Letters to the Editor – Sunday, November 28, 2022

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Letters to the Editor – Sunday, November 28, 2022

Thee best ever

THERE was only one man many came to see when Portugal – the 2016 European champions – played Ghana in their opening World Cup fixture in Doha, Qatar.

And when he duly delivered with a crisp penalty in the second half, the world witnessed history and another record as the 37-year-old Ronaldo became the first man to score at five different FIFA World Cups as a 3-2 victory over Ghana gave the 2016 European champions the perfect start to this tournament.

After all the off-field issues of recent weeks that have clouded his build-up to the biggest sports tournament in the world, Ronaldo summed it perfectly well when he said, “It was a week that finishes the chapter, it’s closed. We won and I could help the team – the rest does not matter.”

His fifth World Cup may be a beautiful moment already for Cristiano Ronaldo and he has put a marker down very early in the tournament.

We have a spectacle ahead of us in Qatar 2022, and fans are already asking, what else is there for CR7 to chase?

SAMU RAILOA, Nadi

Noticing need for change

SOME people find it hard to notice the need for change.

A university teacher in Sydney once told me some of her international students in class did not change their clothes regularly and they looked dirty and even smelled bad.

But they apparently did not notice that.

To not offend her students she engaged a culturally appropriate consultant to give them a pep talk.

It helped bring about the much needed change.

RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia

Election campaign

SOME ministers are now pleading to voters before election, I believe after the election these same ministers will be dictating the same voters and telling the voters how to do things.

It is the same old thing every four years.

First they plead then they dictate.

Some voters are smart now.

GEOFFREY CHAND, Lautoka

Economic recovery

ALMOST every day we see political parties, big or small, out into villages and settlements trying to sell their party policies and convince eligible voters for their support.

Bigger rallies are organised where rich political parties provide free transport and distribute items such as ball pens, T-shirts, sulu etc.

In few cases free lunch were given.

At one stage political parties were told not to distribute such items example soccer or rugby balls or even netball nets which could be seen as vote buying and is illegal.

At times I wonder if these rules apply to all parties.

I believe at few rallies our PM Bainimarama declared that his FijiFirst party is the only party that has solid plans for economy recovery.

The other parties do not have any plans, policies or proven record on this issue.

But I heard Professor Biman Prasad, who is a qualified economist, telling his audiences that once they are in government, they have solid plans to deliver.

According to him the current Government has no control on wastage and approx $500 million is wasted annually.

One of the first things they’ll do is to cut down the ministerial salary by one-third.

They would stop hiring government vehicles from bigger firms and reduce the number as well.

All such announcements received huge applause from the audience.

There are other plans to increase sugar and agriculture produce.

I believe a change of government may give us better results.

Perhaps the other thing I may add here is that under the new government if nothing or very little is delivered, than the power for another change will be back with voters.

VIJAY MAHARAJ, Sydney, Australia

Investor confidence

YOUR story under “Your Business” (FT 26/11) alluding to the opening of another restaurant by Mr and Ms Virendra Chand certainly shows where there is a will, there is a way.

It shows that when the bureaucracy is gotten rid of and assistance is provided at every step, investor confidence builds up.

Under the current Government we have seen many local and overseas investors putting their money on native land.

This is because the investors are no longer pestered nor threatened by individuals as everything is done professionally where the investor is happy and the landowners content with what they receive in terms of rental.

I personally believe that this is the best thing that this Government has done – all land dealings to be documented with proper lease terms and conditions that both parties have to adhere to.

In any case, no entrepreneur would like to invest when there is insecurity.

ARUN PRASAD, Dilkusha, Nausori

Trade unions vital

THE People’s Alliance deputy leader hits the nail on the head (FT/26/11).

All workers should know which political party they should vote for come December 14.

DAN URAI, Lautoka

Soccer status

WILL the status of champion sides at the Soccer World Cup change drastically this time around?

Well, looking at Argentina losing out to Saudi Arabia and Japan defeating Germany, one can only guess which teams will qualify for the quarter finals.

All in all, it’s only the beginning but it’s getting more exciting.

Go Japan, go.

FLOYD ROBINSON, Nasese, Suva

Issue of nepotism

IS it possible to rid our society of nepotism?

While looking after the interests of close family and friends can be seen sometimes as a thoughtful and caring gesture, it’s still walking a very fine line between corruption and compassion.

When those in sensitive government positions do this, then there can be far-reaching consequences and screams of favouritism.

Nepotism can have a corrosive effect on society especially when those in powerful leadership positions use their influence to make room for friends and family with jobs that might otherwise have been given to more qualified professionals.

It becomes an ethical issue where the very fragile fabric of trust is ripped to shreds.

COLIN DEOKI, Australia

Election exposure

IF only elections are held every year, the public will have more issues of interest known faster.

The stories will be more fresh and debate will be healthier.

I rest my case now.

ROUHIT KARAN SINGH, Lautoka

PM’s salary

THE new Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, 75, keeps his election promise not to accept a salary (The Southeast Asian Times 26/11/22).

Hope we can have a PM like that in Fiji someday.

RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia

Cattle farming

ACCORDING to the article referred to in The Fiji Times on 18/11/22, it was believed in 1985 that “cattle farming was introduced to Fiji by Christian missionaries in the early 1830s, during the colonial period” and that “at that time, cattle were only owned by early missionaries and by the European estate owners”.

There are a number of inaccuracies here.

First, the colonial period began in 1874, long after the early 1830s.

Second, at that time there were no European estate owners, and likewise no Christian missionaries except for the three Tahitians on Oneata, who had no cattle.

However it is true that cattle were first introduced in the early 1830s, and we now have a detailed account thanks to the journal of the American Captain John H Eagleston, preserved in the Peabody and Essex Museum, Salem, Massechussets.

Briefly, Captain Eagleston was a trader who visited Fiji a number of times and became friendly with some chiefs of eastern Fiji, in particular Ro Cokanauto of Rewa.

In June 1834, he invited this chief and four of his retinue to accompany him to Tahiti, where they were entertained by Queen Pomare.

Just before they left, the Captain bought six calves as presents for his friends in Fiji.

On their return, two were formally presented to Ro Cokanauto on August 24 as the ship was anchored off Nukulau, then taken to Rewa.

Although not recorded in the diary, it is probable that two more were given to Tanoa, the Vunivalu of Bau, or his young son Seru Cakobau, and the last two were presented to Roqiqi the Tui Macuata at Vunirara, his residence at the time.

There they flourished and after a few years Roqiqi held a solevu so his people could come and admire, and presumably taste, this novelty.

This gathering is preserved in oral tradition as the solevu ni bulumakau mai Vunirara.

PAUL GERAGHTY, USP, Suva

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