Boost for 7s rugby
The road to the Tokyo Olympics gets tougher as top local 7s rugby clubs come head to head at Lawaqa Park for the first round of the FRU Super 7s Series. Pool A is tough with the likes of Tabadamu, Police White and BLK Stallions while Pool B is made up of Police Blue, Fire and Raiwasa Taveuni. The pool of death has to be Pool C as it contains FDS Barbarians, Warden, Ratu Filise and Yamacia. Pool D has Army and Uluinakau. Through my letters, I have been pleading for the return of the 7s series similar to the BP Oil 7s Series that we had in 2005 which gave birth to the likes of Neumi Nanuku, Lepani Nabuliwaqa, William Ryder and Jone Daunivucu, and I must commend FRU for this initiative which will replicate the environment similar to the WRSS circuit. Through the BP Oil 7s Series, fans all over Fiji enjoyed watching players they normally saw on television. At Ganilau Park during the Savusavu 7s, we had a huge crowd who came to watch our 7s stars. The Super 7s Series will help our men and women prepare well for the Tokyo Olympics. Our men’s 7s team will be defending the Rio Olympics gold medal, and we must give everything to make sure our preparation is on par. All the best to FRU and the participating teams and a big vinaka vakalevu to The Fiji Times for the great buildup and for promoting the FRU Super 7s Series!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Cloth nappies
Your article (FT 16/01) reporting on the initiative by Bua Urban Youth Network and the Lalai and Sprout group to encourage supply of cloth nappies to STC Yasa-hit families drew my interest. I am sure that many financially struggling families throughout Fiji (as well as those in STC Yasa areas) would benefit by accessing this sensible initiative. Can it be expanded, therefore – maybe through the Ministry of Women and other CSOs – to collect “old” or unused towels and other suitable cloths to be sewn into appropriate sizes, and distributed at markets and through district offices? As your article stated, the economic and (certainly) environmental advantages would be immeasurable. Fiji could even become the first “plastic-nappy-free” Pacific nation! Just think of the benefits!
P. KAILOLA Suva
Positive development
BASED on the 2018 election results and the economic downturn, I believe it is a positive move for FijiFirst to work with SODELPA. I believe unity between the two political parties is a positive development.
DAN URAI Lautoka
Common practice
It has been a common sight up here in Nadarivatu for commuters to stand on the rear bumper of twin cabs while travelling to and fro on a daily basis. Despite going past a police post and other enforcement agencies on the road, this practice has been an ongoing issue since I moved up here a few years ago. Whether our law enforcement agencies overlooked this practice or whatever the reason may be, it has to be stopped somehow before a major disaster happens on our roads. I hope our community officers up here and LTA enforcement officers will take note and take action on the above issue before it’s too late. This common practice needs to be stopped for safety reasons. No two ways about it.
PITA SOROAQALI Nadarivatu
Damaged schools
IF you drive along our Kings and Queens highways, one can view the many nicely built stalls on the roadside that I believe were certified by government engineers to be able to withstand a Category 5 cyclone. Wow, thank you FijiFirst government. I wish our engineers in government and green uniforms could also be able to rebuild and certify cyclone damaged schools to withstand catastrophic cyclones in the future. By the way, perhaps Premila Kumar if the mentioned highway stalls could be also built for the Nadi Back Road market vendors similar to the ones built along Vakabalea, Navua. Not forgetting those fresh produce sellers also seeking assistance nationwide. It will surely assist the market vendors during this crisis and also it will cater for the residents living on the outback of urban Namaka, especially Master Sio and his farm manager tavale Bill. This is part of the speech by the Prime Minister published on (FT 6/6, 2018) while opening the roadside stall at Vakabalea, Navua: “The handover is just the beginning of a program and we expect to grow every year, reaching more vendors throughout the country, giving them facilities they need to run their businesses well and to operate safely from”. So please Minister for Local Government and your boss, don’t make life harder when everyone is going through so much already if you can understand where this nation and its economy sits today.
