Preparation for Happy Valley outing
With an injury cloud surrounding the likes of Jerry, Nasoko, Botitu, Tuimaba and Wise, I am positive that Baber will devise strategies to counter teams such as USA, NZ, Australia, England and Samoa who stand on our way to a record breaking 5-in-a-row wins at the Happy Valley.
The Marist 7s is sure to produce stars who could force their way into the national team.
We do not have shortage of 7s players and we must take the best to Hong Kong even if it means we have to take some new faces.
It’s now or never!
Toso Viti, toso!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Airport impasse continues
The events of December 2017 come to mind as the impasse between air traffic controllers (ATCs) and Fiji Airport’s management continued.
In 2017 the workers had the last laugh as the ruling was made in their favour and a huge applaud greeted them in Nadi.
The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations back then was honourable Jone Usamate.
Isa, I hope that the parties concerned will come to the talanoa table and put their differences aside and work for the betterment of Fiji.
After all, we have been calling for talanoa sessions and dialogue to combat the adversities arising out of climate change.
Why can’t we use the same talanoa principle to solve the impasse here at home?
Any clues?
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Too many taxis
There are far too many taxis in urban centres Fiji wide and it’s about time Government reduces the numbers.
The recent dispute in Lautoka not only confirms that we have far too many taxis but it also highlights how much of a nuisance taxis bring to our roads.
The multitudes of taxis have led to overcrowded taxi stands and dubious parking practices as drivers clamour for business.
Here in Savusavu Town taxis take up any available space throughout the town leaving private vehicles no space to park.
Time to reduce taxi traffic congestions and our sanity.
Simon Hazelman, Rava Estate, Savusavu
Taxi issue
We see yet again the lack of clear planning and forethought on changes put into place by authorities when the Fiji Taxi Association meeting in Lautoka was reportedly stopped (FT 22/03) because of clashes between members and new taxi licence operators.
The zoning issue should have been clearly set out before the issuance of hundreds of new permits overnight by the authority concerned.
Not to mention reducing the already saturated taxi market.
Authorities must learn to do their homework before implementing changes that affect the members of public.
We continue to see the negative impacts of changes implemented without exhausting consideration of details.
Remember the introduction of e-ticketing?
Emosi Balei, Suva
Taxi permits
In Lautoka, it seems to be OK for taxis to park in parking meter spaces.
You can toot your horn all day, they won’t give two hoots about you.
Maybe I got it wrong.
Taxi permits were made available to people based on income but if you look at some of the established proprietors, they are millionaires.
I don’t get it.
New permit getters are struggling to buy cars or to keep them in good condition, or even to sell their permits.
I don’t get it.
Donald Singh, Lautoka
Threatening picture
On page 5 of The Fiji Times (9/2), there was a picture of a couple clinging to each other partaking in a life-threatening activity to reach home.
There are many who have lost their lives not because of carelessness or from blatant ignorance of safety warnings but out of necessity.
All it needs is a slip or something flowing in water to hit the risk takers.
In a moment life can change, it can end.
For unlucky ones, it has.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Sevens selection
With the endless number of sevens rugby tournaments held across the country, how difficult is it to identify and select competent playmakers?
One looks forward to the Marist Sevens, this weekend.
More importantly, what will it take a player in the Marist Sevens to force his way into the national sevens team.
Let’s sit back, relax and enjoy rugby at its best while players try their best to impress the national sevens coach.
Floyd Robinson, Toorak, Suva
Bus company
A prominent bus company that services the Rewa St-Flagstaff corridor made its passengers wait for more than two hours yesterday morning.
Much to my bewilderment, some of their buses were neatly arranged in front of the tourist ship that was berthed at the Port of Suva, empty.
The driver who showed up was not in the least apologetic and seemed more intent on finding the right song to play.
My heart went out to the primary school student who was among us and fidgeted nervously while most probably thinking about how to address being late with her respective teacher.
Are we consistent in topping up our e-ticketing cards so we can be meted with such services?
How disappointing!
Talei Driso Nailuva Rd, Suva
Extra hours
The action by air traffic controllers has been declared by the minister as unlawful and illegal.
As I fail to recall when was the last legal strike in Fiji, I wonder if those workers who are not part of the strike will get paid for doing two or more people’s work.
This is not pay for extra hours.
It is two or more people’s wages.
They have pitched in to keep things in order and flowing.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Another name
Hopefully they would change the name to something more appropriate than having the Queen of Melbourne in Fiji.
Maybe there is some significance in the name but now I believe they should have a name that would blend in with its new environment.
