Merry Christmas
The lyrics of Boney M’s ‘Feliz Navidad’ and ‘Mary’s boy child’ set the platform for this year’s Christmas.
Despite the increase in prices of cakes, soft drinks and toys, the Christmas fever has not drowned as shoppers filled their trollies with last-minute goodies and children got their desired gifts.
The hype surrounding Christmas reminded me of how we used to wait for Christmas and the gifts that our parents could afford to buy us after buying toys and savouries like jelly, ice cream, canned fruit, juice, meat and cake.
The photo by Jonacani Lalakobau (F/T 24/12) of the children from St Michael’s Community in Nasova brought back those memories.
On the other hand, while we are celebrating Christmas, let’s embrace togetherness and enjoy family ties and love. At the same time, let’s remember the needy and unfortunate ones and those who are lying on the sick bed.
Let’s also remember those who have lost a loved one and will not celebrate Christmas.
Let us also acknowledge those who have brought smiles to the needy families and individuals and the senior citizens and children’s homes.
My heartfelt gratitude to our police officers who will be manning our roads and patrolling the streets! I plead with our drivers and pedestrians — please exercise caution while on the road. To the drivers — please say no to speeding and drink and driving.
We have lost more than enough people on our roads. Let’s join hands to prioritise the wellbeing of our loved ones.
Finally, for some this Xmas will be another normal day of selling by the roadside or providing a service to the road users.
Thus, I wish the staff and readers of our number one The Fiji Times an enterprising, eventful and a blessed, merry and safe Christmas!
I conclude with the valuable advice from our editor-in-chief Fred Wesley, “Enjoy the festivities to the brim, but stay safe, and value life”.
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
7s rugby format
The new format announced by World Rugby to be introduced in Hamilton is nothing else but torture.
World Rugby is now using the series as a marketing tool to spread rugby to untouched region of the world.
The idea of rugby promotion is good, but it shouldn’t use players playing sevens rugby as guinea pigs by exposing them to high tempo, very physical game that may cut short their playing days.
Countries playing the series, especially the core teams need to rise up and challenge World Rugby for being inhumane in their decision.
What is going to happen now that TV audience around the globe would consider rugby as a sport of choice because of the high tempo games played over two or three days, both by men and women.
This decision by World Rugby do not take into consideration the welfare of sevens players not only in Fiji, but in all the participating countries.
Way back in 2016, before the Rio Olympics, the New Zealand All Blacks players who decided to switch and try out sevens publicly testified the pace of sevens rugby are just way ahead of fifteens.
Ardie Savea gave it a go and decided it was too much for him and retreated.
Fast forward to 2020, the decision by World Rugby is discrimination at the highest level and players playing in the series would lose out in the end.
ILAITIA BOSE Suva
Bus travel
May I ask if the LTA chief executive officer has ever travelled in a bus? If you haven’t, do purchase an eTransport card and go for a ride.
Come to Kava Place and have a bowl of grog with the gang. You will have fun.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON Kava Place, Lautoka
Traffic issues
As many as 500 bookings in 24 short hours for various traffic infringements, from drink-driving to speeding, etc., is the clearest confirmation, without any doubt, the number of drivers who continue to have total disregard to clearly laid down traffic rules/laws.
All drink-drive offenders must show cause why their drivers licences should not be suspended or revoked.
Repeat drink drive offences must call for automatic minimum mandatory six month suspension or revocation.
Repeat speeding exceeding 100 km/hr must call for immediate suspension. In addition to suspensions and or revocation, real hefty fines must serve as effective deterrents.
Hit them in their pockets. Hit them hardest. It must hurt.
They must learn. The reckless and dangerous drivers on our roads in 24 short hours are five hundred, far too many.
Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Tobacco and plastic
Can the Government also put restrictions on manufacturing and selling of tobacco in the country using the same principle and logic in banning plastic bags?
In fact tobacco contributed to climate change also as smoke emitted from manufacturer is pumped into open space and also the output of cigarette rolls in the packet consists of smoke only.
Oh and by the way, even the gross and packets are even sealed by the so called plastics.
Our space and environment will be cleaner and our people will be healthier.
