Letters to the Editor – Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Listen to this article:

Family members and friends of Suliasi Vunivalu celebrate the Melbourne Storm win at Bagasau, Toorak in Suva yesterday. Picture: JONA KONATACI

Storm crowned NRL champion
The Melbourne Storm beat the Penrith Panthers 26-20 in the dramatic NRL grand finale at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium. The Storm held off the surging Panthers to claim their fourth NRL premiership. I watched the first half and I was impressed with the way the Storm took charge of the match but I commend the Panthers for coming back strongly in the second spell. The Storm led 22-0 at half-time, blowing the Panthers away on the scoreboard despite both sides appearing relatively evenly matched. The sensational Storm powered to an early lead and any question of a late flurry by the Panthers was contained by the Storm which battled the Panthers in the decider having been the two best teams all year, finishing second and first respectively and all eyes were on Storm captain Cameron Smith as he played a peerless 430 matches across 19 seasons. Upon the conclusion of the final, the Storm had the last laugh but trust me, Panthers are going to come back strong next season. A big shout out to the Storm fans here at home, especially the loved ones of Tui and Suli. Cheers! As I conclude, I wish my role model and my father Ram Lingam many happy returns on his big day! Happy birthday, Mr Lingam Sr!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu

Spare tyre
It is amazing that some cars (brand new) now come in the market with the oddsized spare tyre. My car tyres are of the size 185/55/R15 and the spare in the boot is 175/65/R14. The R stands for Radial (in lieu of the old conventional of the days), the 15 and/or 14 stands for the rim diameter in inches. In the good old days, all the five would be of the same size, so if you change a flat with the spare, you were all the time on even footing. The modern ones these days have come up with new technology I guess, so in my case I replace a 15-inch tyre with a 14 inch. It sounds crazy; if it works well, why not have five different sized tyres: or better still, all five of the same size? Mathematically speaking, the same sized tyres would travel the same distance, be it miles or kilometres as against staggered distances. I and many others will for a long time ponder as to why things like this have come into place.
MOSES FONG Suva

Discipline issue
A few teachers and people at large were quickly disciplined or charged because of certain Facebook posts. Discipline was swift. A civil servant who has been identified as a teacher has been posting nasty things about people on Facebook, and it seems the disciplinary committee is riding a snail.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON Kava Place, Lautoka

Security and safety
Following a daring broad daylight attempted foiled robbery around 10.30am Sunday, October 25 at a neighbour’s home in Mountainview, Martintar, Nadi, it is my humble civic duty, as a retiree, kai Nadi, to alert all residents accordingly. Please do not be complacent with your personal safety and security, at all times. Protect your homes and families 24/7. These are tough economically challenging times. Some citizens couldn’t care less. They will beg, steal or borrow to put food on their family tables. Many children go hungry. Some irresponsible menfolk will stop at nothing. The peace and tranquillity of Sunday was broken as we witnessed “burglar/robber” jump high fence/gate and escape for his dear life as homeowner chased after him. Lucky escape for the male, aged around late 30s. Thank you to our police officers for their extremely prompt attention. Full credit and appreciation must be extended to you for your expediency. “Vina valevu du vo mutou kece.”
RONNIE CHANG Martintar, Nadi

Old habits die hard
I didn’t want to write this, hoping the disgusting habit of spitting might have ceased since the COVID- 19 pandemic but disappointingly ‘no’. The Ministry of Health strongly urges all of us to reduce the spread of germs and in particular, the COVID- 19 virus by practising personal hygiene. This includes coughing or sneezing into our elbow and to use a tissue when blowing your nose and dispose of it (the tissue) … but spitting? Spitting, too, can be dangerous to public health since COVID-19 spreads through droplets. Spitting has long been a filthy habit by mostly males who will blatantly spit from a car window, while walking along the street or crossing the road. It is common to see sportspeople spitting on national TV without any compunction. It is an offence in the Laws of Fiji but only carries a fine of $5. In Melbourne, Australia, SARS-Cov-2 was detected in the saliva of 85 per cent of positive patients. That informs us that the risks of spreading COVID-19 by spitting are very real. Other diseases which spitting can spread are numerous and include influenza and tuberculosis (TB). When people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected. One only needs to visit the Twomey Hospital in Tamavua to know by the number of patients admitted that TB is still very much present in the community. Spitting associated with beetle nut chewing can also help spread disease. TIPS (‘spit’ spelt backwards) on spitting: Don’t do it!
JULIE SUTHERLAND Tamavua, Suva

