Vaccination program for children!
THE vaccination program for schoolchildren between the ages of 15-17 was launched at Gospel High School by honourable PM yesterday with the belief that the vaccine would keep children from getting severely ill from COVID-19.
The Fiji Medicinal Products Board authorised the use of Moderna vaccine and it has been recommended that children are given two dozes of the COVID-19 vaccine for maximum protection, as it is 95 per cent effective in protecting against severe illness, hospitalisation and death.
This is a good time for parents whose children are in secondary school to make use of the opportunity.
I thank teachers and health officials for their support towards this vaccination program for children!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Birth certificates
I believe the recent requirement made by the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) for people to use their names on their birth certificates to vote has caused quite a stir, especially from married women.
But I believe there’s another anomaly he is not aware of.
I know of at least one case where a lady arrived in Fiji some 60 years ago without a birth certificate but has since become a Fiji citizen by marrying one.
Now without a birth certificate how will she vote?
She’s being deprived of her right to do so!
So SOE what happens to this case?
There may be others out there with the same problem.
Norman Yee, Martintar, Nadi
Ethnicity obsession
We are told by A-G that “Our Prime Minister has made it clear on several occasions that the bane of our society, the bane of our political life, the bane of our democracy since 1970 has been our obsession with ethnicity, and that is why we have not progressed.”
However, in recent weeks, it is observed that the Prime Minister, being a national leader of Fiji, yet appears on one ethnic language radio station quite regularly.
He speaks in ethnic language.
His target audience is one ethnic group of the population.
Is this not an obsession with ethnicity?
Bharat Morris, Rifle Range, Vatuwaqa, Suva
Numerical proposal
Respectfully, I see the comical side in the numerical proposal by Fijian 654321.
Hopefully, the proposal is not interpreted to be based on “digit-city”.
Regretfully, it could also be classified as an alleged case of “numberism”.
Systematically, expect the unexplainable.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Our population
I noticed the news item in FT 14/09, that Fiji’s total population as recorded in the now infamous 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) was 864,132.
This is indeed interesting because our total population as recorded in the 2017 Population Census was 884,887.
I believe this indicates a decrease of 20,755 in our total population in the two years.
I may be stretching it, but was the HIES total figure derived from extrapolating the sample survey data of 6000 households?
I really cannot see any other reasons on the ground, for such an unprecedented decrease, outside of a major emigration, or pre-COVID-19 natural disaster.
Edward Blakelock, Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour
Our water
Finally relevant authorities are looking into this for Savusavu.
To my knowledge the treatment plant was completed last year.
But no EFL power to kick-start this treatment plant.
Is it WAF or EFL’s fault?
I just hope this issue is solved as the whole of Savusavu is suffering.
We are again approaching rainy weather.
We will again dig into our pockets for bottled water as always.
Sharif Shah, Savusavu
Getting fines
Every day we read about people getting fined for breach of COVID-19 safe protocols.
What is wrong with them?
Anyway, I have seen people in Lautoka wearing the mask as a mouth guard, or on their forehead.
I have also seen people with the mask dangling from an ear like an earring.
There is a fine for breaching the law, during these tough times are the people actually paying up?
What happens to people who can’t pay, do they get a day or two in prison?
It costs around $70 per day to keep a prisoner.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Lautoka
National coach
MY personal assessment and recommendation is for Gareth Baber to be coach for both our Fiji XV and Fiji 7s teams.
The strategic thrust he developed for the Olympics 7s in Tokyo was structured to absolute that the 7s team had different styles for all the matches it had.
Gareth Barber has the quality rugby games of a coach that any union rugby team would want.
Sovea N Tabua, Namadi Heights, Suva
A thought
As a regular hard copy reader of The Fiji Times, I was surprised to see most of the letter writers are from Lautoka, overseas and mostly West of Fiji.
Seems we “Southerners” are very much content with happenings around us.
Let’s encourage the young generation to write.
I as a student was a regular writer to this column.
Maybe more prizes from The Fiji Times for writers on their 152nd anniversary.
