Let’s rubbish Fiji
Adrian Sofield, Nadi
To the owner of vehicle number DG190 who threw two bags of rubbish into the Nadi River from the bridge on the Nadi Back Road at 0800, Wednesday, June 15, you obviously have no concern about ours and your environment.
Expect the authorities to come looking for you.
Headscarf issue
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Canada
The decision by a Methodist Church-run school in Sigatoka to reprimand a group of Muslim students for wearing religious head-wear to school is interesting.
Does the school allow students who wear turbans to attend classes?
I believe that it is important for students to wear its school uniform, but should allow turbans and headscarves to embrace multi culturalism, irrespective of the school.
Another question that readers would like to know is if this is the first case of Muslim students wearing headscarves to school.
If these students have not been wearing headscarves in the past then the decision by the school is appropriate unless if it’s a mufti day.
From a Christian perspective, Christian schools should be the platform where non-Christian students come to learn about Christ and the Christian hope and lifestyle.
Let us be sensitive because we do not want non-Christians pulling out of our schools because of minor matters like the wearing of headscarves by Muslim female students.
Opposition parties
Viliame Gavoka, Nadroga
I did not realise that Mr Hazelman’s prophecy was divinely inspired.
I thought he was making that prophecy based on his assessment of facts on the ground. And I would hasten to add that the party that brought secularism to Fiji is not likely to be divinely blessed.
Mr Hazelman makes light of the tsunami prophecy that led to my incarceration and prosecution in 2010. Let me remind him that it was a vision by a renowned man of the cloth, which churches took seriously.
People prayed and fasted over it all over Fiji, for instance, an Indo-Fijian pastor had his church fasting for 42 days!
Some months later when a tsunami hit Japan killing some 20,000 people, we were grateful that the man of the cloth had the courage to relentlessly share his vision (he was ridiculed by the authorities and incarcerated) with his brethren and got them to seek God’s intervention.
As for me, I was CEO of the Fiji Visitors Bureau when that dreadful tsunami hit Asia on Boxing Day 2004, killing some 200,000 people, a good number of them tourists.
Being a tourism person I alerted the industry to the vision, knowing fully well that they would scoff, and that’s how I got on the wrong side of the authorities. I would do it again tomorrow as the lives of people are worth more to me than my reputation.
Now, to politics, in 2014 our voice was drowned out by the behemoth that was, and is, FijiFirst; not so in 2018, as with four years in Parliament, even though we are outvoted on everything, people know what we stand for, such as: free tuition for universities and technical colleges, supplementary income for tourism workers through the service tax, full insurance for soldiers on overseas assignment, etc.
Mr Hazelman questions the integrity of my assumptions and I am sure he can relate to what an American president once said about the difference between the one being fully engaged and being bloodied in the arena, and the one commenting from the grandstand.
Coalition
Amenatave Yaconisau, Suva
Writers to this column who criticise our parliamentarians (parties) for their bed partners should note that making political choices is a bill of right under section 23 of our Constitution.
Having coalition with other parties is an electoral choice of parties given this right. They feel that people who choose them will be better off with a particular party.
There were reasons they formed the coalition. Do not adopt a spoilt child’s attitude that if you do not play my way I will not play at all.
They should learn to live with the disagreement and live it through to 2018. Not go home and have none of it.
It certainly is not an opportunity to judge a person and spit upon them.
Meanwhile, it’s a dreadful thing that Viliame Gavoka (MP) has been attacked.
It’s a wonder people make statements without knowing people’s welfare especially how people benefit from programmes.
They don’t even know their current state of affair and whether their standard of living has improved.
God, save us from the poisonous venom of such people who turn people against each other.
E-Ticketing
Neelz Singh, Lami
What has happened to the E-ticketing plan?
Seem only two per cent of the bus company allow the e-ticketing scheme while the other operators have machines that are not working or have no machines at all.
It seems like some bus owners are not transparent with accountability and yet they complain and want more tax rebates from Government.
SODELPA leadership
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
Great to note that the Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, has publicly admitted he will not be returning to politics for the 2018 elections.
He says his age will not allow him to do so, but note worthy is his praise of the developments made by the FijiFirst Voreqe Bainimarama-led Government for the Naitasiri Province. Ratu Naiqama has fallen short of acknowledging the massive indiscriminate development carried out by our Government in the Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata [CBM] province respectively and I sincerely do hope he is not trying to buy sympathy. He has certainly softened and mellowed down during his two-year suspension from Parliament.
The Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa will be joining him in exiting from the SODELPA camp politics for the same reason and aided by Rabuka’s keen interest to return and try his luck once more in the political arena.
I am personally not convinced that neither of the current incumbents from these SODELPA hopefuls who will be competing to take over the reins is capable of successfully creating a positive impact for their political party.
Apart from Sitiveni Rabuka, Anare Jale and Ratu Isoa Tikoca, the tussle would be between Ro Kiniviliame Kiliraki and Viliame Gavoka, but the questions their very small supporters will be asking is do they seriously have the leadership to at least win them one seat in our next Fijian democratic election?
It is also very surprising, unchristian like and disturbing to note the inability of the Opposition party members to acknowledge and say thanks to Government for all the good it is doing throughout our country and in the International arena under these trying times. A very ungrateful lot indeed!
But there is one good we can all collectively gather and appreciate in their call to retire from politics. These two paramount chiefs realistically agree to the sentiments always echoed by our PM pre and post election in that our chiefs must all go back to their respective vanua and villages to help guide and direct our iTaukei people in the right direction.
Politics should be left to the ordinary Fijians and what Mr Bainimarama meant was that the chiefs are still very relevant. They have their place in our multiracial society and role in our new democracy including their contribution to our country’s future economic well being and its development.
Vinaka, A-G
Herleen Emily Kumar, Nadi
Going through past years of our political history and comparing it with today’s political status, there has been a vast number of changes.
At this point, I wish to applaud the honourable Minister for Finance, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, for the work he has been putting in the past few weeks.
As a student, I have noticed that as the Minister for Finance, you are taking in every individual’s opinion in preparing the Budget. Vinaka, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
Disallowing students
Wise Muavono, Lautoka
There have been numerous complaints from concerned parents and guardians regarding students being disallowed to catch any other bus unless it’s the school bus.
This is especially in the mornings when the students would like to beat the traffic and be in school on time. This ongoing issue has to be ironed out by the Land Transport Authority and Ministry of Education before a bus driver gets a morning glory high five to his face.
21st Century
Amrit Singh, Nausori
The reason for our fast developing century is due to technology and ideas floating that are changing and eroding our lifestyle.
Our cars are keyless, stoves fireless, phones wireless, relationships meaningless, love truth-less, kids manner-less, drinks sugarless, clothes sleeveless, wife fearless and prayers mercy-less.
So as we can see our 21st century is more than meaningless. I hope the readers get a fair idea of how our world is like right now in 21st century. Vinaka!
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