Ready for the Wallabies
Bookmakers have given the Flying Fijians little or virtually no chance against the star-studded Wallabies outfit, which boasts a fit and experienced squad and plenty of big names Fijian rugby fans have seen playing in the Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship. Names like Kurtley Beale, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, James O’Connor, Samu Kerevi, Christian Lealiifano, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Isi Naisarani, Michael Hooper, David Pocock, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Taniela Tupou, Sekope Kepu, Scott Sio and James Slipper are no strangers to Fijians who know the threat that these big names will pose at the Sapporo Dome on Saturday. The Wallabies are in good shape and they have had a good period of intense preparation in New Caledonia. The odds are stacked against us as well — we have never beaten Australia in the RWC although the last one in England was a close one. Therefore, I’m keeping a low-profile but will be hoping for an upset just as the Brave Blossoms did against the Springboks. Dad told me that nothing is impossible and if the boys can play to the plan and make their tackles count, the Fijian flair will definitely prove strong at Sapporo Dome. Tovolea mada boys — have faith in each other! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Sense of optimism
As the country awaits with abated breath the 2019 RWC in the Land of the Rising Sun, one can almost feel the sense of optimism as though we all know something special is about to happen. It’s the same feeling the country had when our gold medal team performed at the Rio Olympics. The feeling that whatever problems one is facing, it seems to disappear for the moment as the nation becomes one and pull on their team colours with the noble banner blue fluttering outside or held on to tightly inside as we await kick-off at the Sapporo Dome. So my final message to the boys, remember your countrymen back at home, for your action on the field gives them a sense of hope amidst all the despair and hectic schedules they are under, give them a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day and bring them joy in the midst of sorrow. The same can be said for those of us that have left our beautiful shores for greener pastures, we too are waiting with abated breath as the countdown begins. Toso Viti we are with you. Lawrence Wara Santa Rosa
Qantas activities
The Fiji Airways CEO has warned of the drastic effects of increased Qantas activities on Fiji’s tourism sector. I beg to differ! The Fijian tourism market needs more bodies out of Australia as the Australians have a lot of cheaper flight options to other holiday destinations such as Bali, Vanuatu, Hawaii to name a few. And the proposed increased activity of Qantas into Fiji would mean cheaper fares Increased bodies would mean increased demand which would lead to creation of more job opportunities for our people hence boosting our economy. Methinks the CEO doth protest too much because increased Qantas activity would be drastic not to Fiji’s tourism sector but rather to Fiji Airways itself as it loses its monopoly! Reapi Nayacakalou Nadi
Yaqona farmers
From what my relatives, who are yaqona farmers on Taveuni say, kava exporters/buyers come to their farm and pay half for so many yaqona plants and the rest to be paid when its ready for harvesting. The buyer secures the deal for the future and the time limit is usually six months to harvest. Sometimes the farmer needs the money and accepts the money the deal is done and papers are signed. Meanwhile, he carries on selling grog and life goes on. Amazing and true. However, we teach our children to be smart, here is one story. A small boy was looking at the red ripe tomatoes growing in the farmer’s garden. “I’ll give you 10 cents for that tomato,” said the boy pointing to a beautiful, large, ripe fruit hanging on the vine. “No,” said the farmer, “I get 20 cents for a tomato like that one.” The small boy pointed to a smaller green one, “Will you give that one to me for 10 cents?” “Yes,” replied the farmer, “I’ll give you that one for 10 cents.” “Okay,” said the lad, sealing the deal by putting the coins in the farmer’s hand, “I’ll pick it up in about a week.” Moral of the story, be like the small boy. Be smart. Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Waste to energy
It’s pleasing to note that our leaders are visiting other countries getting first-hand technical information on many issues affecting the world and our beautiful Fiji. The area that interests me is when one talks about turning waste to energy. This subject has been only talked about in recent past and little action have been taken to date by PICs. It’s high time that our leaders move and make decisions at the highest level to bring in concepts and mechanisms that will turn the waste at landfill sites in Fiji into energy. A lot of consultants and organisations are showing interest with feasible reports and recommendations but one lacks funding and technical capacity to invest into this venture. It’s now appropriate that our leaders consider this area with urgency as our beautiful Fiji is piling up with all sorts of waste with little done to turn into energy or other useful products through recycling Just praying… the faster the better! The environment nuisance is gone too far. Climate change is a reality! Let’s start the action and clean our beloved Fiji practising 3Rs with greater commitment. Lot of wastes are generated and we seek intervention. R K Singh Lautoka
Overzealous reporting
Why is it that we continue to read terrible things in the newspapers these days? It sure seems like journalists deliberately set out to hook us with sensational headlines that scream controversy and catastrophe. Our attention is drawn to stories by overzealous and clever headline reporting. I guess such reporting is what sells newspapers. No doubt that hard news is crucial to the credibility of any newspaper but I believe we need to be seeing more features such as entertainment, scenes, puzzles, comics and much more. Reporters and editors ought to find better ways to cover and present “terrible hard” news. It would be great if we can read subjects and issues that are news that we can use, news that relate to our quality of life as well as entertainment reports and features that readers can make part of their daily lives. Journalists need to motivate themselves to improve the quality of reporting especially in other categories of news besides “terrible hard” news to appeal to readers who just want more terrible hard-hitting news coverage. Overzealousness is becoming depressing! Simon Hazelman Rava Estate, Savusavu
Your journey
Last week I wrote about God’s mercy, love and compassion which has brought me to where I am today. This week I want to share with my fellow Fijians that your destiny lies in your hands and that God is only there to guide you and make the journey easier. A long time ago I saw this caption and have never forgotten it and I quote “if you are born poor, it is not your fault, but if you die poor that is your fault” unquote Bill Gates. So people your destiny is in your hands, look at the person who cannot walk to work and needs to be in a wheelchair but still makes the effort, or the one handed fisherman who defies all odds to provide for his family or the single mother who works tirelessly to make sure her child has a much better future than her, look around you and don’t hide behind the facade of illusion, that it’s not your problem. Stop the blame game and take action now, like I have always said, do the little things right, pick up your rubbish, be kind and courteous to one another, respect your elders and help the weak. Let’s take Fiji back to where it was once by doing our bit and leave the rest to God. Faith and action must work hand in hand for without the other there won’t be any balance. Come on Fiji, together we can. Lawrence Wara Santa Rosa
Full chairs
Kudos The Fiji Times and Wesley and your team. 150 years and counting. Keep up the decency, integrity and fairness in your dissemination of the news. Hopefully there are 150 more to go doing just that. Oh! A whole lot of full chairs. On my bookface I see. Cheers to you and your team. God speed. Manoj Lal Patel Drasa Ave, Lautoka
Two systems
Within Fiji’s current political framework, I think there has to be a re-consideration of two systems. The selection process of the House Speaker and the formation (members) of the parliamentary privileges committee. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Drua team
It has been said that the Drua team is on the verge of not making the playoffs and to get them there they need bonus wins in the remaining four games to qualify and with home games should be an advantage to the Drua team. Hosting Sydney at Churchill Park this Saturday will not only be a must win but with a bonus will be even better. Fans should be out in numbers to cheer on the Drua to get them going. Come on fans, get to Lautoka and cheer our team along. Go Fiji, go. Tomasi Boginiso Nasinu
From Tavua
It may seem trivial but I get annoyed when Tavua is referred to as “Goldminers”. Tavua is a thriving town in its own right and deserves recognition as such. The aptly named gold town of Vatukoula is just that, it certainly is not thriving at the moment but having worked there for 25 years or so, I hope it soon comes good again, from what I can pick up things seem to be moving in the right direction. A lot of Chinese cash seems to be going in. One thing that does please me is that many people from the mine, who I “trained up” over the years have found excellent jobs at the Ba beach sands operation. Allan Loosley Tavua
Big boys
Now the big boys have come to play, while we wave little water pistols at them. Qantas toh Qantas hai. Rick Eyre Lautoka
Relocation issue
Well said Janif, we have so many who don’t have proper places to live and we want to bring in the poor Tuvaluans. And to what, they gonna come and add to the problems we have? Some of our people at the top have gone over the top, or are they just making these kinda statements to get funding? Allen Lockington Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