Abhay Nand, Vunimono, Nausori
Any emotions
Does the A-G have any emotion?
Just curious aye.
Kirti Patel, Lautoka
Numbered days
Whether “the most powerful minister in government” is “number one or number two” (Allen Lockington FT 20/9) the way he is behaving, I believe his days in government may be numbered when the people go to the polls.
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Unhappy politician
He seems to be unhappy and disagrees with all and any results that’s not in his favour.
I wonder what will happen if the next election does not turn out in his favour?
Can we put it to the test?
Edward Kumar, Lautoka
Pipe dream
To get the rulers to inquire about financial shenanigans at municipalities.
Look at the Lautoka swimming pool saga.
Of all the ‘hoohah’ about it being completed in the pipe-line: I’m having dreams that it will be not too long now when I see my Unkol Allen in his tards on the diving board.
Unkol, if you rescue me from my, uh; pipe dream, I’ll stop smoking fantasies.
Manoj Lal Patel, Drasa Ave, Lautoka
Poverty levels
With all the people jumping up and down about the poverty levels in Fiji, including some very learned people, and the need for poverty levels based on ethnicity, does that mean that those of a certain ethnicity in poverty should be given special dispensation at the expense of the other ethnicities?
Shouldn’t all those in poverty be provided assistance equally?
So why the need for ethnic data not just for the poverty issue but any other issue?
Jan Nissar, NSW, Australia
Fish season
The kawakawa and donu spawning season started again.
Will the fishing of kawakawa and donu be banned again?
Narayan Reddy, Lautoka
COVID-19 factor
Joe Tamani, the virus won’t look for you, it will be brought to you by people.
As for me, I sort of had the symptoms but I had been vaccinated and also with my positive mind I didn’t get sick.
Oh and with all the grog I drink it may have killed it.
In fact it’s all around us.
Remember even the vaccinated can carry it.
But it’s masked and you won’t notice it. (LOL)
But you made my day with your letter.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Lautoka
Proposed border opening
I am sure policymakers in Suva are busy drafting protocols regarding how the country will or should treat visitors when international borders reopen later this year.
I wish to offer my two cents worth of advice.
I derive my authority from the standpoint that a significant proportion of our family business is concentrated in tourism-oriented retailing and services and, as can be expected, it has been knocked out by COVID-19.
I am equally anxious to regain consciousness.
The first thing I wish to emphasise to the hardworking policymakers is the KIS principle — keep it simple.
The fact of the matter is if Fiji has any hope of luring international visitors from USA, Australia and New Zealand for example, we have to remove as many barriers as safely and practically possible.
To say that international visitors will be restricted in their movements and have restrictions on who they may meet and in what circumstances upon arriving into the country will largely kill the initiative even before it gets started.
The basis of my argument is founded on the following facts
- Those who are allowed to come into the country are fully vaccinated;
- Have additionally successfully taken a swab test at least 72 hours prior to boarding;
- Staying in a resort that will have all employees 100 per cent vaccinated and following established COVID-safe practices;
- And in a country that has over 80 per cent + of its resident adult population fully vaccinated and a plan to vaccinate children starting in October.
Then should that not be enough not to complicate the reopening any further?
It is a gamble worth taking as COVID will not be eradicated anytime soon.
We just have to learn to live with it.
As I speak, Singapore is 81 per cent fully vaccinated and are now opening their borders to international visitors.
Yet, they are seeing upwards of 600 positive cases per day but are learning to live with it and keeping their economy open.
We may be faced with similar situations.
So be it.
However, such situations, as and when they arise, should be dealt with calmly with measured response so as to ensure minimal disruption to the reopened tourism economy.
This is the harsh reality of the matter.
It is a tough call and tall, tough and united we should stand to win this war.
My humble request to the policymakers, is if we are to reopen to the international markets, then we should reopen with confidence in our high vaccination rates and remove cumbersome restrictions.
Bobby Raniga, Main St, Nadi
Wife’s surname
It’s done in Japan, Allen (18/9) but in Fiji it’s not uncommon for men to take their mum’s surname.
Dan Urai, Lautoka
