Letters to the Editor – March 19, 2019

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Outgoing Russian sevens coach Waisale Serevi and Rev Iliapi Tuiwai the head of Suva Divisional Superintendent of the Methodist Church with members of the team after a Church service at the Centenary church. Picture: ATU RASEA/FILE

Sevens support

It’s pleasing to note that Russia 7s coach and our own Waisale Serevi is confident that Fiji can win the 2018-19 World Rugby Sevens Series (WRSS) title. Serevi, who was the first coach/player to guide Fiji to the 2005-06 WRSS and 1997 RWC 7s titles, has Fiji at heart and the saying “you can take Serevi out from the Fiji 7s team but you cannot take rugby and Fiji 7s from Serevi” comes to mind and I’m sure that our passionate and patriotic 7s guru will receive a huge round of applause as he guides his Russian 7s team during the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament. Talk about Serevi and many beautiful 7s memories come to mind. Isa, those good old days when the 7s Maestro’s name would be on everyone’s lips. His magical and dancing feet gave fans a chance to celebrate some historic 7s events. All the best Sir-revi and thank you for your support! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu

Serevi and Russia

WHAT a delight to read the story about Waisale Serevi and his Russian team after a church service at the Centenary Church in Suva.Thank you Serevi for being such a wonderful person and taking the players to a church service. You are indeed an inspiration to every person in Fiji. During your playing days you were loved, as time went by people emulated your style and your name became a house hold name, not only in Fiji but in rugby playing countries. The Russian team is here to take part in the Marist 7s, and I feel it’s such a fantastic thing. Vinaka va levu Naita for your efforts in the sevens area. Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka

A time frame

I believe Fiji has a pilot initiative on the first hour procedure and video recorded interviews for those detained and arrested in respect of a criminal offence. Have we also gone past “there is no available vehicle now” to a rigid minimum time frame for addressing reported crimes? Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka

Police roadblocks

Roadblocks set-up by police at the Lomolomo Police Post yesterday (18/03) may have caused frustration from employers on workers for late arrival. It does help if the police can inform employers later in the day by public announcement, so workers are not victimised for something not of their own doing. Dan Urai Lautoka

Work-life balance

Munro Leys’ Jon Apted is absolutely correct in stating that Fiji has not been a great place for recognising work-life balancing issues (FT 16/03). As a matter of fact the whole world needs to learn how to balance work and life and why it is so important. At present, we have it the wrong way around, spending most of our time at work and missing out spending quality time with family, loved ones, with oneself, and with nature. We have certainly got the scales of the work-life balance horribly wrong, and we are paying dearly for such an unsuitable and meaningless system. It is our children, our leaders of tomorrow who are found wanting the most, having to stand by and watch as the scales of work and life tip to and fro. There is way much more to life than work! Simon Hazelman Rava Estate, Savusavu

Be a student

One of the ways to transform into a better person in life is to humble yourself, share your knowledge and skills while at the same time learning from others. Remember we do not know everything be it at home, school or work. It makes sense after all why the world is so unique in its amazing diversity. To succeed we need to learn from each other. I believe if we are to be innovative, we need the right people to motivate us even if it means learning the hard way. Sandra Bullock once said “always choose people that are better than you. Always choose people that challenge you and are smarter than you. Always be the student.” SPENCER ROBINSON Suva

Traffic jams

When trying to get away from traffic jams and getting to Ratu Dovi Rd in Kinoya in Nasinu, what seems not to be in your view suddenly appears as traffic starts queuing for the reason of getting from a two-lane to a single lane. It’s just for a small distance until you get to the Nadera grounds, when things seem to be normal again. This stretch of road could be easily widened because of the space it has available, to fully change Ratu Dovi Rd to four lanes which should be already in the pipeline and hopefully footpaths and streetlights would be in the area. Tomasi Boginiso Nasinu

Grand Slam

AFTER singing praises for Warren Gatland as the Welsh rugby guru tasted his third Grand Slam, Wales rugby captain Alun Wyn Jones and his red brigade will now prepare for this year’s Southern tour and the RWC. Gatland, who will step down as Wales coach, would be satisfied with his third Grand Slam and how his boys beat favourites Ireland and England. Wales is in Fiji’s pool and alongside the Wallabies stand on our path for a top two finish in pool D and the Dragons form during the Six Nations should send an alarming signal that to beat them Fiji will need to prepare well. The likes of Liam Williams, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies, Josh Navidi, Adam Beard, Dan Biggar and Owen Watkins stood out and showed exceptional skills. These players are on a very good run and are expected to carry on this ruthless form up to Japan. Wales success should motivate McKee to select only the best who can deliver a sensational performance and like the 2007 side, and knock Wales out of the RWC. I congratulate Warren Gatland and his troops for winning their third Grand Slam in style! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu

Potential terrorist

IF the alleged perpetrator of the Christchurch mass murder Brenton Tarrant had “a string of far right views” extremist white nationalist views, how come he was not on the radar of the Australian or New Zealand state security agencies? RAJEND NAIDU
Sydney, Australia

Serious situation

The serious situation of drunks on the beach at Wailoaloa in Nadi must be addressed. Nearly every morning, groups of local drunks –– many still drinking ––– disrupt our beachfront hotels and frighten our guests. On Saturday morning, one group was urinating and defecating in the bushes just near where our guests were having their breakfast. From 6am they were harassing tourists walking along the beach, particularly young women. As we have to do nearly every morning, our hotel staff members rang the police to remove the group of drunks. After ringing several times for three hours, the police finally did arrive, only to find another group of men, driving a van, who had just arrived to drink with the others. This was at 10.30am directly in front of our hotel. An overseas family with young children was on the beach right there at the time, trying to enjoy the beach despite the drunkards. On Sunday morning, our staff again repeatedly rang the police beginning at 6.30am about a larger group of drunks, who were drinking on the beach in front of our hotel. The police did not turn up. Not until 10am after several of the drunks got into a car and sped off out of control, smashing into two cars before swerving headfirst into a coconut tree. When the drunks tried to leave the scene, a large group prevented them from leaving until the police finally arrived 40 minutes later. Our guests regularly write comments online about drunks on the beach, feeling threatened and unsafe. We try to reassure future guests that this situation is being addressed. This is not the Fiji they come to see. Is this really the Fiji we want to show them? There are many questions I feel the police can investigate to improve this situation. Why do the police not respond to our requests to remove drunks? I believe all of the hotels along the beach pay considerable taxes. Since we have drunks so frequently, why do the police not patrol the beach at night, before these drunks cause problems? This situation has gone on for years, and yet nothing seems to be done despite frequent and regular phone calls to the police. Soon, a large hotel will open, and even more overseas visitors will witness the out of control situation of drunks on Wailoaloa Beach. Can’t the police address this situation? Dale Hermanson Nadi

Stop smoking

I believe some people at FNU in Samabula really need to stop smoking at the bus stop. It’s a really bad habit that endangers the lives of all who wait for buses there. Especially the schoolchildren who are the most vulnerable to sickness. Adults should know better. Simi Kuruvoli Cunningham, Suva

Lucky country

Australia, the lucky country? Not if you go by the quality of political leadership. When you look at the kind of leader New Zealand has in Jacinda Ardern, I believe we are a very unlucky country by contrast! And, that’s most unfortunate. Surely, the Australian people deserve better. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia

FIFA role

Congratulations were on the cards for Fiji Football Association’s president on his appointment for the FIFA role. Congratulatory messages aside, the appointment has to make a significant difference in the direction and standard of soccer in Fiji. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka

Shooting news

I can only say that the news of the shooting in New Zealand is shocking and frightening. Thank you to the PM Voreqe Bainimarama in reassuring the people of Fiji that we are safe. (FT 18/03) Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka

Second-hand vehicles

Has any student asked why Government allows imports of second-hand vehicles when I believe we do not have the infrastructure to support the high number of vehicles on our roads apart from traffic congestion every day. Dan Urai Lautoka

Below poverty

DAN Urai (FT 17/03) mentions how less than 30 per cent of Fijians are listed as living in poverty when 70 per cent of Fijians retire with less than $10,000 in FNPF savings. I believe the reason is that those 70 per cent of retirees only constitute 15 per cent of the population (55 years old or higher) and membership figures for the FNPF 2016 show that slightly less than half the population are FNPF members so I believe those 70 per cent who retire in the FNPF with less than $10,000 are only 8 per cent of the population. Terry Hulme Eastwood, NSW, Australia

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