Letter writers
Very interesting letters emerge every day in the Letters to the Editor column of The Fiji Times.
I salute all writers for their contribution.
I really enjoy reading The Fiji Times every day and my favourite is the letters’ section.
Whoever introduced the “letter to editor” column deserves our praise and appreciation for his visionary creation.
I thank The Fiji Times for promoting the views of the interested writers in a balanced manner on a daily basis.
Sometimes just by reading the letters, you know what’s happening in the country.
Different men often view the same subject in different lights; a good example of this is the letters’ column.
While veteran writers continue to impress us with their excellent work, new ones are coming in every day too.
If you think your opinion matters, please do write.
Thank you.
Suresh Chand, Nadi
Sale of poison
When I was growing up in Nasinu, I remember that every person who bought methylated spirits had to give their details.
Name, age, residential address and the reason for the purchase.
Today, I believe anyone can buy it over the counter and it is much cheaper than alcohol.
I wonder if it is the same for paraquat and other poisonous weedicides?
Government is embarking on a dog trapping exercise and I have been told that there are some people who have mentioned bait to be laced with paraquat.
Many people have said that the only way to get rid of stray dogs is to poison them.
Has anyone of these people seen a dog that has eaten a bait laced with paraquat or other poisons?
Well, I have and it’s a terrible sight to see.
The animal suffers for a very long time before dying.
I wonder if the authorities are looking around for human ways to render the dogs unconscious and then taken in.
One that comes to mind is dart guns that are used in zoos.
But of course the guns will only be handled by licensed experienced people.
In an old copy of The Fiji Times, military officers had been tasked to shoot cattle that had strayed on to roads and likewise stray dogs.
So there you go.
Let’s do something good for our people before someone is killed by stray dogs.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Pothole competition
Mate Allen, we Fijians are so creative that for the offered prizemoney, we could move from roads with potholes to long craters.
This could happen overnight as your preposition is an attractive one.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Civic pride
No civic pride at all by the public, leaving rubbish behind and thinking it will be taken care of should be no longer the attitude by the people of Fiji.
For upcoming festivals, we should implement some tough decisions in countering this issue.
Probably stall owners should pay a refundable bond above stall fees for rubbish clearance.
Bond to be refunded if their stall area is perfectly clean after the week of festivities.
This problem is not new.
It’s been happening in every festival in the past.
Please show your civic pride by keeping Fiji clean.
Tomasi Boginiso Nasinu
ILO saga
My statement is about how a global system is taking shape Dan Urai.
A simple internet search will tell me more about ILO than you can ever explain but it’s not what I was referring to.
Without being subtle about it, Bible prophecy tells us that an end-time world power will dominate world trade, labour, politics and military might, and it will lead humanity to the brink of total self-destruction.
As a Christian, it is indeed a scary thought when considering how things are turning out to be.
Biblical prophecy is being played before our very eyes and at these very times but many are still too blind to see.
My affirmation runs deeper than your ILO saga Dan.
It is about humanity and where we heading!
Simon Hazelman, Savusavu
Carnival rubbish
The blame game on why so much rubbish was left behind after the Farmers Carnival in Lautoka should stop.
What the people should do is help with the cleaning up of the park.
Lautoka City Council and its health department did their part by washing and even helping collect the rubbish every day.
I believe city pride is something that we all should have.
Just like the plants along Vomo St which are being watered by some young school kids using bottles of water.
I believe these children are kids of our law enforcement officers who live at Vomo St.
So why not we all do our part to keep Lautoka clean.
Narayan Reddy, Lautoka
Mill soot
The soot from the Lautoka Sugar Mill is affecting people who are suffering from asthma.
Every day I wake up, I find black soot on my table and chairs outside, even our clothes that are drying on the clothes line are affected.
This is 2019 and by this time FSC should have filters so the black soot don’t affect people.
Can the Environment Department please look into this issue.
John Brown, Drasa Vitogo, Lautoka
Fuel colour
I bought both diesel and petrol from various outlets and noted the differences in colour.
Some are lighter, yellowish, brownish, greenish, etc.
Some are even more like used oil after frying fish pasted with flour on a frying pan.
Can the experts explain why?
My friends are keeping samples, well-labelled with the name of the service station on it.
A good research for the researcher.
Usaia Tagi, Delainavesi
Tithes issue
Good on you Dakuniba villagers of Cakaudrove (FT 25\6).
I believe it is another way of escaping poverty in the country.
It should be a lesson to all those struggling in a life of lack.
Put the Almighty to the test by offering your tithes.
Not necessarily to the men of the cloth, but to anyone in need around you (James :1:26-27).
You will be amazed by the blessings that flow upon you.
Taniela Senikuta, Sauva Farming Settlement, Tailevu
Answer please
Me and about a thousand people want to know if the forced 55 retirement age thing to get graduates to be employed is working.
We need answers!
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Netball preps
While I agree with veteran netball star Matila Waqanidrola that to be a champion, you have to learn from a champion, I suggest that our Pearls team keep a low profile heading to the Netball World Cup next month in England.
I’m glad that the team has been taking the hard approach and focused on strength and conditioning, fitness, character and team building in Australia and will now be travelling to New Zealand where the team will play the Silver Ferns.
Recently, the performance of the Pearls had raised eyebrows and looking at our opponents — Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa and Jamaica the Pearls will need a ‘mountain of a performance’ to make the eliminations.
All the best to the Fiji Pearls!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
ECE week
The theme for this Early Childhood Education week is “Holistic and Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care Last a Lifetime”.
This is apt considering that pre-school education shapes the character and mind of our young ones.
The beautiful pictures in yesterday’s paper should be a reminder that children need attention, love, care, affection and our support as we approach trying times where children are likely to be influenced by peer pressure, illicit drugs and the temptation to try things that would be normally be done during adulthood.
Yesterday’s The Fiji Times reported about the rise in violence cases in schools and these statistics must be an eye-opener to the relevant authorities and parents about the challenges faced by teachers in dealing with children.
It’s easy to point fingers at teachers but have we ever thought about putting ourselves in their shoes?
Once we do this, we will learn about the problems faced by teachers in disciplining children and that we need to support them to make our children’s life meaningful and better and for them to respect our elders.
As many as 1684 drug-related offences and 27,287 cases of violence in schools — food for thought!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Times change
Time has changed with The Fiji Times, with the populace being more informed of what is going on around us.
I applaud the picturesque coverage (F/T 25/6) of the ECE week.
ECE teachers play a very critical role in the education of the little ones.
In fact, all teachers need our accolades for the mammoth task they are involved in.
Of recent, I have noted a few, being envious of the teachers’ pay and penning lines to please the masters.
While the teachers can give the soul and heart, the love and affection, the time and care to the children, they still need a family to feed and thus need the decent pay to put bread (and butter) on the table.
I wish all the teachers, parents and children a meaningful ECE week.
Enjoy with the Times.
Arun Prasad, Dilkusha, Nausori
Festivites and rubbish
Fiji has a problem with festival littering because I believe festival litterers are “immune” from prosecution.
The boundaries of the festival grounds are similar to embassies.
It may be because of this reason that litterers get away with breaking the law which takes place in public where so many eyes are present.
I think people should be fined on the spot for littering at festivals and all proceedings to go towards nominated charities.
Despite our inability to throw rubbish in the bin (a kindergarten science topic), we highly boast of being educated and respected citizens.
Pardon me, our deeds prove otherwise.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