Important issue
I am sorry that Terry Hulme, writing in Australia, sees fi t to dampen any “positive and meaningful discussion” on aspects of the 2013 Fiji Constitution. We are all too well aware of the seeming impossibility of changing this document but I personally maintain my right to freedom to discuss such important issues as the single constituency. Perhaps Mr Hulme would like to offer his opinion on this issue instead of being so negative. There is always hope for peaceful change if you search for it.
TESSA MACKENZIE Suva

My condolences
May I express my profound sadness and deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the late Pio Tabaiwalu’s family. I for one; a young iTaukei man, count myself so lucky to have been touched, moved, motivated and influenced by Mr Tabaiwalu’s wisdom and knowledge sharing via his Facebook posts, especially on savings and investment. His precise analogy of liabilities and assets. His genuine encouragement to young iTaukei people to venture into businesses and entrepreneurship. I would’ve loved to have met him in person. I’ve written down some points he had shared about doing business. I’ve shared it to my family and friends during grog sessions. I just hope that they appreciate and recognise the depth of wisdom in real estate and investing in shares as the way forward for the iTaukei people. His demise affected me. Normally whenever I’m online (on Facebook), I’d always type his name on the search icon. I was always looking forward to reading his stories and experiences regarding life, politics, business, the vanua, etc. I strongly believe that Fiji and the iTaukei community and race have incurred a massive loss with Mr Tabaiwalu’s demise. I further believe that he still had a lot to offer to our nation and its people. He was aptly qualified and soundly experienced. He had the right acumen for leadership. Unfortunately, I believe the events of the 2006 military takeover impeded that from happening. Mr Tabaiwalu was part of the Laisenia Qarase-led SDL government setup. To Atunaisa and the rest of Mr Tabaiwalu’s grieving family, be at peace knowing that your father had touched so many lives. Revelations 14: 13 – “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labours; for their works follow with them.” Indeed, the pen will always be sharper than the sword! Lai ciri toka na vesi vakaturaga. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
ALIPATE TUBERI Suva

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
Observed on October 27, marks the day for audiovisuals to build global awareness of issues on preserving audiovisual material, such as sound recordings and moving images. Audiovisual documents, such as films, radio and television programs, are our common heritage and contain the primary records of the history of the 20th and 21st centuries. Unfortunately, that heritage is now endangered, because sound recordings and moving images can be deliberately destroyed or irretrievably lost as a result of neglect, decay and technological obsolescence. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) works with organisations, governments and communities to promote the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on October 27 each year. Activities and events include competitions, such as a logo contest, to promote the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. Local programs organised as a joint effort between national film archives, audiovisual societies, television or radio stations, and governments. Fiji is not behind in both print media nor television and films media with vast internet providers keeping our shore updated on all platforms. Panel discussions, conferences, and public talks on the importance of preserving important audiovisual documents, special film screenings. In this pandemic people around the world followed the news on COVID-19. Through initiatives such as the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage and the Memory of the World Program, the work of preservation professionals is encouraged, in order to manage the range of technical, political, social, financial and other factors that threaten the safeguarding of our audiovisual heritage. Thank you to those who work behind the scenes so people look good in the screens.
NEELZ SINGH Lami

Array
(
    [post_type] => post
    [post_status] => publish
    [orderby] => date
    [order] => DESC
    [update_post_term_cache] => 
    [update_post_meta_cache] => 
    [cache_results] => 
    [category__in] => 1
    [posts_per_page] => 4
    [offset] => 0
    [no_found_rows] => 1
    [date_query] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [after] => Array
                        (
                            [year] => 2023
                            [month] => 12
                            [day] => 29
                        )

                    [inclusive] => 1
                )

        )

)

No Posts found for specific category