From zero to hero
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
Hey! Who said it was impossible? Both our women and Men’s 13 respective 7’s rugby teams have all proved a point to show what dedication, perseverance, sacrifice, sweat, blood and tears will reap. They have all come from zero to hero.
They are now on record for being part of the country’s biggest Olympic contingent.
This is a very proud moment for their families and friends and is an inspiration to our young generation to take it to another level. They have set the bar and it is there for the taking.
They have all proved a point in qualifying for the Olympics together with other sports that will be representing Fiji and in that alone it is an awesome achievement to be in, let alone the expectation of winning a medal.
They share similar stories through their different family backgrounds.
This is a make or break to the big time for them as the Olympics would expose their raw talents to the world and potential employers to see.
They are the best Ben Ryan, Chris Cracknell and Iliesa Tanivula have got in the hope that they will proudly bring back an Olympic medal.
The country will be watching with great interest. We must all support them. They need our prayers and cheers. Medal or no medal they are our best bet.
Our Government, Fiji Airways, Tourism Fiji, Investment Fiji, Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association together with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Trade will utilise and capture the opportunity to showcase and maximise on marketing our country to the outside world with the millions of viewers who will be glued to their TV 24/7 for the duration of the Rio Olympics.
It is a dream come true for every athlete to win a gold medal for their country in the world’s largest sporting event on record irrespective of the sport they represent.
I’d like to wish the 2016 Rio Olympic Team Fiji every success.
Go get it! You are ‘stronger than Winston’ and resilient. Show the world the stuff what we are made of.
I am certainly proud to be a Fijian. But it would have been great to witness our new flag and national identity flying amongst others at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Thank you Nadi Hospital
Ronnie Chang, Nadi
One October day in 2015 at the Nadi Hospital, three doctors attended to 537 patients at the General Out Patients Department (GOPD).
Our hard working doctors, on that particular day, were indeed grossly overworked.
Needless to say the doctors, nurses and pharmaceutical staff were stretched well beyond their human limitations in the course of service delivery. There was no time for morning or afternoon tea, let alone lunch.
This hardworking group of dedicated health care givers deserve some thanks and appreciation from the general public at large. Thank you sincerely for all your continued hard work. The Minister for Health and his team needs to address such work overload, please.
God knows
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Canada
Working as a blueberry picker on different farms in the past six weeks has given me a lot of time to think about issues or questions that pop up in my mind, including spiritual matters.
One thought that I have already mentioned in a previous letter is the power of the dollar or money in our lives.
Out here, it is just unbelievable. Our transport picks up the Punjabi workers and they all have beautiful, posh-looking houses with a couple of cars parked at their homes.
I have come to the conclusion that these citizens worship money and have worked hard all their lives and look forward to picking blueberry every year.
The long hours spent in the blueberry farm plus the two hours travel in the morning and evening, has made me ask myself the same question “Why am I doing this?”
For me, it is getting to know the contractor so that I could line up work for Fijians who come out this way and to get fit and lose weight and getting paid for it.
Among our group are some Christians and while some of them take a day off on Sunday to attend church, a number of them put money first and work seven days a week.
This reminds me of some years ago in Tumbarrumba, New South Wales, Australia, where two of my relatives lived. That year, they were picking apples with a vakatawa (catechist) visiting Australia from Vanua Levu.
On a Friday afternoon, my two relatives Kula and Lekima explained to the vakatawa that they were Seventh-day Adventists and would not be working on Saturday but will pick apples on Sunday.
The vakatawa replied that he will work on Saturday, but will rest on Sunday.
On Sunday morning, Kula and Lekima got a big surprise when they got to the farm, the Vakatawa was already in the swing, picking apples.
“Hey vakatawa, today is Sunday, what happened?”
The vakatawa could only point to heaven and blurt say: “Sa ‘ila tiko o Ea!”(God knows or understands)
Apparently, the vakatawa loaned some money for his airfare and was trying to use all the opportunities available to make as much money before his visa expired.
Power buries those who wield it
Samuela Kailawadoko, Nadi
The alleged act of torture and brutality committed by the security force that has gone viral raises how thin a line they tread between potency and power, between power and force. They must choose carefully the kinds of power they opt to exercise.
Power buries those who wield it. The problem is that power of force wielded, ruthlessly employed, carelessly administered often masks as virtue, often wantonly destroys in its determination to do good.
The scope of the law is to facilitate life. They are promulgated so that no one becomes victims of injustice and oppression; the laws control and moderate human instincts.
In interpreting the law, precedence should be given to human necessity rather than to rigid and literal application of the law.
Amnesty International is correct when it says it is not enough for Police to investigate.
Let not a few potatoes spoil the soup
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
When the image of Police Force is tarnished and is highlighted in the media or social media, everyone seems to want to get to the bottom of it and hope that the public servant involved is dealt accordingly or even worse.
The feelings against a particular cop seem to tarnish the whole of the Police Force. Or in cases, a member of public was dealt with by a particular Police officer and was not to the expectation would also show some sort of methods of revenge in any way when a cop is at fault.
For instance, the recent case in Taveuni where a man was jailed for bribing a Police officer, the accused may defiantly try and get back at the force in any form when completing his prison term.
The recent pictures on the social media, the marijuana farmers allegedly tortured during their arrest and of the man with the burnt back , these are shown to raise tension between the people and the Police Force.
Despite the good work they have done in other cases we seem to forget that at anytime we will need help.
And when requiring the help of the Police they will always be there.
The recent Police shooting in Dallas made millions of people especially in America change their attitude from being enemies to being supportive. The officers had left behind their young families and friends in the line of duty.
As the Commissioner of Police has indicated, officers involved in wrongdoing will be dealt with the law accordingly.
Let’s leave it to that and move forward in supporting the work that they are carrying on a daily basis.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj