Crusaders reign over Blues
Yesterday’s The Fiji Times pictured Crusaders’ winger Manasa Mataele in full stride galloping his way to the tryline. While the Crusaders came from behind to beat the Blues by two points, Mataele’s two tries were a class of act and sheer brilliance and I hope FRU and McKee are able to convince the Crusaders sensation to don the white jumper. Apart from Mataele, the performance of Barrett, Bridge, Mo’unga, Todd, Taufua, Strange, Makalio, Funnell and Ennor deserve praise and I was delighted to see former Crusaders teammates Robertson and MacDonald come head to head as Scotty prevailed. On the other hand, the Crusaders face an in-form Hurricanes side at Rugby League Park and the good news is that Crusader’s coach Robertson has re-committed his services to the most successful team in Super Rugby. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Road woes
I believe the president of Lautoka Ratepayers Association needs to visit ratepayers more often to discuss and find out what the residents of Lautoka need. Vomo St is in a bad shape. Fibre-optic cables and electric wires in PVC pipes are visible on a bus stop on Vomo St. It’s good that the Ratepayers Association president has highlighted the road conditions but he did not say anything about the fibre-optic cables and electric wires. What concerns me is the schoolchildren playing and accidentally damaging the PVC pipe and when water gets inside those pipes, I hope it doesn’t happen that way. Before I left Fiji to visit my grandchildren in New Zealand, I saw those pipes, hopefully before I come back those pipes should be buried. John Brown Auckland, New Zealand
After Winston
Today marks three years since the massive devastation of Cyclone Winston, a Category 5 force which shattered our lives, our villages, our economy and our peace and tranquility. Winston will be remembered forever by us and our future generation. We continue to pray for those families who lost loved ones and for those who lost their homes, farms and everything. Viti or Fiji, we are a resilient force and most have rewritten another chapter in life by growing stronger than Winston in three years. Fiji has grown stronger and the might of its people will continue to grow. The challenge is climate change is obvious and the fight to arrest the ever growing change in our environment will continue and continue forever. Let’s pause for a minute of silence and remember Winston and close the door and open a new one, a new challenge! Noqu qele, noqu vanua, Viti kei na vuravura! Shalwyn Prasad Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva
Voting pattern
Voting in Parliament has produced a pattern. The FijiFirst party is steadfast, consistent and united. SODELPA and NFP in the Opposition are split. They are either for or against motions as individual parties. I think based on the number of members present in any given sitting, viewers can calculate the results of voting beforehand on any given motion. The clue lies in the constant pattern and direction of arguments. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Rape issue
Christopher Griffin’s letter (F/T16/2/19) on the need for proven researches on rape issues in Fiji, and, his question on where USP and social scientists were refers. Findings from researches on rape issues undertaken by NGOs Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) and the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) were widely publicised. Dr Griffin might not be aware that some NGOs in Fiji consider research as a necessary component of their work. Some work with USP and other academic institutions while some do not. More often than not, it is dependent on the sympathy of a potential donor. What is preferable about an NGO undertaking its own research with or without partners is that, the recommendations from the findings are often addressed by its next phase of the program. And not left too long, to the extent, the data becomes outdated. The USP and other academic institutions, from my experience have worked with NGOs on research. And this has become beneficial to each of the party. In April 2018, USP Lautoka campus director Dr Pramila Devi stated that as part of its continuing and community outreach program and as a partner in development with NGO FRIEND (Foundation for Rural Integration Enterprise and Development), USP supports initiatives to create awareness on issues and also uplift the standard of living of the local community. In May 2018, FRIEND published four research papers under the title, Grassroots Voices for Good Governance, with funding from the European Union. One of the research papers,
titled Childhood and its impact on perceptions of violence, is by Marie Jane Fatiaki. Ms Fatiaki’s research explores situations of domestic violence and abuse experienced by boys, young men and adult men in Fiji, and the implications of childhood experiences of violence and abuse on adult attitude, behaviour and perceptions of violence. The findings from the research are very interesting.
The researcher, Ms Fatiaki is a well-known childactivist with more than 10 years experience in dealing with violence and trafficking
issues involving children with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and has written many research papers on children
and youth of the Pacific. The link to FRIEND is: friendfiji.com ALISI W DAUREWA, Suva
Stern warning
THE Prime Minister had issued a stern warning to prospective developers that breach of any environmental protection would be met
with the full force of the law. The Prime Minister also stated that no matter the size of the development or how great it may be, if you
intend to destroy or forever degrade our environment, you are not welcome in Fiji. I believe it was very convincing hearing from the
Prime Minister himself as his words were very much appreciated by those who were present at the ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism
Gala Award Dinner. TOMASI BOGINISO, Nasinu
Social justice
The United Nations’ (UN) World Day of Social Justice is annually observed on February 20 to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication. It also focuses on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration. What people should do? To see the importance of social justice for people to seek plans for greater social justice by tackling poverty, social and economic exclusion and unemployment. Fiji with the rest of Pacific also face social challenges and abstract. Colleges and universities must engage in special activities for the day or plan a week of events around a theme related to poverty, social and economic exclusion or unemployment. How to overcome such an issue needs to have a platform and should be addressed by a forum of youths of today. Nearly 10 years later, the UN member states reviewed the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action when they gathered at a session of the Commission for Social Development in New York in February, 2005. They also agreed to commit to advance social development. On November 26, 2007, the UN General Assembly named February 20 as the annual World Day of Social Justice. The day was scheduled to be first observed in 2009. Neelz Singh Lami
Vernacular newspapers
reference to the opinion given by Paul Geraghty (FT 19/02) I totally disagree that Fiji Hindi should be promoted. Fiji Hindi is not a teaching language as there is no structure in terms of grammar, tenses and meaning. One should note that Fiji Hindi is only used informally but in all other functions and religious rituals including all traditional ceremonies formal Hindi is a must. It would be a joke if our preaching, news presentation, lectures and classroom teaching is done in Fiji Hindi. The strength of seriousness, respect and dignity of our culture would be lost if Fiji Hindi is used in formal settings. Take note that all our scriptures are written in Hindi not Fiji Hindi. With the trend there would be a serious problem of reading and understanding of our scriptures. To write these voluminous scriptures in Fiji Hindi would be a slap in the face of Hindu culture and tradition. I do understand that some senior academics have proposed the use of Fiji Hindi in formal settings but it would be only to the detriment of our much loved culture and identity. To respond to his idea of printing Hindi paper using Roman script, please take note that Hindi cannot be written in Roman script as the latter does not have all the vowels and consonants as used in Hindi. Our language and culture would be lost as quickly as these new initiatives would be implemented. Please save our Hindi language but yes, do use the broken Fiji Hindi to the fullest in your daily engagements. Just as we cannot write Chinese or Japanese scripts in English (Roman script) similarly do not spoil the Hindi and the formality of our culture. Keep your opinions within your boundaries of expertise and leave us to enjoy our culture and identity while also enjoying the Fiji Hindi at relevant situations. Dhirendra Prasad Lautoka
Great achievement
The revelation that Nadi Airport has been declared the second best in the less than 10 million passenger category is something great for us. I believe this sets the standards straight for all other organisations in the country to strive to achieve the best. With less than a million population and coming out to be the second best among bigger nations is a milestone achievement. Credit goes to the planners, designers and airport management for coming up with something very innovative. What was even more pleasing to hear that effective measures are put in place to reduce the effects of climate change. Surely, encouraging signs for us that we are heading in the right direction to achieve global standards. PRANIL RAM, Votualevu, Nadi
Gardens issue
I know I may have come in late on this issue regarding the usage of the land which houses both the botanical garden and museum and thought I should throw in my five cent. We have a parliament complex in Veiuto that is not being fully utilised. Why not give them that, let’s not be haste and start selling everything off like it was back in the colonial days. Lawrence Wara Suva
Drug busts
I believe the recent drug busts in the country pose a serious question on our border security. How are these perpetrators able to get these illicit substance into the country? I am sure we now have modern detection tools and machines at our border controls. From the busts we have only accounted for the amount of drugs that was readily available. What about the drugs already sold and the proceeds of this crime circulating in our economy as black money. I am sure it’s a wake-up call for our security forces to snap these criminals at our doorsteps before they spread their wings across the country. Navneel Naidu Suva
Rewa’s crisis
The Rewa football side is in a huge turmoil with only one win in three matches in the National League. Last weekend the side were hammered 1-6 by Nadi and this followed with the resignation of their interim coach Nigel Khan. Only a miracle can stop this team from being demoted to the lower league! Raynav Chand Nakasi
Package
Please! Mr Government man, don’t tax my grand Papy’s retirement package. Nigel Fiu The Owls Perch, Lautoka
Unfit officers
It is so good the Police Commissioner has noticed that a lot of the officers are unfit. Well I believe if you are made to sit in an airconditioned office every day you may become unfit if you do not go for a long walk or run after work. It would do a lot of good if all officers including the commissioner himself do half day foot patrol every day. Sukha Singh Labasa
Taxi owners
Some taxi owners who won their permits in that lottery are still waiting for their permits to drive. Many of them have their finances tied up in the purchase of the vehicles which now sits idle at home. One taxi owner says that he suspects that there are many taxis running around Lautoka with drivers who don’t have the PSV drivers’ licence. Anyone care to check, please. Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka |
