RWC opener
THE first game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup – Japan vs Russia – is over.
I have been following rugby news from various online newspapers and Japan was tipped to have an easy run over Russia.
Sorry, it wasn’t to be like that, Russia came to play and play they did.
OK Japan won (30-10) but that didn’t reflect Russia’s efforts.
It was a tough encounter and listening to the commentators the Russians were running out of puff.
Anyway, good luck to Japan and to Russia – keep on truckin’.
Allen Lockington, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Professor Brij Lal
NOW that the PM has accepted forgiveness, can he do the same to Mr and Mrs Brij Lal so they can visit the country of their birth?
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Deal with the facts
THAT is what I expect from the members of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee.
Not their version of the facts.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Being neutral
OF all the things said relating to the alleged August 9 incident, I think the words of the Agriculture Minister and Parliamentary Privileges Committee member honourable Mahendra Reddy is icing on the cake.
It is his response to bringing in NFP workers before the committee.
His exact words: “I am saying I need an unbiased person, an independent person”.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Legal advice
IT is interesting that the executive is being requested by the Legislature (FT 20/09) to provide legal advice to one of its committees, in an issue where I believe the executive is directly involved and has an interest.
One would have thought that, in compliance with the Separation of Powers of the three arms in the governance of a State and their relative independence from each other, an independent legal counsel would have been sought to provide the necessary legal advice.
The legislature should in my humble view, have its own permanent legal counsel, as a member of its staff, to provide the necessary legal advice to the legislature, so as to avoid situations where conflict of interests may arise and to ensure its independence.
Edward Blakelock, Admiral Cir., Pacific Harbour
Road issue
THE headline (FT 21/09) said: “Speeding on new four lane a major concern for LTA.
The new four lane section of the Kings highway opened less than a month ago has quickly become a speeding hotspot for irresponsible and dangerous motorists who ignore the 50kph speed limit on the highway, says Land Transport Authority (LTA) CEO Samuel Simpson.
I’d like to share this experience we had when we lived in Mulomulo.
Four hundred metres of road in front of the Mulomulo kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, Satya’s shop and the police post was all gravel.
I had written many letters to have the place resealed, yes it had been tarsealed.
Together with the community our voice was heard and tarsealing was done.
Then speeding started.
Illegal humps were erected to slow traffic down.
The four lane road has solutions:
1. Put in road humps.
2. Put in speed cameras.
Nice tarsealed roads are good to travel on and speeding is what will happen and accidents will occur.
Don’t wait for a fatality and act, do it now.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Independent people
USING Dr Mahendra Reddy and privilege committee chairwoman Bartnagar’s logic that the credibility and independence of NFP witnesses in the alleged assault inquiry is questionable ( FT 21/09 ), is their own credibility and independence also questionable by virtue of their own political party affiliation?
Is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black?
Rajend Naidu, Sydney
Redundancy payment
MY heart goes out to people like Ram who was retired from FSC after 26 years of service and goes home with a mere $11,000 (FT 21/09).
Let us put this in perspective.
I am reliably informed that some of our current parliamentarians get much more than that only in per diems and allowances for a mere week’s travel on official business.
This is excluding the business travel and other ‘official costs’ such as internal travel, hospitality etc.
I am sure the ministers are entitled to much more.
There have also been various reports on the PM’s $3000 per day allowance I hope that our parliamentarians read this and let their conscience determine whether these entitlements for the different strata in our society is moral, ethical and sustainable.
Manish Chand, Suva