AREKI DAWAI Suva
Economic summit
NATIONAL Federation Party leader Prof Biman Prasad is calling for an economic summit to bring fresh ideas to rescue the Fiji economy. Short term, no fresh idea will be able to rescue Fiji’s economy at this most difficult time. Long term, yes and I’m sure the FijiFirst government has that covered. The whole reason MPs are voted into government is for them to manage the nation’s affairs. If the current lot cannot provide the nation with an economic recovery plan then they might as well remove themselves out of the highest office of the land. I have just one idea that is not as fresh, but it definitely helps in a big way. Serious immediate cost-cutting measures within government is required, starting with MPs. There is so much room to cut costs and this should go on for at least two to three years. It will make a huge difference to our bottom line. As custodians of the nation, MPs and government personnel ought to be the first to put their hands up to help and support the nation through cost-cutting measures and prove to the nation that they are in government to serve. The majority in the private sector have taken cost-cutting measures to remain sustainable, and so I believe Government ought to be doing the same. Lead like you should be!
SIMON HAZELMAN Rava Estate, Savusavu
YOUR SAY: Child, adult sex trafficking
Where to from here
FRIDAY’S (FT 15/01) editorial on Fiji being at the centre of the Pacific’s child and adult sex trafficking is not new news. This has been apparent to Fiji citizens for many years. They knew it was happening in their youth, and now they are 60. That’s 40 years old at least. I believe to shrink from this fact, or shrug it off, is to lie. And condone an ever-present evil that lurks close by in our neighbourhoods. How easy this is, and how convenient too. Isn’t this where we must begin? When good people do nothing to acknowledge this, how can they help broken families in their closest neighbourhood and in their own families; when they won’t seek help or encourage others to get it? Surely we “die” inside – as slowly and definitively as the perpetrators, “the walking dead” – when we do nothing. This is like maiming our own body permanently and leaving gaping gashes to bleed out. That’s what pretence does. It’s not a judgement that’s needed here or yelling preachers; but a determined firm resolve that is an internal decision by us first, before it’s ever externalised to action. Start with a decision to face it. Without this awareness, we remain unable to face the truth honestly, about this dreadful reality; or even begin to know the truth here in our very own homes and neighbourhoods. If we keep pretending, this is not happening, when our instinct tells us otherwise; or statistics scream aloud in our faces, we are simply avoiding to check on suspicious behaviour. Then something is so off, it stinks. And it grows like hideous cancer unchecked. It will kill us. There is nothing as cowardly as those who pretend just to save face, or avoid; or evade or worse, pretend it’s OK, that it isn’t really happening. Wrong, it is. And has been for years in Fiji. There are resources available for change offered freely, and there are services to equip us to help in these dark recesses of our communities, and within us. Why would we not take heed of these resources or the generous opportunities offered to us? Where to from here – has to begin with stopping pretence, denial and avoiding. Start with: “What can I do to change me / or this?” All strength to those clandestine heroines and heroes who are out there, doing this change already.
JEAN HATCH Nabua, Suva
QUICK VIEWS
46th US president
IT will be interesting now to hear from some self-promoted political analysts who were very optimistic about Donald Trump’s win. Congratulations Biden on your win-win situation. God Bless America!
TAHIR ALI Hamilton, New Zealand
Biden administration
WITH Trump’s exit, the macho- man, bully boy days are over in the White House. President Biden has made it absolutely clear that everybody is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity and that should he come across anyone talking down to a colleague and not treating someone with respect he will be fi red on the spot. That tells us a great deal about the paradigm change we can expect under the Biden administration.
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Time for a change
TRUE democracy with patience for both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris has made them to be powerful with dignity which will unite them with all. Time for a change in the USA and sure they will be back with positivity.
JAHEED BUKSH Korolevu, Sigatoka
Roadside vendors
I FIND it very convenient to buy vegetables from roadside vendors. It saves me from the hassle of finding parking space in towns. Also, the vegetables from these vendors are of good quality. I plead with the madam minister to please let these poor people sell from the roadside. Something can be worked out for those selling from markets.
AJAY SINGH Natabua, Lautoka
School buses
WHY are the school kids filled up in overcrowded buses like sardines. LTA, please wake up and check the school buses on our roads.
NARAYAN REDDY Lautoka
Thank you
THANK you, Australia rings far and wide. It’s an indication of our kids’ appreciation.
DAN URAI Lautoka
