermore, we may not realise what are the reasons for a person applying for another job.
Let us make each other's future and live a happy life by making sure we all move up the ladders of success. United we stand,divided we fall.
ANMOL KAMAL SHARMA
Nadi
Hooray Fiji
I READ in Saturday's paper, (FT April 14), a letter from Lilian Clare of New Zealand. Her sincerity was evident in her letter that was entitled: "Traveller's Thanks". What we need is more of these! Everyone working concertedly to bring a smile and give people comfort when they need it the most.
I salute the cabin crew on board the flight to Auckland that night. I salute the ground staff at the Nadi International Airport for being wonderful ambassadors and ambassadresses of our country. I would like to thank Lilian as well for acknowledging the wonderful people that continue to raise the bar when it comes to customer service in every facet of the tourism industry.
Keep up the good job and it is people like you that make us proud to be Fijians!
VILIAME WAQALAIVI
Nasinu
Adequate water
We read the Water Authority of Fiji spends millions of dollars on the provision of water for the people of Fiji, making one wonder whether this is money well spent.
Fiji is well supplied with rainwater, most of which goes to waste. For 16 years I have had no water supply other than my own water tanks and never had any problems.
If government wants to ensure adequate water supply, perhaps they should consider as an alternative to piping it, that they subsidise water tanks for each household instead, so people can harvest and store their own water. This will in turn reduce water waste (taps left running, leaking supply pipes), and except for the rare times of extreme drought, will ensure people have access to fresh clean water at all times. Perhaps a better solution than privatising the water supply?
I wonder how many people would prefer to have their own tank(s) than an unreliable supply controlled by others? No reason emergency water can't be supplied by tankers in a crisis. Tanks don't need water pumps if they are high enough for gravity feed, so the cost of the tank frame, tank, guttering and basic plumbing is all that is needed.
Making our personal water supply our own responsibility is worth considering surely? Why waste all that rain, after all?
VIVIEN MITCHELL
Serua
Driving age limit
LTA believes our roads will be safe by increasing the PSV driving age limit from 21 to 25. They might as well decrease the PSV driving age from unlimited to 55years! Make it a rational accord for both drivers and passengers!
Anyone below 25 is too young, too fast, and too dangerous on our roads! Anyone above 55 is too old, too slow, and too demanding on our roads.
Let people of the golden ages of between 25 and 55 rule and do the job! The very ages that does everything that the young and old do, and everything else that the young and old don't do! Where safety becomes dubious and integrity cynical.
Surely age should not matter but more so the character of the driver. Public service vehicle drivers ought to be chosen by their character instead of their age.
A stringent system testing their character and driving experience is the appropriate thing to do.
Imagine having cheerful, smiling, respectful, and helpful PSV drivers.
It'll surely revolutionise the sector.
SIMON HAZELMAN
Savusavu
Cause of disaster
AS floods, lightnings and other natural and man-made disasters happen around us, we naturally try to find someone or thing to blame.
People point the finger at God, the Creator who is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.
They reason that if God knows everything, then whatever happens has His approval, so He cops the blame.
They accept, if something happens to them through their own decision and choice but outside of this, someone else is to be blamed.
The Bible reveals that another power is also at work against the forces of good and that God allows it to run its course so that at the end of the day, the world will see its true colours and vindicate the Creator.
When we accept the fact that God, the Creator died on the cross at Calvary to redeem humanity and allow His spirit to transform us and enlighten us with His word; we will not blame Him but the evil one who is behind such disasters.
SAVENACA VAKA
Nasinu
Two types
Thank you Mr Rodriquez for your doomsday letter (FT 12/04). As a Christian, I believe there are only two types of people on this earth, the followers of Christ and those of Satan.
Cannibalism, tribal warfare and so forth are things of the past in this country, all because of Christianity.
Anti-Christ tactics which are being thrown at Christianity have already been foretold in the Bible. It is nothing new, it's all part of the Devils plan. Rev. 12:7-12, Mat.24:24, etc.
Doomsday, as predicted by the words of the living God will come to pass whether one likes it or not. Mat 24:42.
Mr Rodriquez quotes Matthew 24. I am requesting him to read the whole Bible and not just a few chapters. You will hopefully understand what the Book is telling you and prayerfully might even get the chance to know the author.
Know this, God loves everyone, including you and me. May God bless Fiji.
SAINIMILI BEBE
Kinoya
Prayer support
supporting Dr A.Q.Buksh's request for a committed, combined prayer from the Islamic community, I ask the Christian community of Fiji to do the same.
To pastors, priests, talatala and Christians, if you know your Bible, you will notice there is still much in store for the near future, there will be such strife as no one can imagine. From what is happening around us and the world, you can discern God's purpose and the judgment about to befall the world.
Earnest prayers of heart rending anguish should go up to heaven.
"Blow the trumpet, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar and let them say Spare thy people o Lord and give not Thine heritage to reproach. Turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rend your heart and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil." Joel 2:15-17; 12:14.
It's time we consolidate our Christian faith and efforts for the sake of Fiji.
MJ GUCAKE
Suva
Stop most autopsies
IS it necessary to have a post-mortem examination on every accident, suicide and murder victim? It is done on an accident victim to determine if the victim died of a heart attack.
Whatever caused the heart attack, the accident was one of the main reasons so I think we can stop most of the post-mortem examinations.
SUKHA SINGH
Massachusetts
USA
Too much controversy
THERE is too much controversy on God and it is really taking up space that could have been used by other letter writers.
Please, I would like to see the end of this argument because it will definitely get you nowhere. This is a mixed economical country and people have the freedom to believe in whatever it is they do believe.
RAVINAL PRAKASH
Lautoka
Nightmare of a drive
At one time it was a nightmare to drive along Vuci Rd.
The road is now totally tarsealed and we enjoy the drive, until a few weeks ago.
The road in front Sila Central School was dug up leaving big potholes.
Can the relevant authority please fix this?
AMIT DEY
Naduru Feeder Rd
Nausori
Monkey business
Only a rabbit with two teeth can solve the monkey business between atheists and theists.
The debate is as real as the belief that a rabbit with bad dental hygiene is a poor role model for kids.
PRANEET SINGH
Sacramento
2014 elections
THE 2014 elections are drawing near. I firmly believe some past politicians are not fit to stand in the elections.
Let this coming election be a start of a post-modern Fiji.
Bring in new politicians, those who know and have good leadership skills.
Experience doesn't matter for one has to start somewhere.
So let's not make an excuse that those past politicians had experience.
I want to see a new dawn for a good and stable Fiji.
ASHNEEL PRASAD
Auckland
Sign damage
THE vandalised Ambala Pl sign near RB Centrepoint highlighted by The Fiji Times two months ago is yet to be fixed.
Frequent reminders are warranted for the authorities to attend to maintain road signs so visitors, delivery people and drivers of emergency vehicles can easily locate places.
Thanks to The Fiji Times eyewitness.
TAHIR ALI
Nasinu
Relative poverty
The NRL ban (FT 13/04) on Northern Cowboys halfback Robert Lui is interesting, but I wonder if the ban actually removes Lui's salary and perks and I wonder how his family is going to meet their expenses, now that he is their breadwinner no more.
I wonder too if the action taken by the NRL has reduced the statistics on violence against women within the sport? It seems to solve the tarnished image of the sport, but does it solve the marriage relationship of the families' involved? Does the make-up of rugby league as a sport (or its administration) contribute to violence against women? Is the problem such a big issue that the NRL is taking this kind of action to remedy it? Doesn't solving the problem the NRL-way merely create another problem, outside the NRL jurisdiction?
Anyway, the message that seems to emerge, is that the search for wealth is a primary cause of violence against women. Is this really so?
If so, then is this now the newfound way of solving this international problem; to force the marriage/family into relative poverty?
APENISA NAIGULEVU
Tamavua
Tribute to a tragedy
Titanic in its new 3D avatar, which is a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, pays a special tribute to the tragedy that took place on April 15, 1912, is mesmerising the multiplex audiences in Suva.
The most celebrated film in history has been brought in the 3D format by James Cameron, who has once again broken all boundaries and created a visual extravaganza.
Starring multiple award winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, Titanic first released in 1997 and is one of the greatest love stories of all time, winning 11 Oscars that year.
Cineviewers favourite protagonists, Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater are casting their magical spell all over again.
This movie is definitely worth many repeat viewings.
NIRAJ SANDHIV
Nabua
Matter of the heart
Mike Murdock says a segment of the fruit of wisdom is the detection of a difference. David Gilmore (Wakaya Club) writes that success is based on the seed of a novel idea.
Fiji's difference in sevens is in my opinion based on instinctive play and not pattern. The win in Hong Kong is exhibit A. Innovation won Matawalu the Player of The Tournament award. Waisea Nayacalevu would be number one contender.
I've always been a fan of two players, Isimeli Batibasaga who transformed the dive pass into a reverse 270 degrees spectacle . The other has to be Watisoni Nasalo who is (my book) Fiji's all-time " first-five-eighth". He had a hunch for space.
Patterns can be studied, instinct is spur of the moment. That's our difference.
There are some writers who cannot tell the difference between mythological and historical figures and there are others who after meaningful recognition of meaninglessness as a basic paradigm of atheistic belief yet continue to vent sarcasm at some entity that doesn't exist, all the while trying to find meaning in the "randomly" put together alphabets they send to your column. What warped logic. Is there no end?
In the end it is not intellect, it's a matter of the heart: for the heart has its reasons (why) of which reason (mind) knows nothing, someone has said.
JOSAIA NEINOKA
Suva