What of the tourism industry?
Josaia Rayawa Savusavu
It’s a pity that Government did not address the concerns of the tourism industry about the environmental levy being put entirely on the shoulders of visitors to our country.
Protecting the environment is not an issue of contention for me and neither is it, amongst the majority of those in the tourism industry.
I am concerned though, that, for such an important issue like the environment, I fail to see how any of the other industries can be excluded with any sense of justification that their industry has no impact, whatsoever on the environment and therefore are not liable. That is exactly what Government is suggesting by this decision.
We are all equally responsible. Placing this responsibility solely on the visitors to this country, is like inviting a visitor to your home for dinner and then expect them to clean up your kitchen while you rest in the lounge.
True, some may relish the thought, but you are not going to have any visitor coming to your home when the word gets around.
No matter what man ‘cooks up’ to avoid and pass on the responsibility of cost to someone else, natural law of justice always returns to its course. We can take your cue from history to assure us that it does.
Much like throwing a knife in the air, and thinking it will not come down. The law of gravity assures us that it is going to come down and most likely injure you in the process.
So, rather than going about this long way, why couldn’t Government simply accord the appropriate laws where people are made responsible for their own mess of the environment?
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t discount the idea of an environmental levy.
That is important if the levy is used for preventative measures and not to clean up someone else’s mess. Clean up work and it’s cost must only be borne by those who mess up. That is natural justice at work.
However, if this revenue-generating exercise is for something else, then just say what it is for.
There is no harm in being up front about it. That still does not get one off the hook. We still reap what we sow Oh, I should remind us that the law of sowing and reaping is another natural law unto itself. No man can change that, no matter creative we think, we are.
Happy budget
Floyd Robinson, Nasinu
The 2016-2017 Budget is definitely the topic of discussion around the grog bowl as individuals share their own interpretations.
The other day one overheard a Tevita from Lami asking his grog gang for the best type of budget as the discussions went on and on for about three hours. Finally, the quietest of them Rifle Range (Lautoka) abruptly said my best budget is to smile and laugh each day. As simple and cheap as it may seem, one can be sure that such a budget will bring happiness despite whatever challenge the day brings.
PM’s new building
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
The new wing at Government Buildings, Suva, which also houses the PM’s Office is an outdated and dirty old-fashioned building.
It no longer fits in today’s modern era of business, but it must also depict and represent our new Fiji with its direction and architecture. Realistically it requires a total facelift.
Of course many of our past Prime Minister’s have gone through it some 50 years ago, but I support the notion of a new building.
It is in order for our current PM and those who follow to all benefit from this bold grand idea in the many later years to come which I fervently hope the Opposition will not be too arrogant to push for this new building for it to go to our Parliament and subject it to a time wasting vote to seek the august House’s endorsement.
The President, Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote, has a lot of our Government’s State Crown Land and unused prime real estate available in his Presidential compound which Government can use to build a totally new complex altogether from what has been allocated for that purpose.
The area has a magnificent view of the ocean, Suva Bay, Draunibota plus it is accessible to the general public.
From the $5million budgeted our Government can allocate funds to renovate and upgrade the current building, which still has a place in our country’s history to house other Government offices and the balance of the monies for a new state of the art building.
No doubt there will always be opposition to any positive move from what our Government will want to selectively carry out, however it must forge ahead with its agenda as it can only benefit our country.
The rebuilding and the reconstruction of those affected by Cyclone Winston and other Government-related development projects will all run simultaneously together with the construction of our PM’s new building, etc and life progresses.
A realistic and visionary practical 2016/ 2017 National Budget indeed.
Sports Day
Sukha Singh, Labasa
It is so nice for Government to give us a National Sports Day.
I would urge the Government to talk to the Fiji Football Association and the Labasa Football Association and find out why they are so reluctant to organise club soccer.
I am writing this letter for the thousands of soccer players who are being denied the chance to showcase their talents and be chosen to represent their respective districts.
I have noticed that the Fiji Football Association is only interested in games that make money for them.
Isa, my Fiji
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Canada
As an iTaukei, it saddens me to read the online dailies of the high number of iTaukei youths and men who are being convicted and will spend time in prison.
The crimes range from rape, cultivating marijuana, murder, assault and other offences which get them a couple of months to up to ten years and some to life in prison.
Then we have our iTaukei youth and men who die senseless deaths from night club brawls and even from drunk parties gone wrong. What would be the solution for us iTaukei, who most of us consider themselves to be Christian?
My mother always reminded me, when she sees her civil servant son turning out to be a drunk and alcoholic, “Save mo lotu, veitalia se lotu cava, mo lotu ga!” (Save, I want you to go to church, I do not care which church you go to, as long as you go to church).
My father was a lay Methodist preacher who started a home church at our Vaturua Lane, Government Quarters, in Suva.
This was before the other families built a temporary church hall beside our home and now, a beautiful double storey Service Street Methodist Church sits.
He was not impressed when I got involved with a Pentecostal Church in 1975 before becoming a Seventh-day Adventist in 1980, but my mother was happy to see me change.
To my iTaukei people, our church heritage does not change us, it is Jesus Christ who transforms our lives into His character and empowers us to live holy lives in line with the law of the land.
Valelevu landmark
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
The Valelevu Police Station looks like an old Western movie building; it’s in a central location, but nothing has been done about renovating it.
It has been mentioned in a previous budget announcements yet nothing has been done about it.
The present Police station would be an ideal venue for a divisional base because of its spacious location and easy access. With Nasinu becoming a very highly populated area in Fiji now we expect all public services to be up to par with the growing communities.
The area has the Land Transport Authority headquarters on one end, the Housing Authority headquarters on the other, a Post Office, hospital, tax free zone, has all the biggest shopping chain of supermarkets, the HART head office, a university, a well versed fire station, but lacks a proper Police Station.
Hope our present Government will seriously look into this and hopefully they have something already up their sleeves.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj