Letters to the Editor – Monday, March 20, 2023

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Members of the Fiji 7s team after they lost to Police Blues in the final of the 47th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s on Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium. Picture: ATU RASEA

What can we expect in Hong Kong

We are only two weeks away from the prestigious Hong Kong 7s and Fiji’s loss at the 47th Marist finals served as an indicator that we could be expecting nothing but the worst.

To be bundled out by a local club in a spectacular fashion is the least we could ever fathom.

Our last three unsuccessful encounters with the same team in the form of the mighty Pumas at World Rugby level might pose a lot of serious questions.

And the reality of facing them in the HK pool games is undoubtedly scary.

Our defence is a struggle, we’re losing possession at ease and we are not making the right decisions at crucial times.

However, I’m still placing my money on our team.

I trust the coaches and yes I support the boys, but with our current status we need a miracle.

Only then would the fear be casted out and we should again celebrate!

Toso Viti toso!

WAISALE MOCE, Nadarivatu

Shock loss

THE Sale Tubuna-coached Police Blue side upset the Fiji Development team 15-5 at the HFC Bank Stadium to win the 47th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament as two top-notch teams fought it out for the top prize.

The nail-biting final brought fans to their feet.

Police Blue put on a great show, proving their win was based on consistency, hard work and commitment.

On the other hand, after losing to Tabadamu, the Fiji Development team had to dig deep to make it to the final.

The side beat Lavidi Brothers 21-7 in the quarters, and then edged Wardens 15-14 in a fierce challenge.

Former national 7s reps Apenisa Cakaubalavu, Suliano Volivoli, Terio Tamani, Livai Ikanikoda and seasoned campaigner Keponi Paul played a vital role in Police’s success.

I’m glad that Terio, who was my student at John Wesley College, walked away with the Player of the Final award.

The final belonged to Police Blue which played better 7s and made fewer mistakes.

Cakaubalavu, Terio and Volivoli have raised their hands for the trip to HK.

Tubuna smiled as his boys emerged victorious, clinching the Cup in front of a roaring crowd.

For Ben Gollings, it’s back to the drawing board – hard work and sacrifice before the HK 7s!

RAJNESH LINGAM, Balgovind Rd, Nadawa, Nasinu

Golden Dragon celebration

The Golden Dragon 60th anniversary packed Sydney show was smashingly good.

The huge Fiji crowd that turned up was mind-blowing and beautiful.

It revived fond memories of that era and was a great opportunity to reconnect with many old friends.

And what can one say about the music?

None of the old musicians have lost their masterclass touch.

They were like vintage old wine.

They played their hearts out for the Fijian diaspora and filled everyone with joy, laughter and fun.

The music was so thumping good that even old bones couldn’t help take the dance floor for a jig or two!

RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia

Reinstatement of staff

IT’S inspiring to note that terminated Fiji Airways staff will finally be reinstated as per Andre Viljoen’s stretched and tardy statement, (FT 19/03).

I believe the much-needed change in government has certainly put things into perspective and direction.

More importantly, I would also wish to know whether Mr Viljoen, in his capacity as CEO, will also be probed for the alleged breach of stringent civil aviation laws by allowing the former minister for everything and his security detail to carry firearms on-board Fiji Link domestic flights.

The fact of the matter is, Mr Viljoen needs to answer to this intense accusation and face the full brunt of the law.

The high-flying Fiji Airways board also needs to be taken to task.

No ifs and buts!

NISHANT SINGH, Simla, Lautoka

Radio service

FIJI has about 14 radio stations, some of which have been in service for decades.

This gives all listeners access to instruction on moral values, current news, and real-time information twenty-four hours a day.

Importantly radio stations connect listeners in good and bad times.

Each one of us has a favourite radio station.

I am grateful to all the radio announcers for keeping us connected, especially in areas with a dearth of dependable news.

Peggy Noonan once said, “TV gives everyone an image, but radio gives birth to a million images in a million brains”.

RODNEY CLARENCE RAJ, Naleba, Labasa

Dillon’s Rock

ANOTHER excellent article by Shanelle Prasad (FT 19/3) on the man behind the story of Dillon’s Rock, Captain Peter Dillon.

In 1826, while visiting Tikopia in the Solomons, he came across evidence of the La Perouse expedition, whose fate was one of the great mysteries of that time.

He took relics, which he collected, to Paris.

He was granted a lifetime annuity by the French government and decorated.

My late friend, historian Rondo Blue had reservations against Dillon’s character telling what she termed “porkies”, but there is no doubt he made the break through in solving the La Perouse mystery.

TERRY HULME, Sydney, Australia

Test for Bula Boys

INTERNATIONAL friendlies are coming back to Fiji after five years at Churchill Park as the Digicel Bula Boys will compete in the Tri-Nations Series alongside the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The Fiji U-20 side also will feature in the tournament as part of its preparations for the FIFA U20 World Cup which starts in Indonesian in May.

