Operation Cavuraka
Sachida Rao, Nausori
The finding of thousands of marijuana plants is just alarming, shocking, terrifying, worrying, frightening, upsetting and disturbing.
It is beyond imagination. Let’s support the ‘Operation Cavuraka’ and save our future generation. It’s now or it will be too late. Take this as a wake up call for all of us.
Scathing remarks
Sailesh Singh, Nasinu
Abdul Khan’s belittling response against the union and the farmers, calling them to “stay away” is exactly the kind of leadership the Fijian people do not need.
The issues surrounding mill closures and FSC’s strategic mission objective can be addressed and probably solved using arbitration approach.
However, name calling and disrespecting the concerned parties is not the way to go, Mr Chairman. In addition, utilising speeches to make fruitless claims is probably the worst avenue.
As a concerned citizen, I hope to see an apology; or at least a public desire to work collectively for the sugar industry and Fiji.
FEA reform
Saimoni Lutu, Namosi
We, us the people of Fiji are the owners of FEA.
The State is merely the custodian of such property either real or personal and being custodian and not owner, it has no authority to deal or dispose of such property or it will be in breach of our Constitution Section 25.
It will be seen as a ‘land grab’ pure and simple. In this 21st Century such stunts are just not done in civilised such as ours.
Therefore, we the people demand that as part of the process of Government reform of this market, FEA be immediately corporatised and 440million shares issued at 50 cents per share (similar to that at ATH) and distributed to all the Fijians, women, men, boys and girls!
Can you imagine what this wealth transfer will do to our own people? With a population of say 900,000 we will own at least 500 shares in FEA, not to mention Fiji Airways, FSC, AFL,ATH and the list goes on and on. This must be a fair and just way than selling the farm to some foreign Oligarchs whose only motivation is to get our property and resell them again to the highest bidder.
In the event some of these corporations are disposed off to some Oligarchs without our specific approval, we the people reserve the right in due season to repossess the same at absolutely no cost to us!
Beware of the typical spin that these Oligarchs usually come up with, that they are the only ones who have the technology, etc. Ownership is sacrosanct, period and we the people restate our ownership of these institutions/companies.
With ownership intact and secured, technology and hired servants can be purchased on the world market. Don’t fall for the spin!
False prophecies
Viliame Gavoka, Nadroga
Tukai Lagonilakeba was not born yesterday, he is in his fifties and he knows that the vision about the tsunami (around June 2010) was about Fiji and not Japan.
Either he is very forgetful or does not care much about the truth. Nevertheless, for further edification; it was in March 2011 that a tsunami hit Japan with walls of water devastating vast coastlines of Japan. This horror seen on TV, visualised for us what could have happened in Fiji. Believers like me were grateful that someone was given a vision which he shared with other believers and we prayed and fasted for God to intervene, thus saving Fiji. Tukai refers to Winston and one cannot provide an answer to that, but I would urge Tukai, even though he is a secularist, not to scoff at such things.
On free tuition at USP, FNU, University of Fiji and technical colleges, the cost would be around $110million each year and we are talking about some 55,000 students. Government’s yearly budget is some $3.5billion and we at SODELPA believe that with better realignment of priorities, we can provide free tuition to our youths, on whom hang the future of our nation.
TELS or the student loan scheme is a recipe for disaster as we are burdening our young with a debt load they will have difficulty carrying. Today in America, the student loan scheme is unravelling as the debt burden for the youths have exceeded $1trillion. The youths are protesting in very strong terms and their voices will determine the outcome of the presidential election in November.
Sri Lanka, a relatively small nation, provides free university education to its youths and we see the result of that by the many we hire from that country. There is no reason we can’t do likewise.
The technical college at Nadroga was handled very badly as the parents found out through their children that the school was closing. I am sure Tukai is a parent and would have been grieved by the manner it was all done. In any event, I stood in Parliament to personally explain, as allowed to members, that I was not against the technical college, but sought a compromise whereby both the Nadroga/Navosa College and the technical college would run side by side. But, it was not to be, as Tukai’s people believe in my way or the highway!
