All about 7s rugby
SEVENS rugby is administered by World Rugby, the body responsible for rugby union worldwide. Australia is a regular participant in 7s rugby competitions. It is a host in the world sevens series. Australian women are the reigning Olympic champions. Many Australian players who have played 7s are household names today. To cool down and see a clear picture, an Australian writer has to sit with David Campese and enjoy some kava ice-block with frozen mango chips. MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF
Natabua, Lautoka
The law
ALLOW me to respond to Korina Waibuta in her letter dated September 12, 2020. The content was emotionally charged from the beginning. Please note the current Government decides who is a citizen and who isn’t for reasons best known to them. The professor and his wife included. Law is law. AMENATAVE YACONISAU MALANI Palm Drive, Delainavesi
Bills timeline
“IN previous parliaments, the minister was required to give 21 days’ notice to the secretary-general before the first reading of the Bill, and, it needed to be circulated to all members and gazetted 30 days before the introduction.” (FT 13/10) If we were to follow these timelines today, how many Bills can we pass in a year knowing well that current Parliament’s annual sittings have been considerably reduced? It will also stall the Government’s development projects and much-needed reforms. Some may argue the current system of passing Bills in two days does not give members enough time to scrutinise the Bills. Which member of Parliament would waste his/her time in scrutinising when he/she knows well there will not be any changes in the proposed Bill? BHARAT MORRIS Gold Coast, Australia
Clarity please
ROSY Akbar, could you please clarify this point for me – were all students (primary and secondary) given a 50 cents souvenir piece each for our 50th anniversary independence day celebrations? I have been bombarded with this question by Miss 6 and Miss 10. Both attend Suva schools. Miss 6’s class did not receive any coin at all while for Miss 10, only the overseas students were given the souvenir 50 cents piece. This may seem trivial to you madam minister but children have very long memories and to them Fiji Day celebration is always magic. I remember mine in 1970 primary school. We stood at the grounds happily waving our small Fiji flags,excited as heads held high, chest out and proudly singing loud and clear our national anthem for Queen and country. KORINA WAIBUTA Knollys St, Suva
Nadroga rugby
THANKS for your compliments to Nadroga rugby Rajnesh Lingam. To my knowledge of the past Nadro players, to win back the Skipper Cup a must is to go and train at the sand dunes before their next game. To be honest, from previous games the way I judged the team they were unfit and did not last 80 minutes, especially to tougher teams such as Suva and Namosi. Hopeful to see Nadroga retain their fitness when it comes to the crunch time. Vinakwa! Hakwa Nadro. EPI SATAVU Nasinu
Education issue
WHY am I seeing children in the streets playing when it’s a school day? I ask them: “Not at school today?” and they laugh and say simply: ‘No”. If I was to probe further, asking for a reason, the children become lost for words; incapable of responding. I’m the one lost for words, realising that my taxes are going towards the education of our youth but it’s not reaching them. The song composed for Fiji Day titled ‘Children of Fiji’ is meant to celebrate our passion for things that bind us together. I’m gravely concerned that our children of Fiji are missing out on vital education. Parents and teachers are responsible to ensure children go to school. There seems to be a complete lack of passion for education. I heard that children are not attending kindergarten classes because the parents sleep-in and cannot get their children there on time, so they don’t get them there at all. Yet we hear and read of the importance of how early years of learning can be a firm foundation for success in later years. It’s all very depressing. JULIE SUTHERLAND Tamavua, Suva
Lions triumph
Congratulations to the Babasiga Lions for successfully defending their IDC title. When the team lost to Navua, the fans lost all hope. But not Master Ronil Lal, the master tactician. As the coach, he had all the faith in his brigade. His lecturing to the boys provided the impetus needed to overcome obstacles and obtain victory. The last pool game was the cutting edge. Lions won in style. In the semis,they tamed the Tigers. I took it with a pinch of salt. More salt was rubbed by my friend, Master Rajnesh Lingam, a staunch supporter of the Lions. Labasa, cutting away the fancy stuff, played winning football. They moved the ball, thus moved the mountain. Congrats Master Ronil, you are the man! Arun Prasad Dilkusha, Nausori
Safest place
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama stated at the 50th anniversary independence celebrations that Fiji is safe at home with regards to COVID-19 (FT 11/10). He attributed that success to our hardworking health workers and security forces. They have definitely done a great job and we must acknowledge their efforts by making their work easier and supporting them wherever and whenever we can. We thank them for the work well done! While we have found success at avoiding the spread of COVID-19, I ask our Prime Minister, our Police Commissioner, and our Military Commander, to have the same enthusiasm and fight to get rid of hard drugs and criminal activity that is prevalent throughout our society. While much effort has been put into withholding marijuana, the use of hard drugs has increased now that marijuana has become scarce and while much effort has been put into the control of the spread of COVID-19, we continue to live in fear of the actions of some of our own people who have no respect for nor value their fellow Fijians. Much work needs to be done to make our streets safe to walk without us having to be concerned with being assaulted or robbed. Far too many criminals are snatching belongings from the vulnerable and home invasions has become a norm. We need to be able to wander wherever and whenever we want without worrying about our safety. The situation is getting worse and it’s the duty of our PM and our law enforcement forces to make our streets and homes safe. We need to be able to live without fear and uncertainty. Much work is required to get rid of the problems in our society for a beautiful, better Fiji! Simon Hazelman Rava Estate, Savusavu
Post Fiji statue
I have seen some pretty grotesque statues in my life. I believe the Post Fiji statue would rank among the worst. That’s my opinion. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Savusavu style
Yesterday morning as we passed Ratu Ganilau Park in Savusavu, I was struck with awe as three cows were in the middle of the ground. One of the cows tried desperately to pinch what seemed to be the last patch of grass. I grinned and smiled. The park is enclosed neatly by immaculate fencing except for the seaward side when mangroves add to complete nature’s contribution to the man-made infrastructure. What a scene. Only in Savusavu. Jioji O Toronibau Navetau, Tunuloa
That statue
The postman statue exhibited during Fiji Day celebrations is gaining a lot of traction and ridicule (memes) on social media. Can we please do without this lifeless postman next year to avoid such mockery? Nishant Singh Lautoka
New $50 notes
Could the governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji explain what happens when new notes like commemorative $50 notes were printed? Does it mean if a million dollars worth of $50 notes were printed, one million dollars has to be removed from the money in circulation? Sukha Singh Labasa
Quick decision
I only wonder if the first goal scored by Labasa was disallowed. The match officials in the final deserve much credit for their quick decision in awarding the goal, as we do not have the luxury of goal-line technology. Pranil Ram Votualevu, Nadi
Armed forces
Mohammed Imraz Janif makes what he describes as his “neutral observation” that “the nation’s armed forces do not appear to be multiracial (FT 12/10)”. Well, I believe it just goes to confirm the saying the more things change, the more they remain the same! Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
Noble banner blue
It was the hallmark of the 50th anniversary, the flag that portrays Fiji’s uniqueness. Was it divine intervention that stopped the strange decision to remove it? Dan Urai Lautoka
