Congratulations in order
Congratulations to Christine Lyons for being selected as general manager for the Fiji Times company.
While I congratulate you, I lament that Hank Arts has finally decided to call it a day.
At 71, whew, Hank, you certainly leave behind a legacy.
The Fiji Times went through some rough times lately but you and the team stood rock steady, and that’s the truth.
You will be missed Hank, and I was privileged to have met you and for the invite to launch the online version of The Fiji Times.
I see from the report that Ms Lyons has been with the company for three years as national sales manager and is a member of the Australian Institute of Directors.
She has a reputable relationship within the Fiji market and with major newspaper brands in Australia and New Zealand.
Fantastic news in that Ms Lyons would be completing Leadership Development Senior Leaders program abroad.
I am sure this is just one small portion of your resume Ms Lyons.
Thank you The Fiji Times for empowering a woman to head what is the best newspaper in Fiji and the Pacific.
I salute you all.
This is not goodbye Hank, Kava Place invites you for a bowl of grog or that amber liquid, if you have time.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Ready for the road ahead
Some excitement within The Fiji Times company is about to unfold.
While I am saddened with the departure of Hank Arts, who will officially retire as general manager in April, I am pleased that a vibrant, innovative, creative and dedicated woman figure in Christine Lyons has been selected to spearhead our number one newspaper.
It’s pleasing to note that Ms Lyons accepted the challenge of working in a male-dominated career and I am confident that she will carry on the strong legacy left by her predecessor Hank Arts in addressing the vision and passion for the most reliable newspaper in Fiji to grow The Fiji Times brand.
On the other hand, I also congratulate Annie Robinson for her appointment as national sales and marketing manager.
The promotion of Annie and Christine goes to show the dynamic role that women play in the field of journalism.
Next year our top newspaper will celebrate 150 years in existence and I’m glad that I am part of a newspaper that believes in delivering nothing else but accurate news and publishing the truth regardless of the barrage of criticism labelled against it.
Trust me, The Fiji Times company has a great team and will continue to be the beacon of hope for those readers who rely on the daily media for news.
Finally, it’s a delight to read that celebrations for the 150th anniversary will kick-start where it all started — in the Old Capital.
Wananavu The Fiji Times!
All the best in your endeavours!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Where are the cabs
I read that in Lautoka taxis outnumber customers, so where are all these taxis after dark?
Because it’s really difficult to find one.
Some have mistakenly hailed emergency vehicles because of its roof light.
Maybe drivers of these vehicles would consider moonlighting as cabbies.
Nigel Fiu, Owls Perch, Lautoka
HIV/AIDS champion
The incidence of HIV/AIDS is increasing.
Personally I believe one of the reasons for this is the absence of a champion in this arena, the likes of our former president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
Ratu Epeli was unafraid to speak out, confronting those people and organisations who refused to accept sexual transmission as the cause of the disease and ostracised those who were infected.
His influence is missed.
I do not know what legislation is in place to ensure that those newly infected must reveal their sexual encounter history in order to track down others with the disease.
Additionally, as in many countries, those knowingly infected who transmit the disease to others must be subject to lengthy prison sentences.
Allan Loosley, Tavua
Humanity’s failure
Sachida Nath’s letter regarding the purpose of human existence (FT 08/12) refers.
Psychoanalyst and philosopher Erich Fromm’s 1976 book To Have or to Be? throws illuminating light on the subject.
Fromm writes that modern society has become materialistic and prefers “having” to “being”.
He mentions the great promise of unlimited happiness, freedom, material abundance, and domination of nature.
These hopes reached their highs when the Industrial Age began.
One could feel that there would be unlimited production and hence unlimited consumption.
Society nowadays has completely deviated from its actual path … (and human essence distorted).
In the industrial age, the development of the economic system is no longer determined by the question of what is good for man, but rather of what is good for the growth of the system. (Wikipedia).
And look what that has done to the health and well-being of planet Earth and the catastrophic threat (climate change) that now poses human civilisation?
See also The Club of Rome report published in the book The Limits to Growth (1972).
It was a much earlier warning of the environmental dangers of humanity’s relentless and rampant pursuit of growth.
Humanity failed to pay the attention that warning called for.
Now we are facing the dire consequences of that failure.
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Climate ambition
I believe climate ambition should start at home before we tell the world how to deal with carbon emission.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Media victims
I agree with Joeli Naleca’s letter on the above subject (FT 08/12).
The media is supposed to be neutral and not degrading people.
I urge all media outlets and stakeholders to have some sense of humanity.
Bill Kuavatu, Lautoka
Taxi permits
Our good government has given out so many taxi permits in the West.
The taxi with permit which was sold for 70k three months ago will go for 25k now.
And I don’t need to state the reason it will be sold for less.
I just hope our good government does the same for buses, rentals and land hire.
That will be some fun.
Surely one will lose and one will gain.
A. Shariff Shah, Savusavu
Just do it
If you are reading this lads, I hope you’ve made it into the quarters.
This is when push comes to shove.
Just get in there and do it to them before they do it to you.
End of it, we kick-start the festive season with a “big, bada, boom” bang.
Good luck and godspeed.
Manoj Lal Patel, Drasa Avenue, Lautoka
Baber’s call
The call by Fiji sevens coach Gareth Baber for non-tolerance of yellow cards is the best law yet.
They’ve shown they’re a team to be reckoned with after they defeated the Blitzbokkes.
Good luck in Cape Town.
Amenatave Yaconisau, Palm Drive, Delainavesi
Get tough
Don’t just talk coach, make decisions.
Challenging to win a game in sevens with six players.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Great NZ 7s team
The New Zealand 7s team nearly went out of the cup finals at Cape Town yesterday morning (09/12).
A try after full-time by Filimoni Koroi shows what a great team they are.
After being stunned by Samoa they fought back against South Africa to win a place and thus poor Samoa, who showed so much promise, was bundled out.
For me Samoa is improving but on a seesaw-like situation.
Good luck to the All Blacks 7s and may Fiji win in Cape Town.
Mere Lagilagi, Lovu, Lautoka