Community policing
Satish Nakched, Suva
It is a daunting task for Police officers to deal and handle the escalating level of offences that are now committed including serious ones like rape.
The alarming statistics and the reports in the media is now a bothering issue in the society and it was fortunate that these cases were exposed and bought before the courts.
I believe that there are other unreported offences. Apart from that there are so many other serious reported cases that are filed within the short span of time because of insufficient evidence.
The Police alone do not have the capacity to carry out further investigation as they have very limited leads to probe in detail. This type of investigation requires a good networking within the communities and that can only be cultivated if there is an excellent relationship both ways.
So many community policing fail after sometime as the initiator the Police team loses focus and brings the concept to a premature death. Probably there is insufficient interest from the members of the public who prefer to lead their own private lives without the unnecessary involvement. But there is a huge potential resource out in the communities that can be tapped into to bring in the continuous improvement and make this concept work.
There are retired prominent people like civil servants, former Police officers and other dedicated and passionate people when involved can be of great assistance to bring down the crime rate. Some of the neighbourhood watch schemes are done on an ad hoc basis and at the initial stage there will be an increased interest, but short-lived because of the lack of support.
I believe it is an appropriate time to revamp the concept and the right civilian people identified to spearhead this in the community they residence at. The Police department needs to narrow the gap between communities to their advantages. They alone cannot do this and must involve the free resources that are available.
There needs to be a detailed planning, execution and monitoring phases to be successful in the community policing concept.
Mini island FSC Labasa
Joji Toronibau, Vunivau
This week I was urged to write on this column regarding the state of a mini-island triangle towards FSC Labasa before the mill heralds its crushing season on Wednesday.
But I was beaten by some very apt designer’s foresight to uplift the state-of-the art mini colonial train, the surroundings and put brush on to paint to rejuvenate its textures and shine for yet another decade. It looks cool, Bro! I wished a little elevation on the mini machine to evade elements. Just as well the Qawa estuary is a mile away.
Yes, the mill is fully churning away with heavy white giveaways into the heavens.
Cheap thinkers!
Herleen Emily Kumar, Nadi
While having a debate with a classmate, I came to know that humanitarian is less in existence in the society.
The debate topic started in a Family Life class where students were debating on domestic violence, rape and sexual harassment happening to girls and women in our society.
I found out that some male students have a negative perspective of women in the society.
They believed that women and girls were causes of rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment. That due to women and girls walking on the streets at night was one factor that caused these issues.
Aren’t we humans? Or being men they lust for sex and cannot control themselves from a girl passing by? Why we do not permit girls to walk in the night?
If men say this, then why can’t men be prohibited from walking in town at night? Won’t that minimise rape in the country? Why girls?
A lot of questions triggered my mind while arguing during the debate. Some of them went on to say that girls aged seven months were at fault. Come on people, wake up! What does an innocent seven-month child have to do with these issues?
Our society needs to be shaken up and it will only happen if the parents instil moral values on their children.
Nadi-San Francisco
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
Another milestone achievement made by our national airline, Fiji Airways, for flying into San Francisco as the airline, as stated, have been selling well and seen good forward intakes.
We also have a great marketing and sales tool with us now and that of former San Francisco 49ers player, Jarryd Hayne, who could lure people to Fiji.
As the flights will run for three months till August and from December to February we should have some satisfied travellers who use alternative routes to get to San Francisco previously.
Students loitering
Kirti Patel, Lautoka
One only has to go to a bus station after school in any town or city and see the number of students loitering in their uniforms.
Aren’t they supposed to be at home with their parents? At the bus stand it’s an eyesore. Aren’t the parents of these students worried?
That’s not all, at the bus station one can hear the kind of language used by the students. It’s like they have no regards of the people standing around them.
This goes to show the indiscipline of some schools. Are they taught to behave like hooligans outside the school?
Some parents seem to be too busy to make arrangements for their children to be home on time. It’s only matter of time something terrible happens. Students must realise they are not painting a good picture of their schools and parents by behaving like hooligans or showing inappropriate behaviours after school and in their uniforms.
I hope something is done to minimise this issue. Someone has to make a stand here.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj