Junior Bula Boys finish second
THE Junior All Whites side won the OFC Under-19 Championship after a convincing 3-0 win over the Junior Bula Boys at the Stade Pater in Papeete, Tahiti. The victory gave the Junior All Whites their eighth title. After missing numerous opportunities, Oliver Colloty scored the goal his performance deserved as he headed home Oliver Fay’s cross. A few minutes later, Colloty netted his second goal as he took a controlling touch on his head before nodding a tidy finish past Fijian goalie Aydin Mustahib and then shortly after rattling the crossbar from close range, Jay Herdman sealed the victory, hitting a powerful strike from range which beat Mustahib. Colloty’s brace ensured he and Kian Donkers shared the Golden Boot award (nine goals). Fiji came out firing in the second half, but found it hard to match the All Whites intensity. The All Whites showed their experience and composure as they dominated the match. The All Whites have won the last five OFC Under-19 Championships. It is back to the drawing board for Master Ronil Lal and his brigade as they turn their attention to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia next year. RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
All the best
THE OFC U-19 championship 2022 final has been won by New Zealand after the side beat our Junior Bula Boys 3-0 on Sunday. Despite the loss, Fiji is through to the FIFA U-20 World Cup along with the Kiwis who will be appearing in the competition for a record sixth time in a row. I had the opportunity to watch the final live on FBC TV which I did enjoy because the game was played at a fast pace and the action was electrifying. If we kept playing against our bigger brothers as much as possible, I am sure we would achieve better results in future. This means we don’t wait for any tournament to arrive then we prepare the team. No, we need matches organised with our competitors on a regular basis. This way our boys will get the exposure needed while at the same time they will gain more experience as well. Let this campaign begin sooner rather than later. Before concluding, I take the opportunity in wishing the team all the best at the world cup. SURESH CHAND Nadi
Leftover goodies
TO pass the Sunday boredom, I decided to go to the movies last week at the renowned Tappoo City Mall and was unpleasantly surprised by the deplorable state of the cinema. Leftover popcorn boxes, soft drink cups and empty snack wrappers were casually discarded on the seats and strewn all over the floor, undoubtedly left by negligent patrons from the previous screening. It must have been a field day for the roaches and their other insect buddies happily feasting on the leftover goodies. Totally disgusted, I had to alternatively relocate to a different seat in another row to avoid the sight of the undesirable filthy environment. Fortunately it was not a “full house”. Going to the movies has now become a luxurious affair and the least the management and staff members can do is to ensure that the theatre is rigorously cleaned after each screening. Meanwhile, Jeepers Creepers: Reborn was one of the most tedious films out of all the previous installments. And no, the resilient “Creeper” does not die, possibly hinting of another boring and lackluster sequel. Ooops, spoiler alert! NISHANT SINGH Lautoka
Role of media
LABELLING it “World News Day, Media Freedom or Journalism Day” all have to do with news. Be it locally or globally, the occurrence of events reaching one to the other is news in various forms and that is visual, verbal, written. For news to reach the people, information needs to be gathered and for this task journalists are needed. Journalism cannot be fulfilled on hearsay because it’s news that keeps people updated and connected globally and daily. Thus journalism is a role of calibre and responsibility. Collection of information, dividing facts from fiction before portrayal is essential. The world depends on you so let’s celebrate these events elegantly. PRAMEETA CHAND Namadi Heights, Suva
Meth awareness
THANK you for Sunday’s editorial. It was to the point. Vinaka Wesley. We do need to get awareness and keep it before all Fijians minds. ASAP. It takes a combined community awareness to reduce and stamp out this heinous drug. Programs in NZ, such as Drug Arm and the Blue Light Scheme, help educate parents, families and secondary school students to be aware of meth’s devastation. Our experience as parents was enlarging and devastating too. The long-term effects of methamphetamine on young people’s minds and lives is hugely life changing. It destroys potential, employment opportunities, education, families, and lives. It transforms a personality into someone barely recognisable. Eventually, if a kid doesn’t die, they have permanent damage in their soul and minds. It is at our peril in Fiji, to not get awareness. Obviously, because of the insidious nature of drug rings, their operations and syndicate way of working, the police have to often work clandestinely to catch them. But we need to absolutely get in behind them and what they do with all the support necessary to keep our streets safer. A lucrative trade has many arms, tentacles and spores. Be on the look out for this hideous underbelly. It’s international. And it’s ruthless.The nature of drug trafficking is clandestine and we need eyes and ears every place to stop it. Come on Fiji, let’s work together on this one. JEAN HATCH Taunovo
Change agent
WE read in The Fiji Times article “Parker hopes for change” (Sept 26) that Felix Parker, a school dropout who went on to obtain a degree from the premier regional university USP and has now thrown in his hat as a candidate in the coming Fiji elections, said he admired people who had the courage “to challenge government whenever they feel the system is not right because that is the type of person I am, I question when I feel something is not right”. That is the type of person who is indispensable for the integrity of good democratic governance. Not the type who pretend all is good with the status quo. RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
World Tourism Day
THE human desire to travel and explore is universal. The COVID-19 pandemic not only crippled both developed and developing economies, but also had a massive social and economic impact which hit the marginalised groups and the most vulnerable, hardest of all. This is why the lifting of travel curbs and restart of tourism is needed now to help kick start recovery and growth. This year, World Tourism Day highlights tourism’s unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up again and look to the future. This is additional to the day’s objective to highlight the travel sector’s importance in preserving and promoting culture and heritage all around the world. Now things are getting better, but travel won’t be same as before. Today, we want you to talk tourism and promote students and youths to focus on travel. Help us raise awareness of the important impact tourism has on countries and communities around the world and its potential as a force for good, creating a better world for all. New Zealand and Australia has now open with few conditions. The purpose of World Tourism Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The tourism industry in Pacific is booming over the past decade and has grown at an annual rate of about 10-12 per cent. The expansion of tourism, which generates more expenditure in the economy, is likely to have implications for other industries. Travellers are seeking adventure and explore local island style life. Our country Fiji has a lot to offer. Tourism came to a standstill in mid-March 2020. International tourist arrivals decreased by 56 per cent in the first months of the year, with numbers in May down by 98 per cent. Although countries and international organisations have implemented a range of measures to mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 and to stimulate the recovery of tourism, the magnitude of the crisis requires extra efforts and continued support. Happy travel to promote culture, food, and share experiences. NEELZ SINGH Nelson New-Zealand
Stay safe
WE are days away from entering the weather-changing month of October and it is advisable that we all stay alert and be prepared for any bad weather that may come our way. It is always better to be safe than to be repenting. From October to April, we already know what can happen in terms of weather. We’ve seen destruction brought about by the force of nature which is never to be underestimated. It is important for all of us to listen to weather bulletins and take heed of warnings sounded very seriously. We owe our gratitude to the weather forecasters for working day and night to keep watch on the weather and keep us informed accordingly. Their time and sacrifice are acknowledged and appreciated at the same time. While they do their part, let’s play our part in adhering to the safety and precautionary messages issued. Acting irresponsibly and being selfish will only lead you to misery. Let’s not forget the devastation caused by STC Winston not too long ago. Lessons learned must never be forgotten but realised and acted upon appropriately. To the parents, my request is to keep your children away from any dangerous situation at all times. Children are sometimes seen playing or swimming in flooded waters which is something that, I think, should never be allowed to happen. Our safety is in our hands take it or throw it. Take care and stay safe. SURESH CHAND Nadi
Great power
WE are all equal in the eyes of the Almighty and also as per the Constitution of our beloved nation. Yet I feel that few individuals have greater expert powers than the rest of us and they can take anyone to task. I must say that I always admire such powerful humans who could be regarded as second to none. But then I am always humbled by the remarkable lines said by my favourite superhero – Peter Parker famously known as the Spiderman, “with great power comes great responsibility”. DINESH KUMAR Ba
Fight date
THE fight date cannot be announced sooner until all capable challengers get DNQ notices after a series of qualification bouts, the rules of which have been set by the promoter who, together with the referee, are in the champ’s corner? This has more drama than Netflix’s Squid Game. SAMU RAILOA Nadi
West Papua
FIJI, Indonesia strengthen ties (FT 26/9) explains the Fiji Government’s lacklustre commitment to West Papua’s struggle for self-rule against Indonesian colonialism as routinely highlighted by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. RAJEND NAIDU Sydney
Our debt
WILL we ever be able to pay back all our loans or will we be taking more and more loans. SUKHA SINGH Labasa
Climate change
WHILE termites have started to do their business in our part of the world, I will settle with this for now. Climate change ke naam pe… MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
Problem source
THEY are not creating jobs but helping to send trained workers abroad. I believe social problems will follow. DAN URAI Lautoka
Land value
FOR our landowners in Fiji, not everything is about, the commercial and monetary, value of the land they own.(FT 25/09) What is intrinsically more important and of immeasurable value, are the socio-cultural aspects and the traditional values, of such land. EDWARD BLAKELOCK Pacific Harbour
