A firm believer of hard work
Selina Uluibau shared her inspirational journey with our journalist Viliame Ravai via the People column (FT 09/08). Her advice was touching, “Remember, hard work always gets you through in this day and age – it’s an essential tool to get you through tough times.” The 58-year-old Macuata native shared that her husband was a firm believer in hard work and often travelled overseas for employment. She said she liked working because it helped her keep mentally and physically fit. Working at Long Fan Textile, she has learnt to greet her customers with a friendly smile. She has developed solid customer service skills. She never had any big dreams, but values the importance of hard work which led to her success. A beautiful and motivational piece on Selina by Ravai in the popular People column! The morale — hard work defines success which does not come easy. Ask any successful person and he/she will share the recipe behind their success. I’m sure behind every story the words “hard work” are embedded! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
National emblem
FOUND in every continent except Europe, how come the Hibiscus is suddenly the national emblem of Fiji? TESSA MACKENZIE Suva
Future problem solving
THIS is a dynamic international program involving thousands of students annually from around the world. FPS provides programs for today’s curriculum via a six-step model which teaches critical and creative thinking, problem-solving and decision making. Since 1984, FPS Australia has been helping teachers educate students of all ages to think critically and make better decisions. Today, it continues to address essential education priorities. The FPS program meets standards for curriculum and instruction, stimulates critical and creative thinking skills, encourages students to develop a vision for the future, features curricular and co-curricular opportunities to engage students, develops research skills, promotes written and verbal communication skills and engages students with the real world. This is what education is all about. Teaching skills that can serve us better as adults. Not the usual boring stuff that is just needed to pass exams and no purpose in real life. Perhaps our Ministry of Education should look into it at the very least. ARVIND MANI Nadi
Numismatic banknote
ON Monday, August 8, my social media feed was flooded with the images of the new 88 cents non-circulation numismatic banknote released by the Reserve Bank of Fiji. At first, I skipped these posts with the perception that someone may have been circulating fake news. But when I read this article printed on Page 2 of The Fiji Times (09/08), then only I believed that the note is for real. It features Tsai Shen, the Chinese god of wealth and their customary money tree. It also contains the number 88, Fiji’s coat of arms and the RBF Governor’s signature. No way it’s a fake! This banknote is therefore a souvenir piece after all. With a face value of 88 cents, it has a purchase price of Fijian $28.00. Seriously? 88 is believed to be a financially lucky number, for the Chinese people of course. How about if RBF had printed it as a $88 note instead and had it in circulation as well. In this way, those who wanted to keep it as a souvenir would have given back $88 to the economy while others could have kept the note in circulation, thus helping the economy grow. By the way, can anyone enlighten as to what is the lucky number for Fiji? Maybe we can print a similar note resembling the Fijian Vu or Indian goddess of wealth with our own lucky number. Just a food for thought! DINESH KUMAR Ba
Decent living
WITH reports of so many workers going to Australian and New Zealand under the Pacific Labour Scheme, some union leaders and certain members of the Opposition parties must be livid that all these remittances will be coming back to Fiji. Foreign remittances has been the number one export earner for Fiji for the past three years or so and will remain so for another few years, until the tourism industry fully recovers. Of course, these union leaders and Opposition members do not want to see people prosper in case they lose control over them because they can earn a decent living and prosper. That way they lose votes. How ironic that Opposition members and those against the Government want people to suffer and not prosper just so that they can get their votes. They have said as much, in my opinion and then these Opposition members go overseas to raise money for their election campaign! Just imagine these types running the country. JAN NISSAR NSW, Australia
Eradicate African tulip
WHILE I salute and commend all TLTB staff members concerned (The Fiji Times, Tuesday, August 9, 2022), for planting 1100 trees in Hanahana, Nahigatoka, I wish to make an extremely serious call to all authorities involved for the total eradication of this pest, the African tulip. Please take careful heed, if left totally unchecked, this tulip trees will one day overrun our native flora and fauna including our indigenous trees and plants. Should I err, with my shared views, then I wish to stand corrected, respectfully. On a very recent quick trip to and from the Capital City, Suva, I noticed with ever-increasing concern and alarm how quickly these pest trees are spreading along the Queens Rd closest to river banks and sources. Will the Conservator of Forests; the Minister for Forests; Minister of the Environment including the Minister for Lands and all permanent secretaries concerned, take the time and effort to prove me wrong. The TLTB may need to lend a serious helping hand in collaboration with various mataqali along the Queens Highway from Nadi to Suva. A joint venture effort to help eradicate the African tulip would be in order. Financial rewards to mataqali for their efforts would be adequate incentives. To all who traverse the Queens Rd, please take a moment in fleeting time to observe our forests being overrun. For every valuable tree planted, at least ten African tulip seeds with germinate and grow into adult pest trees too. Time is of the essence now, more than ever before. RONNIE CHANG Martintar, Nadi
What really matters
HE was really not concerned, with whoever was going to govern. with a four-year term, in our Parliament. His biggest single worry, is how he was going to put food on the table, so as to feed his young family, each and every day. Whoever helps him to do that, will certainly gain his undying support, as long as they enabled and helped him, to put food on the table, for his young children. EDWARD BLAKELOCK Pacific Harbour
Fijiana maps next plan
THESE words by Fijiana 7s captain Rusila Nagasau (FT 09/08) made my day, “It is not about falling down, it’s fighting back on the way up. The focus now is the World Cup.” Rusila and the Fijiana 7s carved their name in the annals of rugby history book as they won Fiji’s first silver medal in the Commonwealth Games 7s competition. The side created history as they remained unbeaten in pool play and heading into the final, Fijiana was the only unbeaten side. The side also beat the eventual champions (Australia) 19-12 in their final pool match. Fijiana has made a mark in international rugby. The side won a bronze medal in Tokyo and then back-to-back silver medals in Dubai. Under the guidance of Saiasi Fuli, the side finished third (for the first time) on the HSBC WRSS women’s event behind Australia and France. Reapi Uluinasau was included in the dream team. In Birmingham, after collecting silver, Ana Maria Naimasi and Sesenieli Donu were named in the dream team. This is a huge achievement for Fuli and his brigade, and I congratulate them. The RWC 7s is next on Fijiana’s agenda and I wish the side all the best! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Balloon seller
I REFER to the article “The creative survivor” (FT 8/22) story of balloon seller Mr Dinesh Kumar. A very stirring story of how a man from Ba made his journey to many places around Viti Levu for survival. I read stories of people struggling during this harsh time with their sad faces in newspapers. This 55-year-old man holds the colourful balloons in his hands with a peaceful smile. He is satisfied with the work he does and does not stretch his hands out to beg. A good lesson that can be learned from him is “Never get ashamed of the work you do, sweat money is always rewarding”. A special thanks to Lautoka City Council for allowing sellers to earn a living at marginal fees. Good job to Navnesh Reddy (journalist) for finding an inspiring story for the readers. RODNEY CLARENCE RAJ Labasa
Our economy
IS our debt-ridden Government now turning to a Chinese god to lift our economy back on to its feet? TESSA MACKENZIE Suva
Small question
ONE question for Tarun Tikaram. Is Eileen Cikamatana a “deserter” for leaving Fiji for the greener sports pastures of Australia and winning Commonwealth gold for Australia? Is her love for her home country any less today? RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Probability theory
I HOPE what has been happening to the All Blacks does not happen to our mighty FijiFirst. To all the All Blacks fans, players and coach, just attribute the losses to the probability theory. As for the Fiji soccer team, I don’t think the probability theory will work on you guys. SUKHA SINGH Labasa
Election date
IF over 90 per cent of Fijians are happy with the state of Fiji’s economy, why are they not announcing the election date. Don’t they trust their own report? DAN URAI Lautoka
The hungry
MAY we be told if that hot soup can be utilised to feed the hungry? MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
Minimum wage
WHAT has happened to people who were already earning $4 an hour doing special jobs? ALLEN LOCKINGTON Kava Place, Lautoka
88 cents note
ANTHONY Sahai, my boy, if you’re wondering what can you buy with the Chinese-themed 88 cents note if it’s circulated, can get a few hacks lollies for your grog chaser. WISE MUAVONO Balawa, Lautoka
One for us
WHILE the Reserve Bank of Fiji is promoting the Chinese God of wealth through its 88 cents note, we would like to have the Hindu goddess of wealth, Laxmi, on one of the notes too. Obviously, Hinduism is much more widely observed in Fiji so it makes sense. A $108 note would be perfect. Also, we prefer dollars to cents. Dollars fold, cents jiggle. KIRAN KHATRI Samabula, Suva
Rugby 7s
HERE we go again, into the last game, of the HSBC Rugby Sevens, for the current season. I’ve lost track of where we are, as so much has happened, since the London tournament. But we are still there for our team, despite being 4th on the table. Na draki qo, veilomai ga! EDWARD bLAKELOCK Pacific Harbour