Another great achievement by our shipping company for providing satisfaction to our maritime customers.
With a 350 passenger capacity, three times a week schedule and very reasonable fares, it should delight the people of Kadavu in their future travel.
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
Food for thought
The Christchurch massacre has given us food for thought.
We have been fully aware of these types of deadly attacks in other parts of the world.
Everyone has been caught off guard as no one had ever expected such a horrific incident to occur in the Oceania region.
It proves without reasonable doubt that extreme elements in society are spreading their wings.
Even countries such as Fiji should start to expect the unexpected.
With illicit drugs recently making headlines, this incident adds to the already dangerous problems we are encountering.
The Government should revisit its policy on border security arrangements.
Fiji has a vast ocean line.
The onus is on the Government to review and ensure that criminals and extremists are barred from entering Fiji.
From Fiji’s perspective, the most horrendous aspect is the injury to our own.
We don’t have the luxury as Julius Caesar who was warned about the ides of March.
As the condolences pour in from around the world, I feel the need for security upgrade and screening of foreign visitors.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Chaos in 7s games
Fiji has to win in Hong Kong and Singapore for a chance to lead the World Rugby 7s series.
I believe the FRU and coach must consider the inclusion of Frank Lomani, Nasilasila and Taliga in the absence of Nacuqu.
However, I would like our national coach Gareth Baber to clear the air for the supporters on the following:
a) Teri should not play against New Zealand and other physical teams. He may score a try but give away two or three.
b) Present players are not as accurate as Ravouvou at kick-off. So forget dropping the ball near the 10 metre mark and use other techniques like the one which was scored by Naduva and there are seven or eight other kick-off ways.
c) Only team Fiji will be penalised if the ball is contested in the air even if it is a fair challenge. Has the coach discussed this with the referees?
d) Usually we see Ben Ryan run straight to the referee to complain about unfair decisions made. When Nacuqu was tackled high following a forward pass, I believe even the touch judges stood watching like they saw nothing. Is this discrimination or colour bar?
e) Can the tone of Gareth Baber’s message at half time be more Fijian?
f) The two new players should be given more game time in pool games if Fiji is winning to give more rest for senior players. Why are they playing only when senior players are injured?
g) I believe penalties given against Fiji for high tackles are around the shoulder.
Please let rugby win on the field.
Please clear the air for the supporters on the above issues before the Hong Kong games.
Peni Turaga, Suva
Teaching vacancies?
IT has been revealed that there are about 50 teaching vacancies in the USP Faculty of Business and Economics alone, and they plan to go on recruitment drive in Australia and UK to fill these teaching positions.
While this information may be new in the public domain, stakeholders such as parents and students are well aware of this problem of teaching staff shortage at USP.
The key indicator of this staff shortage is when about all 100 and 200 level courses are offered on DFL (Distance and Flexible Learning), commonly known as online studies.
Even a student who lives 2km away from the university has no alternative but to do units on DFL or online studies.
I would like to thank the new vice-chancellor of the USP, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, for nipping the problem in the bud and trying to solve this problem.
In his first month in office, he ably identified areas of concern and teaching staff shortage is one main areas of concern at USP.
The core business of education is the classroom environment and every effort must be made to provide students with the best service at classroom level.
Industry people/employers over the past decades or so have been lamenting the mismatch of graduates against industry job expectation.
Many graduates coming to industries are not job ready and organisations need to spend more to have them tuned in to the expectation of the job market.
I, for one would blame this job mismatch on the number of units offered on DFL at tertiary institutions.
Ask graduates today and they will show you that most of their units completed at tertiary level were done through DFL.
In our time at USP more than 20-plus years ago, not a single unit was done on DFL.
Maybe student education is being compromised because of the cost-cutting and budgetary limitation.
The DFL mode of learning needs to be reviewed and it shouldn’t be used as the main point of university units deliveries.
DFL only best suits those who are very far away from the learning centre, such as those in the maritime region and vastly remote areas.
Every effort must be made that units at all levels of studies are offered on face-to-face mode.
If anything, tertiary institutes need to work on for the future, they should try and improve on the classroom management and this would include lesson preparation and research, classroom delivery and consultancy, and one-to-one coaching especially in technical units.
I salute current USP leadership for this initiative.
Ilaitia Bose, Suva
Special team
HOW will the current special administrators feel when the ministry finishes with its search for professional and qualified individuals to form the team of special administrators?
All their hard work, plans and developments.
It should stand for something.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Bula Boys face Mauritius
The national soccer team faces a daunting task as the Bula Boys face Mauritius for the first time at Churchill Park tomorrow.
