Letters to the Editor – Thursday, August 18, 2022

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The primary school students with the children’s book launched by education minister. Picture: RAMA

Lifelong reading

The Fiji Times editorial comment on the development of reading habits based on the Education Minister Premila Kumar’s comments (FT 15/8) that parents rarely take time to read to their children should be seriously addressed by all of us. The importance of reading in child development from an early stage matters more than exposing the little ones with mobile phones. The messages emphasised by the minister on the launching of 10 books on ocean, including climate change activities will help learners, teachers and parents to read and understand in simple languages, English, iTaukei and Hindi. While teachers are always with whatever reading programs in schools, parents have equally important roles to play in reading and listening to the children. It’s sad to see many of us glued to the “magic box”, most of the time and the children follow. The saying “seek knowledge from cradle to grave” seems to be outdated. In this modern world, it’s true we can’t move without modern technology but the fact remains we have to read and understand the mechanism of these devices. I started reading The Fiji Times from an early age in primary school to the pride of my grandmother who would listen to the news I translated in Hindi. As dieting and exercise is to the body, reading is to the brain of a developing child. Today is a reader, tomorrow is a leader. “Have you failed the English exam?” “Unpossible”! Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand

Nuclear war

Who will win a nuclear war? No one according to the experts. Because there’ll be little left to salvage. But the warmongering nations probably have a different delusional take thinking they’ll score pluck pickings after a conflict. So all the posturing and sabre rattling that’s going on is puffed up bullying and harassment where certain countries are of the mistaken belief their strong arm tactics will give them what they want. Sometimes bullies need a wake-up call. And sometimes even a stinging clout in the snout. Colin Deoki Australia

Unprinted receipts

I must admit that I agree with Kirti Patel of Lautoka on the issue she raised about the blank bus receipts (FT 17/08). My daughter travels to and from school by bus and uses the yellow e-transport card. Since the yellow card is topped up by my own hard-earned cash, I check the receipts on a daily basis. On many occasions, I had to glare at blank receipts. Seriously! I wonder who is at fault. Is it the bus drivers or the bus companies? May be both, as they must check the ink levels of the printers on a daily basis and the drivers should ensure that they have spare ink cartridges in case they run short of ink during the trips. I suppose that the LTA officers should also check the e-ticketing mechanism on the buses regularly and impose hefty fines on bus companies who fail to comply. Or are they only busy penalising the poor passengers who are unable to produce valid receipts for the voyage? DINESH KUMAR Ba

Coup leader to PM

It was not nice of NFP leader Professor Biman Prasad to remind everyone that PM Voreqe Bainimarama is “a leader who grabbed power at gunpoint in December 2006” (FT 15/8). That was over one and half decades ago. Since then the coup leader has successfully recast himself as a popular democratic leader. So much so that he is now held in high regard by leaders of western democracies and other democracies who bent over backwards to rub shoulders with him. The same is true for regional leaders, the international NGOs, and of course the climate change aristocracy. He is popular with many Fijians at home and in the diaspora who regard him as a “saviour” and a “messiah” who saved Fiji from disaster. Professor Biman is of course entitled to his opinion that Bainimarama and his right hand man Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum are themselves a disaster for Fiji given the (authoritarian) way they have run the country all these years and the enormous debt they sunk the country into and the plight of the ordinary people in the face of the high cost of living. Let’s all wait patiently and see what the next election result reveal. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia

Final speed hump

May I commend the FRA CEO for removing the final speed hump on Princes Rd at Tamavua Village. I came up Ragg Ave on Tuesday (16/8) at 4.45pm turning right and was (miraculously) able to find a gap in the traffic without any driver having to slow down or stop for me. I also noticed a camera, not sure whether it was a speed or red light adjacent to where the hump used to be. Though drivers were clearly still getting used to the absence of the hump and when they do traffic flow will be much better until drivers who have been avoiding it become aware of the new situation. Congratulations, sir. Well done. Mareko Vuli Wainibuku Rd, Nakasi

Warid’s statement

Liliana Warid a provisional candidate for The People’s Alliance made a controversial statement and Biman and Rabuka failed to condemn her outburst. Biman says that NFP is a multiracial party. That is not the point Biman, what we are asking is your opinion of Warid’s statement. Are you not going to condemn her Is this what your party
stands for? Her racial overtones has exposed her party’s fundamentally weak and indisciplined structure. Her leader boasts about his good leadership when in actual fact he couldn’t control and lead SODELPA which he left fragmented and in disarray. Now he has the gumption of praising himself as a good leader. True colours of The People’s Alliance party’s values and philosophies are slowly being exposed for us to see. Voters are being warned to make a wise, smart and a careful judgment when voting. If Lilian Warid had been a FijiFirst candidate she would have been shown the exit door by now. That is what good leadership is all about. TARUN TIKARAM Lami

Time to enjoy athletics!

After a lapse of two years, the Coca-Cola Games is set to ignite spirits in the Capital City. For consecutive years, the COVID-19 pandemic halted the vigour and enthusiasm which is usually associated with the Fiji Finals, but this year things look good. The organisers have given the thumbs up for the 2022 event and athletes have converged into the Capital City with the aim of winning a medal and taking home sweet memories. Our athletes from the West, North and Maritime Islands deserve a warm welcome to the heart of Fiji. Ex-scholars and the cheering squads are ready to cheer their hearts out. ACS and RKS are ready to defend their titles, but we should not count out giants — Suva Grammar, Natabua, Jasper, QVS, Saint Joseph’s and Marist Brothers and schools like Nakasi High and MGM who won their respective zonal meets. I’m praying for fine weather to prevail so that fans can enjoy the three-day meet. I wish our athletes and their team officials all the best. After two long years of wait, athletes are ready to compete. Thanks to the sports team, The Fiji Times did a wonderful build-up, heading to the Coca-Cola Games. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu

Safe measures

The MOH permanent secretary Dr James Fong urging community and workplace leaders to follow stringent COVID-safe measures should be taken as a serious concern. This concern has been made since the pandemic cases continue to increase indefinitely. We all look forward to live with good health safely by following the COVID protocols as Dr Fong always emphasises. Vaccinating, distancing and masking remain paramount to save ourselves and save others. Safety first. Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand

Work life balance

Presentations around the globe talk about work life balance. Contrary HR policies tells to report to work for nine hours a day lunch included. One hour plus minus is travelling time. Nine hours sleep time. Five out of 24 left. This is consumed by cooking, cleaning, children upbringings and all. My wife always says that she has to look after the big child as well within this left over time. Poor me. The mandatory annual leaves and sick leave hours weigh far too low when compared with working hours. Complete imbalanced! Salute to the organisations around the world who have adapted to modern technologies and have moved into the direction of work from home, flexible hours, day offs and so on. These are the ones who walk the talk. Balance means any thing that is equivalent on both sides. Either the world practises or they stop using the term work life balance. Ashis Kumar Ba

One standard

If the provisional candidate of PA is let go for her comments and views on “visitors” living in the country then it is only logical that the leader of the party must go as well for holding the same views, whether in the past or not. One standard should apply to all. If it is seen that differing standards are applied to people based on their position then I believe we all should know what to expect should this party form government. Jan Nissar NSW, Australia

Which is cheaper

Could the Government let everyone know what is cheaper to have, an administrator or a bunch of councillors to run a town or city? Sukha Singh Labasa

Raiwai brawl

So it takes the Prime Minister to tell the police to arrest and charge those involved in the Raiwai brawl. I am wondering what has been the police strategy all this while to address such nuisance. Where is the line minister? Ajai Kumar Nadi

Increase in allocation

Based on the cost of living trend, just wondering if anyone out there would suggest a gradual increase in the dollar per day allocation. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka

Fijiana winger

Has Fijiana 7s rugby coach Saiasi Fuli considered Fijiana Drua winger Vitalina Naikore for a place in his squad? She appears to have skills required for 7s rugby. Just saying. Emosi Balei Suva

Temporary status

Remove this lot and I believe you will get back town and city council elections. You may have more incomplete swimming pools, otherwise. Dan Urai Lautoka

Hilux text

It is a real pity Digicel users do not stand a chance to partake in this competition. Some retirees cannot afford dual sim cards or switch to Vodafone. Just thinking out loud. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi

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