Top reps from our districts are part of the Fiji team which is being coached by Marika Rodu.

The Digicel Bula Boys will open their campaign against Vanuatu next Monday, while the Digicel Junior Bula Boys will take on the Solomon Islands.

On Thursday, the Digicel Bula Boys will take on the Digicel Junior Bula Boys at the Fiji FA Academy ground in Ba.

Both sides will complete their schedule of matches on Sunday as the Digicel Junior Bula Boys face Vanuatu, while the Digicel Bula Boys will take on the Solomon Islands.

This Tri-Nations Series tournament will be a good build-up for our football teams.

Rajnesh Ishwar Liingam, Nadawa, Nasinu

Pipeline blockage

SO some blockages have been removed from that “pipeline”.

Yet some are expecting a U-turn overnight.

Sixteen years people didn’t have a choice and now “some” don’t have patience.

Isa.

KIRTI PATEL, Mohan Singh Pl, Lautoka

Do your time

I DID not have the opportunity to read “Do your time please” (FT 18/03) until yesterday.

When I saw the title, I immediately thought of all the wrong events that have occurred in post-independent Fiji in which no one has been accounted for, but the article was about something else.

MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF, Natabua, Lautoka

Injured, but playing

THEY say that when people are confused or puzzled, they must ask for clarification.

If Bolaca requires surgery as is now known by the whole world, then why is he still being “tested” by Gollings and even allowed to play at local sevens tournaments?

Won’t that aggravate his injury?

Wouldn’t it mean more intensive surgery and care, with higher cost than current estimates?

Professional rugby unions and soccer associations don’t condone putting an injured player or any player carrying long-term injuries at risk.

We somehow do, and still manage to get away with it.

DONALD SINGH, Suva

Pilot whales

DID I hear that right?

A pod of pilot whales were sighted swimming at the entrance of Savusavu Bay.

Is this for real?

Throughout my whole life as a guy who loves going to the seashore for wide exploration, I have never seen nor heard of such magnificent creatures swimming offshore just far from the mainland.

This is going to create history and if there is one, there are many.

They are all out there in our blue waters and I just can’t wait to finally take my chance getting a glimpse!

KELEPI DAKUIYACO, Waikalou, Serua

AUKUS deal

THE staggering $368 billion allocated for the AUKUS deal has generated the usual debate in Australia and internationally, but sadly very little in the Pacific.

Purely on the size of the allocation, Pacific countries which have been crying out for support for its greatest threat of climate security need to raise its concern about how their sensitivities are having little effect in Canberra, London and Washington.

There is money available for such military expansionism, but not for building resilience of islands, people and communities who may not even exist due to the threats of sea level rise!

Some loose change, often recycled aid money, is thrown in just to keep us quiet.

It was remarkable to read Fiji PM’s unconditional support of AUKUS on the day Albanese made a hasty stopover to our shores and later said he would not entertain any nuclear weapons.

Thanks to The Fiji Times for highlighting these as front page news.

Is this merely a play on words?

Australian Government and its allies are emphasising no nuclear weapons will be carried on these expensive submarines.

Even if they do not, they are powered by nuclear reactors which are like small power stations, supplying energy for the operations of this war machine.

Remember Chernobyl and recently Fukushima — as well as numerous other nuclear accidents around the world — which have caused so much environmental damage and loss of life, in spite of these being supported by the best technology as well as by some of the most industrially advanced countries.

We are now being threatened by the discharge of radioactive water from Fukushima and Japan is under lot of pressure to dispose these in their own territory.

So aren’t accidents likely on these little nuclear reactors on these submarines which will be submerged below the Pacific Ocean which is really the lifeline of our nations?

And this is not even counting the risks these moving targets pose.

The region is guided by the Treaty of Rarotonga, the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, which has been in force since 1986.

The Treaty was borne of the South Pacific’s first-hand experience with nuclear weapons testing and was only the second NWFZ to enter into force in a populated region following the Treaty of Tlatelolco in Latin America.

The geographic scope of the Rarotonga Treaty is vast, extending from the West coast of Australia to the boundary of the Latin American NWFZ in the east, and from the equator to 60 degrees south, where it meets the boundary of the zone established by the Antarctic Treaty.

While Articles 5 and 6 talk about nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament by preventing the placement of nuclear weapons within the South Pacific by member states , a further and quite distinctive feature of the treaty is its emphasis on keeping the region free of environmental pollution by radioactive wastes and other radioactive matter (Article 7).

Parties to the treaty are: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

I very much hope the Pacific Islands will take a decisive and ethical stand on this important matter and not be subsumed by the rhetoric from the AUKUS nations.

This not only puts our region at greater risk of a nuclear war, but the real environmental impacts arising out of any incident will be huge.

ALTAUF CHAND, Minto, NSW

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