Derelict vessels
GREAT pictures and exposure of the truth in The Fiji Times pages 31 and 32 on February 13, relevant to the two derelicts at the Vitogo Bay in Lautoka, the most annoying one is the Gotta-Go-Fiji cruise ship that has been on the reef close to waterfront and straight in front of the famous Lautoka water hole South Seas Club for the past 10 years.
It is reassuring indeed to read of the final tender to remove this eyesore from the reef which was awarded to the Dive Centre Fiji Company by the Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd, the ship has been illegally on the reef for many years and who is going to pay for the damage sustained by the reef ecosystem.
The FPCL with the Ministry of Fisheries and the Environment Department must assess the damage and compensate the resource owners of the tikina Vitogo because anything irresponsible comes at a price.
The notion of blaming nature or the hurricane is not to be an issue as it is the duty of care by vessel owners to ensure their ships are anchored properly and secured inside those Vitogo Bay mangroves which other shipowners do when there is an impending cyclone.
This particular ship did not land on that waterfront reef by accident I believe, it was anchored in front of Bekana Island on the channel when that hurricane came past and dragged it across to where it is now.
I would like to ask the honourable Semi Koroilavesau to please intervene with the assistance of the Minister for Waterways, Environment, Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development Dr Reddy.
I believe that Dive Centre Fiji will need to submit a salvage plan to FPCL to determine the methodology of the ships removal which must exercise extreme care so as not to further damage the reef.
What happens to the ship after removal?
I would like to ask that it be sold and proceeds go to the tikina Vitogo resource owners committee to compensate them for damage sustained during its irresponsible tenure on their qoliqoli.
The same must be done and apply for the sunken container ship in front of the Suva Harbour.
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Namaka, Nadi
Soccer in scorching heat
I DROVE past a primary school in Raiwaqa mid morning on Tuesday and saw primary school students playing soccer under the scorching sun while a teacher was monitoring from the comfort of the shade.
I reckon, with common sense, that is, the MOE should strictly ensure that sports for all schools should be scheduled in the afternoons.
I don’t think, again with common sense, it would be too difficult a task to figure out the reasoning behind my reckoning?
Otherwise, ask that man at Kava Place.
Anthony Sahai, Suva
Planned power shutdown
NEARLY every day an ad appears in the papers for planned power shutdown.
I wonder is it for maintenance or rationing of power.
For sure EFL is facing problem here in Savusavu.
No consistency at all.
Stop fooling us please as this shutdown for so-called maintenance is going on for some time now.
Stop it now.
A. Shariff Shah, Savusavu
Healthy food and beverages
I BELIEVE it is about time the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, school management, school headteachers and principals, initiate and support a healthy school canteen strategy to increase our children’s access to healthy food and beverages.
The strategy needs to promote all school canteens to support the healthy growth and development of our children with guidelines to outline that only healthy food and drinks are to be sold at all school canteens.
Hawkers on the outskirts of school boundaries will have to comply as well.
Here in Savusavu people have gone as far as setting up tables at school bus stops and along school boundaries, selling everything unhealthy.
I believe the NCD epidemic we are currently facing stems from such unhealthy outlets from which our children are learning unhealthy habits at a very young age.
We are fighting a losing battle teaching our children at home what is and is not healthy as our very education system, with whom we rely on to educate our children, don’t really care about their health and well-being.
The mere fact that our schools allow these unhealthy food and beverages to be sold to our children in school canteens says a lot about our education system, our teachers and our school managements.
Baffling indeed!
Simon Hazelman, Rava Estate, Savusavu
Next tough battle
OUR national 7s team looked in high spirits and the boys were full of smiles as Gareth Baber started preparations for the third leg.
It was also a delight to see our 7s winger Tuimaba and playmaker Nacuqu take part in the training session and the inclusion of experienced Police gasman Rusiate Matai just adds depth to speed.
Selection as usual for 13 spots to Las Vegas and Vancouver will be a headache and trust me, Baber and his managerial team will need everyone’s support to keep him going.
Four points shy off a top spot, our boys cannot afford playing any more catch up rugby and must aim for maximum points in the third leg.
It is my hope that the errors made in Sydney (especially on the field discipline) will be rectified and improvements will be seen in USA and Vancouver.
After all, our 7s team will be spurred by a huge support in the third leg and our boys will be defending the Vancouver 7s title.
We successfully defended the Hamilton 7s title but only time will tell if our heroes can put up a huge show and retain the Vancouver 7s title.
National 7s captain and the off-load master Kalione Nasoko has called on the fans to have faith in the team and I can assure Nasoko that we have all the faith in our 7s team to deliver the “bullet shot” and win Baber’s first WRSS title.
Finally, the tough battle starts in Las Vegas where Fiji will play Scotland, Wales and Australia.
Oh March, please come quick as I’m missing the 7s action.
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
With love
WHAT difference did Valentine’s Day make?
Whatever one’s view, it can be said that this was only as good as ones imagination and how much one could afford to splash the other day.
For others love goes beyond just a single day, single kiss and lasts every day.
Their love is like dates.
The older it becomes, the sweeter is gets.
After all, life was meant to be enjoyed and with love it gets even more meaningful.
Floyd Robinson, Toorak, Suva
Lawyer fees
EVERY now and then a batch of new lawyers graduate in Fiji but the lawyer fees keeps getting higher and higher.
All the best to all the new graduates.
Sukha Singh, Labasa
Sleepless nights
IT begins as power ebbs away and reality sinks in.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Amazing fact
EVEN in this fast-growing and digitalised world, it is amazing to see that we still live in a system where not negotiable other banks cheques still have time frame of seven working days to be cleared into a account.
Special answers that comes with costs are besides the point.
Ashis Kumar, Ba
Rape issue
ANGER and confusion over rape.
What’s new?
It’s been going on for years.
Answer: to start with, get some proven researchers and do some solid research.
Where’s USP and the social scientists?
Christopher Griffin, Perth $
$300m cost
YOUR parliament reports (FT 14/02) quoting the Minister of Education as saying that the cost of replacing the two QVS dormitories would cost another $300 million is I believe unrealistic.
Something is definitely wrong somewhere.
Taniela Senikuta, Sauva Settlement
Bus company
IF the Government decides to run it’s own bus company, we can expect travelling to become cheaper and transportation services to improve.
However, the cheaper and efficient services will further increase cost of living.
You know what I mean.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Thank you
THANK you Fiji Roads Authority, the streetlights on Knollys St came back on last Monday and Tuesday.
Much appreciated.
Korina Waibuta, Knollys St, Suva
Passing of a friend
I WAS saddened to read in The Fiji Times of the passing of my good friend Lemeki.
He was a quarantine officer and we worked at the Nadi International Airport.
One Saturday many years ago, Max, as we fondly called him was also on duty for the then quarantine department.
A flight had landed from LA and as we (Max and I ) did our surveillance rounds among the 400 or so passengers, we heard the call of a young woman.
“Please help, my dad has collapsed.”
Max immediately ran to the chap and checked the man’s pulse and gave him CPR.
He didn’t hesitate, he just did what was necessary.
In my Customs squad there were six of us and they will vouch for what I am taking about.
Max called out to the people if there was a doctor, there was none.
We called the Nadi Hospital.
Max gave the man mouth to mouth resuscitation and pumped the man’s chest until others came to assist.
The ATS staff members took his daughter aside and comforted her.
Meanwhile, security closed the exit.
Max insisted that he take over and once again he gave the man mouth to mouth resuscitation.
Our team took over the clearance of passengers, asked security to open the doors.
Max carried on until doctors from Nadi Hospital arrived, checked the man’s pulse and told him that the man had passed on.
Isa Max, I remember that day well and I know you are in God’s hands looking down on us.
When the doctors pulled the man away, Max stood up and went to the daughter, shed tears with her and said, “I did what I could.”
Ni sa moce Naita.
I will say a prayer for you and that moment will remain in my heart until I meet you on the other side.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Loud music
BEING present during the induction of prefects of Nasinu Gospel School, I was surprised to hear the loud music from one of the stores opposite the road and the staff members of the school seemed to be easy with the sound.
It was very disturbing especially with an important event taking place.
My plea to the management of this well-known chain of stores is to please respect the children and could the sound be controlled so it does not affect the children in any way.
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
Parliament delight
IT’S always a delight to see the Opposition and government MPs having some light discussion during breaks with a smile on their faces.
Adding to this delight is the fair reporting by The Fiji Times which does not undermine the efforts of the Opposition MPs.
Furthermore, the manner in which the new Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, conducted the first week of Parliament was a delight and finally the picture of our MPs with the Speaker seated beside our PM and the Opposition leader was even more delightful.
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
MPs on Facebook
LIKE many Fijians, we tune in to every Parliament sitting to hear our members of Parliament debate and explain issues that affect us all.
Yesterday, I found it distasteful that members of Parliament were on Facebook (as you can literally see the Facebook templates by the direction of the camera), and they did this during the most sensitive of times.
At one moment, when the Minister of Waterways was describing what they were doing to help the people of Navua deal with floods, three MPs behind him started to show each other pictures on their phones and to make it worse, they started laughing.
I’m sure the people of Navua who have lost family members and property to floods wouldn’t appreciate their loss being taken so lightly by members of Parliament.
I believe it’s time that we ban MPs from using their phones in Parliament.
Taxpayers pay them to take our issues seriously, they are not paid by Facebook or Viber to check their phones in Parliament.
Peter Waqavonovono, Suva
Boxing shame
IS it highly questionable that now the Boxing Commission of Fiji has come out explaining that the canvas used last Saturday was not of the desired material.
Where were they before the event?
Who was scrutinising the event which includes the use of materials and equipment?
There were other fights before the main event and why was the main bout brought to a premature end?
Aren’t the public significant?
The boxers had prepared well and hard enough to put up a good fight Fiji needed in this sport but to be disturbed by sleeping heads.
In fact if the canvas was not of the right quality and material, all fights should have been declared no-contest.
But no fight should have gone on at all if the inspection was done with a genuine compliant mode.
This is a crime and must be investigated well enough.
The public needs answers.
Remember that the boxing commission is nothing without the boxers, promoters and the public.
I do not think that the money that was spent on getting the new boxing ring is highly questionable.
Just imagine we have a new ring but unusable.
What a joke.
Remove all the executives of this so-called commission and let the boxers take charge of their future with experts who have the time and are dedicated to this sport which is my favourite.
Making boxers fight without boxing footwear is a joke never to be shared with the outside world of boxing.
I believe we have become a laughing stock.
Fiji Sports Commission, please wake up.
Our reputation is at stake under the current administrators of boxing.
Shame, shame, shame.
Dhirendra Prasad, Lautoka
Fans lose out
THE boxing stoppage is nothing new in Fiji as another fight was stopped because of slippery floor.
The promoters quickly blame the weather for the stoppage.
Where on Earth do you put a tarpaulin as a floor for a boxing match.
They are meant to keep water from getting through and for this instance, the water stayed on the surface and this made it slippery.
What was the promoter thinking about?
The poor spectators had to go home unhappy and unsatisfied.
I believe this is not the first time that a boxing program was stopped because of the lack of proper organisation and in return the fans are the biggest losers.
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
Rising Fijian star
MARK the name Ilikena Vudogo as he makes his presence felt in rugby league.
Rising star Ilikena Vudogo has set high standards and surely our loss is Brisbane Broncos’s gain.
Just like Ratu Derenalagi and Botitu, Ilikena was part of the Fiji U20 side that won the World Rugby under-20 Trophy Championship and had he not been part of the Broncos outfit, he would have made headlines with our 7s team as he was part of the extended training squad.
Vudogo has been earmarked as rugby league’s next Semi Radradra and I can’t wait to see another Fijian making waves as a rugby league star.
My best wishes to Ilikena and I hope to see our young sensation donning the national jumper in the near future.
Tovolea mada Ili!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Stars on show
SUPER Rugby started this week.
It will be a host of Fijian rugby players on show.
Dubbed as the best competition in the sports of rugby union, Super Rugby has grown form strength to strength.
Increase in fan base, popularity and number of teams is a strong indicator of this.
Though strong lobbying from Pacific Island groups to have a franchise team has not come to fruition but this competition has remained as one of the most liked sports in Fiji.
Many Fijian rugby players have made a name from this competition and went on to become legends.
The more Fijian players get to play in this competition, the better for us.
The positive part is with 2019 the world cup year, McKee and the team have good pool of players to choose from.
Pranil Ram, Votualevu, Nadi
Supply and demand
RECENT reports about the uprooting of more than 2000 plants alleged to be marijuana are a cause for concern.
While most reports focus on the illegal drug and peddlers, let’s not forget the number of users.
One can infer that there are more than 2000 people who consume illegal drugs.
It’s only just February and there may be many more secret farms in isolated areas.
Sad indeed, a worrying sign for parents and guardians.
Let alone the cases of methamphetamine and cocaine busts by authorities in 2018.
In any business whether legal or illegal, there is a fundamental principle of supply and demand.
Floyd Robinson, Toorak, Suva
Marijuana raids
MORE than 2000 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $3.5 million was uprooted by police from farms in Kadavu last weekend (FT 11/02).
All the plants were loaded on a vessel destined for Suva for analysis.
Why are the police transporting all the plants to Suva when just one will do to analyse?
Another interesting factor is that raids seem to coincide with the maturity of the plants?
If we are dead serious about eradicating marijuana then I believe plants need to be destroyed on site the moment it is uprooted.
This operation Sasamaki sure smells fishy!
Simon Hazelman, Savusavu
48-hour period
AS per the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Fiji Roads Authority tries to address complaints within 48 hours.
These complaints relate to road conditions, wharf and jetties.
Repairing these massive infrastructure is not child’s play.
It takes time.
Just take a look at the road conditions around Fiji.
So many complaints.
After road repairs, the first downpour takes it back to its previous state.
In 48 hours, forget it.
Unrealistic.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
The ‘My’ culture
ALLOW me to further comment on the “quotes of the day” by the Infrastructure Minister Jone Usamate as highlighted in the FT 13/02.
The quote is this, “When I go around the country, every village, every community is always asking for road humps, my road hump, my road hump, my road, my road, my road, my jetty, my jetty, my jetty. This is a government that looks after all the people of this country.”
Cannot really blame the public for the language, because we hardly hear the people’s government, but “my government, my government, or the Bainimarama government, the Bainimarama government”.
No wonder the “my” culture is popular.
Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane, Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Be careful what you pray for
BE careful what you pray for because God may just give it to you.
I pray daily for our parliamentarians and my one prayer is this — “Lord give them the strength and courage to rise above petty party politics and to do right for the people”.
Reading The Fiji Times on Tuesday, I was taken back by the split in the Opposition vote for the Speaker.
NFP decided to use their freedom of expression and vote for the Speaker.
Aha, I thought, this is not good at all.
The Opposition should show solidarity.
In the stillness that followed a question reverberated to me, isn’t this what you prayed for?
Yes, but … I retorted.
God definitely has a sense of humour and I take my hat off to Mr Rabuka for his wisdom in accepting NFP’s action.
Korina Waibuta, Knollys St, Suva
Troublesome reality
ADMITTEDLY, for all the good reasons, and without doubt, some not-so-good reasons, Fiji’s growth, in leaps and bounds, in the field of mass communication, both 3G and 4G, has brought along its huge social ills.
Newer generation technologies do have an admissible downside.
Smartphones are readily available.
Almost every single household has no less than two mobile phones.
It must be recognised that the accessibility of porn material is scary and troublesome.
There are huge negatives Fiji strives to contend with.
Porn sites are so readily available to all citizens, of all ages, cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs.
This is clearly evident, beyond all shadow of reasonable doubt.
I believe children, parents, grandparents and religious leaders have sadly fallen victims and become perpetrators.
Fiji’s frightening national statistics on rape and sexual abuse prove all our authorities have a fight on their hands.
This is really troublesome.
True woes on a huge scale.
Increasing numbers of members of our society are definitely too gullible for shamefully wrong reasons.
I believe longer prison terms do not serve as an adequate deterrent.
A wholesale waste of valuable taxpayers’ funds and taxes, I believe.
Monies that could have been well used for the poor, needy, sick, ageing and the hospices.
Respectfully, here’s a quotable quote: “Monkey see, monkey do”.
Am I wrong?
Tonnie Chang, Nadi
Under one umbrella
WORKERS and our trade union leaders must be congratulated as FTUC and FICTU decided to merge and come under one umbrella.
Hats off to our trade unionists for deciding to come to the talanoa table to join hands to fight for workers’ rights in Fiji and strengthen the trade union movement in the country!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Coastal fisheries
MEDIA liaison officer for the Ministry of Fisheries Kuini Waqasavou’s reply to my letter on the above subject is much appreciated (FT 07/02).
While I note the steps the Ministry of Fisheries is taking towards the management of our oceans and its resources, I still believe that much more needs to be done to ensure people comply with current regulations.
I live on the southern coast of Savusavu on Vanua Levu and like many families and villagers here, we’ve always enjoyed fishing in our inner reefs to catch enough just for a meal or two.
My family has been doing it for over a century now.
The influx of people from other parts of Fiji into Savusavu over the past two to three decades has brought about inconsiderate and unethical behaviour that has literally ravaged our inner reefs of everything.
Nama, lumi, senikavere, dairo, sici, vivili, qari, motodi, kaikoso, cawaki, vecu, vasua, ega, dri, tadruku, urau, vabavaba, kabatia, nuqa, kanace, sabutu, dokonivudi, and many other seafood that were in abundance have all depleted!
Yesterday, while on my way into town, I passed two groups of people carrying long gill nets, off to do more damage!
Spearfishing is a nightly ritual along our coastline.
From where I live, I see dive torches on just about every night.
It’s free for all to do as much damage as they want without a worry in the world!
The banning of underwater breathing apparatus and the annual ban of kawakawa and donu during the breeding season, while it is great, is far from enough to tackle this losing battle we are facing along our coastline.
How many fisheries officers are based in Savusavu?
Why aren’t they making regular checks along our coastline?
I’m not sure what the deal is regarding gill nets and night spearfishing, but these two forms of fishing ought to be banned as well.
What are the current policies with coastal fisheries and what mobile and landline numbers should we call to report anything illegal?
Simon Hazelman, Rava Estate, Savusavu