Don’t you think?
PITA SOROQALI Rakiraki
e-ticketing issue
The CEO of LTA has been quoted (FT 23/12) saying that they will be launching a customer charter next year after the successful “meet-the-manager” program.
Will the e-ticketing issue be part of it?
ALLEN LOCKINGTON Kava Place, Lautoka
Unwanted babies
The message, “Do not have children if you are not ready” by Selina Kuruleca (F/T 24/12) is apt.
Short and simple and I’m sure well understood!
Two pages of awareness on this issue in The Fiji Times, great!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Sex education
I believe sex education at school should be reintroduced.
At least it gives our children the opportunity to be knowledgable both biblically and biologically on the effects, outcome of premarital sex and the precautions needed.
DAN URAI Lautoka
Patching road
SIX people with spades, a vibrating compactor machine and a “stop” and “go” sign patching the road up at Tubou St, Samabula in Suva yesterday.
They were not locals, however, their driver was.
Some people often reiterate they are here to lead to build a better Fiji, fair enough and I guess our rate of employment is far ahead than the Asians.
A vision for a better Fiji, employ the locals!
AREKI DAWAI Suva
One card
Why is the authority making life more difficult for us who struggle to make ends meet?
MERE LAGILAGI Raviravi, Ba
Thank you
Thank you Allen for the best Christmas gift (praise).
Instead of the boxing gloves just send me a punching bag, punching and speed ball.
My post box number is 449, Labasa.
SUKHA SINGH, Labasa
Fijian hospitality
At a time when calls for forgetting and forgiving are numerous, if the Land Transport Authority chief executive officer does not qualify for diplomatic immunity for suggesting that using someone else’s transport card is an offence, in true Christmas spirit, can he be given presidential pardon? Topped by genuine Fijian hospitality.
MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
Merry Christmas
Tis the season to be merry and as a regular writer to the letter to the editor column I wish to take this opportunity to thank the staff members of The Fiji Times, other letter to the editor column contributors, readers who find pleasure in my opinions, readers who feel disgust at my thoughts, and readers who simply sit on the fence!
The Fiji Times general manager, Christine Lyons, editor-in-chief Fred Wesley, and to all the rest of the hardworking staff members of The Fiji Times, thank you for allowing me to pen my opinions throughout the year 2019.
It has been indeed an interesting year!
I wish to especially thank Fred Wesley for touching base with me whenever he makes it up north.
Fred, I admire your tenacity and your respect, and I appreciate you taking the time to pop in despite your hectic schedule.
Thank you all!
To the other contributors to the column, we have indeed created a vast range of opinions and points of view over this year, opinions, which I believe, if looked at constructively, can bring about improvement and further positive development.
Our perspective as writers defines our attitude and our personalities and even though I have not met the majority of you, I do feel like I know you and understand the person you are.
Thank you!
To the many readers who are accustomed to habitual reading first thing each morning to get a hint of what I’m thinking, I thank you for your interest and your time to indulge in the many topics I’ve brought into conversation.
To the many who continue to encourage and enjoy reading my letters I appreciate your honesty and support.
Thank you!
To those readers who have been angered and felt betrayed and to those who vented their frustration either over the phone, in person, or on social media because of my opinion, please understand that I meant no harm.
I simply write my honest opinion whether I am for or against a subject.
I therefore do not write to please, but in the hope that my points are noted as I have taken the time to ponder yours.
Thank you! May the gift of love, joy, peace, and happiness fill your hearts and homes and may you have the loveliest of celebrations this Christmas.
Merry Christmas everyone!
SIMON HAZELMAN Rava Estate, Savusavu
Hope and peace
The Christmas season is meant to bring hope and peace to everyone.
On Jesus birthday don’t forget to give Jesus a gift. What does he want?
The scriptures say, “As you have done the least of these, so also have you done unto me.”
So Jesus would want you to give unto the least of these.
That is those who have little or nothing.
This Christmas, give something to someone who needs it. Feed the hungry.
Clothe the naked. Show love to the lonely. Blessings go forward.
God bless you and have a Merry Christmas.
WISE MUAVONO Balawa, Lautoka
