Letters to the Editor – October 23

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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at Man O’War Steps on October 16, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS

Welcome to Fiji

Regardless of the unpredictable Capital City weather, today we embrace and welcome the royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to our shores. Perhaps everyone in the city would want to get a glimpse of the royal couple even if it means manoeuvring through the crowd. The level of excitement will surely escalate within us over the next few days. Please enjoy responsibly with your family and friends be it at Albert Park, along USP Laucala campus or at the iconic Colo-i-Suva Park. Be courteous, considerate and show the authentic bula spirit in style. Have a great week and stay safe. SPENCER ROBINSON Suva

Clean-up time

The other night as I was travelling to Suva City, I came across our diligent council workers water blasting the pavements and making everything which the Duke and Duchess will pass look spotless and clean. Now not wanting to rain on anyone’s parade, but why is that whenever someone important comes to our country then we do this type of cleaning, I mean shouldn’t it be done all the time, isn’t that what we are professing on the world stage? Besides we don’t even celebrate his grandmother’s birthday any more, but hey what do I know, I’m just the common man who has to travel over potholes from the front of his house because no one important will come to visit. Lawrence Wara Suva

Royal visit

Thank you The Fiji Times on your headline comments on the royal visit. Prince Harry’s visit to Fiji marks a third generation visit with the queen and her son Prince Charles’ earlier visits. The last of the royal visits was Princess Anne — the daughter of the queen in 2006 and a year earlier in 2005 Prince Charles had also visited Fiji. After 12 years, another royal family member will visit our shores and Prince Harry being a strong advocate of environmental issues will no doubt strengthen our fight against climate change. As a small boy I used to sing in our previous anthem God save our queen and no doubt the royal family continues to remain a legacy in the history of Fiji. Let’s keep both flags flying and show the world the way Fiji is. Joka kece SHALWYN Prasad, Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva

Choices and leaders

Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows corporations to outsource jobs for cheaper labour when there is a national employment crisis. “Choose a leader who will invest in building bridges, not walls. Books, not weapons. Morality, not corruption. Intellectualism and wisdom, not ignorance. Stability, not fear and terror. Peace, not chaos. Love, not hate. Convergence, not segregation. Tolerance, not discrimination. Fairness, not hypocrisy. Substance, not superficiality. Character, not immaturity. Transparency, not secrecy. Justice, not lawlessness. Environmental improvement and preservation, not destruction. Truth, not lies.” — Suzy Kassem Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka

Politics of race and fear

I wish to thank Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane of Navua for his letter (FT 22/10). I also read a few earlier letters written by him in The Fiji Times. His views are very frank and straight forward, and I also know there are others in my area who are of the same views. According to the news that we follow every day, I believe six political parties are out in the field campaigning. Out of these, three are very active but a particular one of these three always talks about Indo-Fijians and iTaukei. Despite introducing a common identity ‘Fijian’, I believe their campaign is focused on race. They are always referring to the incidents of 1987 and 2000 only. This is creating fear among the people. Instead of attacking and criticising other political parties, there are so many issues to talk about. If you are short of ideas, please read Monday’s The Fiji Times (22/10). There are seven good suggestions given by the writer Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane. VIJAY MAHARAJ Navua

Store hygiene

My wife and I shopped at a prominent supermarket in Lautoka and were disgusted by the cockroaches crawling over goods on display. At the egg section, we noticed maggots on the trays. When we came to pay for our goods at the cashier, I told the cashier about the cockroaches. Just then two cockroaches climbed out of the drawers and I pointed to them and the young woman shrugged and said, “I know, we have complained about it but nothing is done.” I plead with the Lautoka City Council to please do an inspection and I may be reached at Kava Place via my mobile number 5163 (short code). I will take you there. Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka

Road humps

Last weekend I had the opportunity to drive around Viti Levu and visit most of the countryside and towns. Everywhere I could see road humps near a koro, schools and densely populated areas. I could not find any uniformity in the size or shape of the humps. Some humps were like freshly dug graves. My understanding to have road humps is to reduce the speed of the vehicles and not to damage them. The only road humps that were of international standards are at Tagaqe Village on the Coral Coast and Tamavua Village in Suva. Could the roads ministry review their road hump plans and build all the humps as per these two places. I am positive that the driving public will appreciate that. NARDEO MISHRA, Suva

Unrealistic solution

I believe the argument that Ro Filipe Tuisawau is using to promote his campaigns is unrealistic as reported in The Fiji Times 19/10 titled ‘Ro Filipe for death penalty’. In his words he said, “I will pursue death penalty for child rape and murder. Physical and chemical castration of rapist is a must. This must be immediately implemented. Rapists must be whipped every week.” I wonder whether Mr Tuisawau has a moral conscience to be able to say what he said, because from my personal point of view, it is beyond imagination that a Fijian would think to an extent like that especially when talking about chemical castration and weekly whipping. I would like to also remind him that strengthening legislation alone will not eradicate the problem, however, there is a need for a holistic approach to discuss and research the ‘status quo’ of society and ask well considered questions on why people are doing what they did and in this case rape. Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua

Interesting scenario

Sharif Shah’s letter (FT 22/10) is interesting. He says that there are some multi millionaires contesting the general election and he asks what for and if they don’t have enough to pay taxes. Mr Shah, I hope no person vying for a seat is thinking like that. That they are going there for the money. I feel that anyone standing for the election is doing so not for personal gain. You know why, because they will be at the mercy of the people. The people are the power that will determine their entry into Parliament. They will owe the people. They will have to forget about their pay. It should come in second. Their first thought should be how to make Fiji a better place. Some issues they will meet are wages, traffic jams, NCDs, potholes, agriculture, health services, increase in crime, police brutality etc. I hope no one — the multimillionaire nor the person with a modest amount of money — is standing in the election for the money. Mere Lagilagi Lovu, Lautoka

Drua time

Congratulations are in order for my mataqali Senirusi and team for an awesome performance on Saturday, and I must say the Fiji Airways Drua are proving their durability in coming again from behind to snatch victory and for the first time a home final. I have longed to see the majority of our Flying Fijians to be locally based so we could have more preparations and not use the November tours as a learning trip and to actually go and make a nuisance and create havoc in the rugby world. Well the seven players chosen will need to take it up two notches and prove my theory that we can breed champions in our own back yard. So big thanks to the bigwigs in the White House and good luck to the boys this Saturday. Toso Drua! Lawrence Wara Suva

Election time

It’s great to see SODELPA launching its election manifesto in style. I remember sometimes back the party leader Sitiveni Rabuka said that if he formed the next government he would lift the ban on Professor Brij Lal and his wife so they could travel freely to the country of their birth. Most of us are still in the dark about what is the reason behind this travel ban. I believe any party that manages to remove this ban will have a lot of followers. The election battle is getting really hot and it appears to me that the real tussle is among three major parties. I believe it will be very close. No landslide victory for any party like in 2014 election unless there is some sort of miracle towards the end of the campaign. VIJAY MAHARAJ Navua

New portfolio

Whoever wins in the forthcoming election, can Government consider creating a new portfolio to address the growing and overpowering termite menace here in Lautoka? Perhaps a Minister for Termites? I believe this is a far bigger concern than debating on the price of fat laden third grade lamb chops. Nishant Singh Lautoka

Rubbish collection

Wouldn’t it be effective to collect rubbish at night instead of daytime? Less traffic and we all wake up to a clean, healthy and beautiful environment. Asish Vinay Prasad Park Rd, Raiwasa, Suva

Politics and religion

Don’t mix religion into politics. Neither should politics be made religious. Religion is a matter between man and God. Politics is a matter between humans and their humanity. MANOJ LAL PATEL Drasa Ave, Lautoka

Retirement age

Reducing retirement age from 60 to 55, replacing CEOs with permanent secretaries, getting expatriates to take over some of the top government positions I believe are few of the policies that are adopted by our government as part of reforms in place to be in line with their vision and mission. Are those policies taking us backwards or are we adopting policies of the past to move us forward? Confusing, isn’t it? Pita Soroaqali Nadarivatu

Royal family fan

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the royal family and I’m quite keen for their royal highnesses to grace our shores. Australian taxpayers are paying about $1 million for the 10-day royal visit. I’m also keen to know how much this royal visit will cost Fijian taxpayers and what benefit would it bring them? Samuela Savu Farm Rd, Nakasi

Election campaign

Who is lobbying who? Interesting to know where campaign money for political parties are coming from? Which wealthy individuals, companies and corporations are supporting which parties? I believe such support was associated with past atrocities! Who is lobbying for who? It’ll help voters vote responsibly if we knew! Simon Hazelman Rava Estate, Savusavu

Minimum wage

Does the Reserve Bank of Fiji have a report on appropriate minimum wage guideline for Fiji? Dan Urai Lautoka

 

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