What’s in a Name?
Vimal Singh, Nausori
Shakespeare said:
“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
I say:
“Ben Ryan, Peni Rayani or Ben Narayan
A gold in Rio would be so sweet.”
Hit and run
Ronnie Chang, Nadi
The extremely sad report of yet another hit-and-run fatality along the Nadi Back Road is a statistic Fiji simply cannot afford.
My earlier contributions about Fiji’s poor driving standards and LTA penalties being far too lenient is now repeated.
Speeding along the the Nadi back road and the Martintar stretch of the Queens Road after 11pm most nights is indeed a common occurrence.
Once more, I plead with both the LTA and Fiji Police to man both these accident-prone areas with an immediate and high visibility presence at staggered hours day and night.
There is an ever-increasing number of young, adventurous, careless drivers with “P” plates along most of our roads.
Something must be seen to be done.
Far too many warnings by both authorities have landed on deaf ears.
The time for these are now expired.
A greater degree of physical presence 24/7 is paramount.
No “ifs” and no “buts.”
The cost of needlessly lost human lives cannot be measured as too many of our drivers have become too bold and our penalties are not a deterrent.
In fact, any hit-and-run offender must expect mandatory suspension of license plus a hefty fine of minimum $1000 and/or six month sentence.
Drink-drive offence must bring mandatory license suspension plus $500 fine.
Too much time and cost is wasted for such cases going to our overworked and overloaded Courts, needlessly.
Our relevant authorities must now take pages from traffic penalties that apply in Australia and New Zealand. There is simply no mercy for offenders – especially repeat offenders.
Our enforcement authorities must wake up and take heed.
Infant bucket death
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Canada
The Police Inspector has described the drowning death of an 11-month-old baby, in the bucket of water that was used to bathe him, as one of the saddest cases of drowning to be experienced.
Our hearts grieve with the young family as this first child meant the whole world to both of them.
To the 21-year-old father of the deceased baby, please forgive your wife and mother of the child, as nothing can be done to bring the child to life again.
The life of the innocent baby is in God’s hands now and the couple should learn from their mistake, remain faithful to God and to each other and try to have more children to take the hurt away.
The Bible talks of young children in heaven playing among lions and other tame animals, which should give hope to all who have lost innocent young lives in this life.
Good ministership
Sachida Rao, Nausori
The Minister for Women Rosy Akbar deserves praises, I say these from the comments made by her Indonesian counterpart.
The Minister for Women and empowerment said that she has learnt a lot from Fiji referring to the services and the manner the ministry is organised. Proud moment for Fiji.
Growing up and old
Ashneel J Prasad, Auckland, NZ
Every morning, my mother calls at from work (be it if I’m attending a lecture, or I am in city, or I’ve just woken up), without fail to see if I’d eaten something that morning. And every night, my dad asks me if I’ve got enough money to sustain myself for the next day.
It is small moments like these that reminds me constantly lucky I am of life.
My advice to everyone is to spend time with your parents. If you have them, one day they might not be there. Don’t forget, while you are growing up, they too are growing old.
State House concrete fence
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
It was a well published event when the Chinese Government was putting up a new fence for the President of Fiji’s official residence. This gift was well received by our Government during the Ratu Epeli Nailatikau era. So colourful and gold-coated in colour, it was a sight that made the Queen Elizabeth Drive so unique.
But looking at the same fence today it seems to be a century old. Rusted, worn out and in some areas it has fallen apart and there are patches in place in certain areas.
Hope that other developments the Chinese are busy at does not fall into the same fate as the State House fence.
Further down the road the Chinese Embassy is located with the wall looking as solid as a rock.
Hope they have noticed the fence and possibly thinking of renovating it to avoid any disappointment.
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