Rabuka leadership
Gregory Ravoi, Communications officer, CCF, Suva
Citizen’s Constitutional Forum acknowledges concerns raised by Abendra Ram Tahal (in the Fiji Sun, dated July 1, 2016) along with many other Fijians regarding the election of Sitiveni Rabuka as the SODELPA party leader.
We reiterate that CCF is an apolitical non government organisation that does not align itself to any political party.
CCF concerns itself with the functions of Parliament and Government and their alignment with democratic principles.
We do acknowledge the democratic processes that were followed for the appointment of Mr Rabuka as party leader.
A democratic state is one that is ruled by its people. The 2018 election is the platform to determine the state of democracy in Fiji.
Tongs, not hands
Herleen Emily Kumar, Nadi
People here in Fiji are very fond of Indian-made sweets and therefore are regular buyers of sweets from bean carts.
However, what they don’t realise is that these sellers use their bare hands to serve customers.
Are we as consumers paying attention to what the sellers are serving us with? A question that needs answers.
It came to my attention while buying sweets from a bean cart, and as a student, I believe this is a serious issue because the majority of the buyers are children which could harm their health in years to come.
I mean, we do not know what these sellers are touching and doing with their hands. Not only this but also people who are selling sweets at night along streets, their containers are open and they also use their bare hands to serve.
As all of us know there is air pollution in our surroundings and that too in town where dust is common, which tends to settle on the exposed snacks.
The people who are selling pounded hardi, yaqona, masala and so forth at the markets. Also they do not cover their containers and the containers are open the entire day.
Can you imagine the dust and germs settling in?
If the Ministry of Health would look into this, it would be a great help to the people. I think these sellers should use tongs and not their bare hands.
EPL up another level
Shad Alfaz Ali, Navua
The arrival of Pep Guardiola to Manchester City and Jose Maurinho to Manchested United has added a new dimension to the English Premier League, especially the latter who has come with a host of superstars in the form of Zlatan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan while awaiting the arrival of Paul Pogba.
Add to that the arrival of Jürgen Kloop and Antonio Conte to Liverpool and Chelsea respectively and we are all set to witness the most exciting soccer league in the world.
Our only hope is for Sky Pacific to provide live coverage of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal games.
SODELPA supporters
Timoci Gaunavinaka, Nausori
In the lead-up to the 2014 election, SODELPA supporters circulated lies about Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum in the media, social media and even through DVDs.
None of those defending Rabuka now said anything then.
Today, some SODELPA supporters are arguing that we must respect their newly elected leader and let bygones be bygones.
They should ask the owners of hundreds of Indo-Fijian businesses built from their hard work and sweat all their lives that were looted, ransacked and a few burnt after May 1987. They should ask the prisoners who now serve years in prison for offences involving less than a few thousands of dollars while those who took millions of dollars from the then National Bank of Fiji walk free.
When you lead a political party, it means that you will most likely lead the nation as Prime Minister if your party wins. This is not some clerical or secretarial job. This is the most important position in the land. This is why it is vital that all voters must know your full background and who you really are because your decision, big or small, will affect everyone. Those who disagree have every right not to read my letters, but since they keep comenting on it, I assume that they could not resist reading it.
When Bill Clinton’s extra-marital affair was exposed for the whole world to read, did we hear Americans crying foul or saying that it must not be exposed? No, Bill took it in the chin, apologised and continued as President and people still loved him. But he did not collapse the US Federal Reserve.
Rabuka very well knows that his ‘can of worms’ is bigger and stinks much, much worse than Bill Clinton’s and is well documented over the decades. Those who elected him to be SODELPA leader will now face the full brunt of their decision. Instead of leaving him quietly in his peaceful retirement, they drag him out and now present him to the slaughter house.
The “revelation” Rabuka is getting now is a very small fraction of what is about to come. They will not be lies like SODELPA spread in 2014. These are well documented records of his deeds. When Rabuka sinks, SODELPA will sink with him.
Budget and actions
Neelz Singh, Lami
Appropriate budget contribution allocated to perspective ministries is good if they consider improving their services and human resources.
Some ideas and positive vibe with structure plan and action is needed.
The Ministry of Health should consider improving the availability of doctors when the need arise, and pharmaceutical medics and proper data base to view and seek patients as they arrive for review or just a medical checkup.
The Ministry of Infrastructure should focus on everyday basic needs to use good and better access to roads and non-corrupt bodies like the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), Land Transport Authority (LTA), and Water Authority of FIji (WAF) to mandate its services with proper outcome when approached.
The Ministry of Telecommunication should focus on speed, data transfer and smart concept phones within reasonable price range and try to mandate more competition within the IT industry, also set a proper database of all Civil Services Depts so that the exchange of information are to reach within any branch in Fiji.
The Ministry of Agriculture should conduct workshops with farmers and encourage more people to join the farming industry so that there are less imports on food and vegetables. The land leases and numerous attractive packages within its industry can revive and also be our main backbone.
Other things can be looked at if considered properly.
We also need the right skilled trade and educated people to drive our nation and our economy can grow in the right direction, and we can all prosper.
Tragic findings
Kirti Patel, Lautoka
It is indeed sad to keep reading about the findings of the decomposed body remains of the Russian couple Yuri Shipulin and Natalia being discovered at Natadola Beach in Sigatoka.
Indeed very tragic. Just a curiosity that can arise is, was Natalia raped before her tragic death? It has been mentioned that only Natalia’s clothes were recovered. It can be anything.
Quite a lot has been happening lately on our paradise and its really not painting a good picture for our country.
The so-called Russian tourists themselves became the victim of this tragic incident. I believe that having CCTV cameras installed in all public places it could make a vast difference, however the cost obviously would be a major factor to ponder on.
We just can’t sit back and let things happen to this extent. Our Government should really pull up their sleeves and start working on this issue. Everyone’s life is precious and we just cannot see it getting lost just like that.
Some thorough plan is needed. We need more advanced technology to track down the crimes of this level. It surely is not just one organisation’s job.
We pride ourselves for the slogan “Fiji the way the world should be”, but can we really say that taking into consideration the recent events as much as we would love to?
Students in tents
Wise Muavono, Lautoka
Students are still studying in tents post Cyclone Winston. Yet we still managed to spend $2.3million to host the Chiefs-Crusaders Super Rugby match? Sa yawa!