Our boys beat New Caledonia on Monday night and despite the lack of preparation time, our boys managed three quality goals against a tough New Caledonian outfit.
Fans in the Central Division rallied behind the national team and I’m sure that the western fans will come out in huge numbers to cheer for the national team.
Furthermore, the presence of prolific Phoenix striker and “Babasiga Lion” Roy Krishna should boost the performance of the Bula Boys as we look forward to a good outing in the Pacific Games in Samoa.
To the boys, thank you for the win against New Caledonia.
Please give your best against Mauritius and be good ambassadors.
Please maintain your cool and play good soccer!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Trade practices
Three traders were recently fined $11,000 collectively for contravening provisions of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) Act 2010 (FT22/03).
FCCC are encouraging Fijians to report any unfair trade practices.
It would be advisable for FCCC to publish a toll free number for people to make reports.
It would also be advisable for FCCC officers to make regular thorough checks of traders.
If FCCC made a clean sweep through Savusavu Town for instance, I believe they would find a good number of traders practising unfair trading.
The fines for these illegal acts are rather small as well, that would hardly be a deterrent for unscrupulous traders!
I believe FCCC aren’t even scratching the surface of unfair trade practices!
Simon Hazelman, Rava Estate, Savusavu
High schools, colleges
I went to Shri Vivekananda High School (SVHS) in Nadi for my secondary school education.
“Secondary” school made sense as it came after “primary” school.
Then why is it also called a “high” school?
Then, I went to Madras Christian College for a four-year course to get a bachelor’s degree.
This is also called a Baccalaureate degree.
Baccalaureate is derived from medieval Latin meaning the degree of “bachelor” conferred by universities and colleges.
So why is it called a bachelor’s?
Perhaps “Baccalaureate” was too difficult to pronounce like the word “conscientious” as some of the ministers found out when they were sworn in last year.
But I digress.
When I came back after my four-year stint in Chennai, I taught at Cuvu Secondary School before migrating to the US.
When I moved back to Fiji in 2010, SVHS had become SV College and Cuvu Secondary School had become Cuvu College.
I asked people why the names had changed.
College definitely sounded fancy so I wondered if the teachers were called lecturers or professors.
No one gave me a satisfactory answer so I thought I will get it from the horse’s mouth — in this case, the Ministry of Education (I have a lingering question also — how did the term “horse’s mouth” originate but that is for another discussion).
The ministry has a standard “modus operandi” when I ask questions – ignore me.
So, I thought, I will do the research on my own — thank God for Google.
A four-year college or university offers a bachelor’s degree.
Programs that offer these degrees are called “undergraduate” schools.
A “university” is a group of schools for studies after secondary school.
At least one of these schools is a college where students receive a bachelor’s degree.
Secondary school refers to after elementary (primary) school.
Some elementary schools go from first grade to eighth grade, while others because of capacity, size, location etc, may only go first to sixth grades, then you may have a “junior high” (or middle school) that is sixth to seventh grades, before going to high school (secondary) school.
In the US the word “school” describes any place where people learn.
You can call a college a “school.”
You can even call a university a “school.”
You can use the word “school” for any English language institute, undergraduate or graduate program, or secondary (“high”) school.
University or college follows after secondary school.
A college in the USA is not a high school or secondary school.
College and university programs begin in the 13th year of school, when a student is 17 or 18 years old or older.
A two-year college offers an associate’s degree.
A four-year college or university offers a bachelor’s degree.
Programs that offer these degrees are called “undergraduate” schools.
Which brings me to my original question — why are schools in Fiji called colleges especially when I believe there has been a significant decline in the standard of education and in the quality and dedication of teachers.
I told my wife that I was dying with curiosity to get an answer from the ministry.
My wife is a very pragmatic woman and said perhaps they were waiting for me to die so I won’t be such a pain in the back.
I told her that I thought that referred to hemorrhoids.
She rolled her eyes and said, “Don’t you have to go to the office?” I said, “I do.” (two words men regret since they uttered them first in the church).
Then she gave me the “look” which, I am sure, most married men are familiar with and said, “Then why don’t you?”
So, with my tail between my legs, I proceeded meekly to my office.
I may not find the answer to my question but there is a chance that I shall inherit the Earth.
In the meantime, like Brutus, I pause for a reply – from the ministry.
Arvind Mani, Nadi
Schoolchildren plant trees
I commend the efforts of the northern schools for planting more than 4000 trees within three weeks.
The smiling faces of schoolchildren in Seaqaqa (FT 22/03) were evident that the kids enjoyed their time giving something back to mother nature.
While deforestation continues to be an issue, planting trees will, to some extent, protect the traditional forest cover and the biodiversity that it shelters.
We all know that forests play a vital role in keeping our surroundings healthy as Fiji faces imminent challenges from climate change so every effort must be made to plant trees and I’m glad that the Northern Division took the huge initiative.
I pay tribute to the various schoolchildren and their teachers, the Commissioner Northern and the Ministry of Forests officials in the North for taking the step to plant more trees!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Planting trees
It’s great that we are on the move with planting trees around the country.
Planting, however, is the easiest part of the whole process.
The maintenance of each plant to preserve its growth is what will determine the success of each tree growing to its full ability.
We need to ensure that the upkeep of each plant is carried out in order to make it really count.
Simon Hazelman, Rava Estate, Savusavu
Respect nature
I agree with every syllable of the statement by President Jioji Konrote (“Civilisation has consumed forest reserves, says Konrote” FT 23/3).
Ancient human civilisations (for example the Australian aborigines and the Amazon Indians) lived in harmony with nature.
They did not destroy that which was the source of their sustenance inter generationally.
They showed respect for the bounty of the forest, of the natural environment.
I believe what’s different with modern civilisation is capitalist greed which like the President noted takes no cognisance of environment, forest destruction — globally.
I believe it’s up to us to stand together to protect the forest, and the environment from the ravages of capitalist greed, in its various manifestations.
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Roadwork signs
There are many ongoing road projects along the Suva and Nausori corridor and for safety reasons, additional signs and traffic cones are placed at the sites to warn and guide motorist and the pedestrians.
Apart from the major works, there are maintenance works running simultaneously and in short durations.
The temporary signs are placed to warn the drivers and the pedestrians alike of the hazards ahead so precaution can be taken.
These are very useful information and have prevented a lot of injuries and accidents.
The trend now is that after the completion of the work in a particular area, the traffic signs are not collected.
This becomes a hazard itself and some of it can be found lying in the grass on the roadside.
Many of the signs on the metal frame flips over and may cause injuries or damage to the vehicles.
The traffic cones which have gone past their useful purpose of placement are crushed by the vehicles.
The road signs and other warning device are the assets of the organisation paid by the taxpayers which have a value but are discarded intentionally and recklessly.
Such neglect of the workers must be investigated with the view of initiating disciplinary proceeding.
There must be a monitoring system to track and tally the stock movement to avoid losing the assets.
The Fiji Roads Authority, instead of having safer roads, I believe has created many hazards with high risk factors.
Satish Nakched, Suva
True spirit of Holi
Members of the Velovelo Satsang Ramayan Mandali spread the spirit of Holi festival in the Sugar City.
The Fiji Times photographer Baljeet Singh caught up with the group (FT 22/03) and indeed the ray of colours portrayed beauty and glamour and showed that when different colours come together, they make the image bright.
Hindu schools around the country were closed and photos of school-based celebrations hit the social media.
It was a delight watching the various races coming together to play with powder and colours, which signified unity and togetherness.
After all, Holi signifies a new beginning and the end of a season and the triumph of good over evil.
I believe today and tomorrow our mandali will also have home-to-home visit singing chautals and sharing sweets, food and other savouries.
We are blessed to be living in a multiracial society and it is important that we preach unity, peace and oneness!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
It’s not too late
If I may begin, it is now after four years when we were struck by the Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Unfortunately, there were 44 lives taken away.
Soon after the cyclone, I went to Ba Town to get more information of the actual event that surrounded the death of this former column writer Osea Sivo Naisau.
He was also a victim of Winston.
On that very same day when I was walking in town, Sabina, my former workmate, was also in town with her husband and they spotted me in one of the nearby shops in town.
One day later Sabina visited her former work place and she brought along sweets, chocolate, milk and fruits and she related to her former workmates that she saw me in town.
As she left, we gave her our best wishes as she went back to the land of the long white clouds in Christchurch.
Barely a week ago, on 15/3/2019, we heard of that fatal shooting on mosques.
Sabina’s husband was ready for his usual religious ritual when his transport developed a mechanical problem and all is history.
I could not agree more than thank the supreme divine intervention for Sabina’s family.
It is not too late now for anyone irrespective of creed, colour, status or nationality even in our community of faith.
We can make a difference to show benevolent empathy in cash and kind to help the families of those 50 lives lost, who may need the assistance.
It is not too late as Fiji the way the world should be, is known as a nation for peaceful, caring and loving people.
Isireli Bolaniveimau, Lautoka
