Suva all the way
Sikeli Qounadovu and Raymond Singh picked out my letter about the refereeing of the match between Suva and Nadroga last weekend.
Frankly I don’t think they have consistently and closely followed high level rugby to fully understand the landscape and dynamics of a high level intense rugby match.
I made my analysis and if they had watched closely that during the latter part of the game, the scrums were normally stationery and the final scrum rarely moved an inch forward.
Apparently, I believe Nadroga was literally milking a penalty try and the Suva boys knew that all too well thus threw everything in that final fatal scrum and they did hold but only a fraction of a shake was all that warranted an automatic seven pointer!
That was a ridiculous decision as far as I am concerned; a blunder!
Anyways, let bygones be bygones! Chiuu!
ALIPATE TUBERI Suva
PM’s attack
PM Voreqe Bainimarama’s criticism of The Fiji Times for failing to highlight Government’s $100 million allocation to assist the unemployed completely misfired when the newspaper’s editor-in-chief Fred Wesley pointed out that the July 18 issue of the paper had ‘$100m aid — Relief for jobless’ as its front page headline.
It’s not dignified for the PM to make such misplaced criticism of the country’s leading newspaper.
And, it’s not good for Fiji’s democracy for an independent press to be attacked in such an unwarranted manner.
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Good foundation
I have been with The Fiji Times since I came to know time.
This newspaper has provided me with the necessities of life in terms of daily news, opinions from diverse sources, educational editorial messages, available vacancies, entertainment and many more.
Allow me to state that critiques are important and very significant in the life of any democracy.
It has given me hope during challenging times of the 80s right through the stages of 2000 when we faced uncertainty back then.
The Fiji Times has sustained extreme levels of criticisms and bashing from all angles but it continues to flourish due to its good foundation of sound professionalism in the world of media.
I salute The Fiji Times knowing the fact that no paper or even individual is perfect but this paper has been very close to being perfect than any other comparable entity.
As usual I hope The Fiji Times has and will not harm its critiques but justify the elements of the criticism with professionalism.
People have their own paradigm of decision-making and being critical is nothing new. However, the reality will remain and will emerge as time moves on.
Respect the critiques as their existence is an evidence of your impact. All are significant in our existence.
Move on The Fiji Times and keep educating our readers as usual through being inclusive and empowering our citizens through a platform of reading for facts.
DHIRENDRA PRASAD Lautoka
Front page
If our PM comes up with a cure for COVID-19 instead of spending $7 million on his offices, I’m sure we’d all see this as front page news here in The Fiji Times, and all around the world.
Wouldn’t that be grand! And it would certainly be better than listening to politicians bickering about past sins. Moreover, Prof Biman probably doesn’t eat breakfast anyway.
MATA VA Nabua, Suva
Press freedom
I am greatly disturbed that the Prime Minister has again launched an attack against The Fiji Times following suit from the A-G, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, however, it was disappointing this time that he did it in the House of representatives during the national budget debate.
My question is; what has The Fiji Times got to do with the debate on the national budget?
In his attack the Prime Minister seemed to suggest that they should be the one telling the newspaper what to publish especially when he accused The Fiji Times of failing to highlight the Government’s $100 million direct employment assistance in the proposed 2020-2021 national budget.
I only hope Voreqe Bainimarama would read The Fiji Times (27/08) wherein the editor Fred Wesley said and I quote: “The Fiji Times does not exist to publish positive headlines for the Government. It exists to publish all views and ensure there is a balanced coverage of the views and balanced political debate.” George Orwell said: “Freedom of the press, if it means anything at all, means freedom to criticise and oppose.”
KOSITATINO TIKOMAIBOLATAGANE Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Those ties
Parliament is in session and we have some entertainment to watch in the evening. One can criticise their speeches if one wants but please “check out” their ties.
On Monday, honourable Reddy had a purplish one that reflected running water over rocks, honourable Biman with his blue tie looked so professional but honourable Rabuka with a purple theme was all class.
JAMES MASTAPHA Evetts Place, Tamavua, Suva
Faulty lights
Can the concerned authority once and for all fix the intermittent blinking streetlight at the Cannery St cul-de-sac in Balawa.
My momo Seba Ravugani often mistakes it for a sea beacon when he is numbed by kavatones during the early hours.
WISE MUAVONO Balawa, Lautoka
One bag grog
Some friends were discussing items of the budget, millions here, millions there, then the Old Man Mozz of the lot said: “Why you talking about millions of dollars, when we only got one bag grog here?”
The discussions stopped there.
NIGEL FIU Owls Perch, Lautoka
Big pothole
Some weeks ago when I read a man fell in a pothole and broke his leg.
I wondered how that could happen.
After seeing the eyewitness photo of the “pothole along Bekana Lane in Lautoka” (FT 28/7), I wonder no more.
With that kind of pothole, a bulumakau could fall in and break its leg!
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Keep it local
We do have well educated experts in Fiji.
Why get contracted people from abroad? Why not use locals?
When we have a local ruling a country then we can have a local holding a ranked position.
JAHEED BUKSH Korolevu, Sigatoka
Social distance
Some follow them, others don’t. We should be thankful the virus exists under controlled environment and hope it remains that way.
DAN URAI Lautoka
Budget issue
The Government says it is good and the Opposition says it is bad.
SUKHA SINGH Labasa
Natuvu jetty
I hope our good government diverts much needed funds to make a jetty here at Natuvu for the hundreds of daily travellers.
With it please also consider a waiting shed and public convenience.
To the public, it’s for you. Please keep it clean and functional.
SHARIF SHAH Savusavu
Road upgrade
It’s good to see the upgrading works on Vuci Rd, Nausori, to construct footpath and drainage, but I wonder does the upgrade include construction of any bus stops this time?
ASHOK KUMAR Naduru, Nausori
Download careFiji app
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says as I quote: “It is a concern that only about 50,000 people in this country (Fiji) have downloaded the careFiji app so far,” unquote.
Was there any survey done to find out how many citizens in Fiji have smartphones which can download the app or was it made on assumption that all Fijians have smartphones?
If people do not want to download the careFiji app, I believe it’s their choice. You cannot force people to do something that they do not want to do.
Maybe you should have time to find out why the 750,000 decided not to download this app.
I believe this sign of rejection clearly says one thing.
JIOJI MASIVESI CAKACAKA Tadra-Votualevu, Nadi
Born to succeed
Reading through yesterday’s The Fiji Times I realised how tough Monday’s Parliament session would have been — hard hit debates and rock solid discussions from both sides but then another attack.
The bomb fell on The Fiji Times once again and this time for failing in its duty. Attack per attack on The Fiji Times — surprisingly The Fiji Times is gaining momentum and widespread approval for the role it is playing in dissemination of information.
Hence, I decided to bury the negativities and focus on Viori Odro’s inspirational story (Page 10) as it brought a smile on my face — something that I needed to brighten my day.
Paulini Curuqara ran a story on the senior education officer for agricultural science at the technology and employment skills training section of the Education Ministry.
The article was a delight to read as it contained the struggle and financial hardship faced by Viori and how they helped shape her future.
It also contained her success story and how she used her struggles to overturn her life by not giving up. In her journey she also lost her son and husband.
Her message: “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up. Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations” is food for thought as Fijians fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vinaka Viori!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Survival mode
While it obviously makes sense to make medium-term and long-term forecasts and plan for the future e.g. capital construction, people are now really more interested in what they can actually put on the table for the family meal today, let alone tomorrow.
This pandemic has put most on basic survival mode. People are also not really interested in things now that do not really feed the family and help our young ones to school each day.
Furthermore, no amount of bickering, personal differences, personality clashes, focusing on petty and relatively unimportant issues, and infighting among those in whom we have put our trust and faith, will ever satisfy this basic need today.
Right now, families are just waiting for August 1, when they will, hopefully, begin to see really reduced prices of at least some basic items like bread in the supermarket.
That’s the focus right now, because at the end of the day, people’s survival and lives matter.
I hope that we will not be disappointed this weekend.
EDWARD BLAKELOCK Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour
Freedom of speech
In a democracy and a society with freedom of speech and freedom of choice, every citizen has the right to choose to behave and say the silliest or stupidest things, if they so wish.
In the budget debate in Parliament, many SODELPA Opposition members made that choice.
I say good on them for making that choice. Just goes to show that there is a lot of freedom of speech in Fiji without any fear.
JAN NISSAR Carlton, NSW, Australia
