Bus stand congestion
Mohammed Sabir, Narere
In the information booklet of the 2016-2017 National Budget allocation for Fiji Roads Authority, under the Congestion and Capacity Improvements Programme for Town Centre Improvements, there is no allocation for the improvement of the Suva City Council bus stand area.
The bus stand is so congested and there is a need for the authorities to look into this matter. The contributing factor in the increased congestion is the increasing number of buses but the bus stand area size remains the same. Accidents often happen between buses at the stand area partly due to congestion and drivers being careless.
The council does not have a separate drop off area for buses that calls in to drop off their passengers; it only has a pickup area. I would suggestion that SCC, to eliminate the congestion, they should provide a different drop off area.
In the same information booklet under renewals and replacements—Roads and Services there are plans for improvements of various roads around 7 and 8 miles but there is no information of any repair works for Balolo Road in Narere Stage 3, which currently has cross drains and many pot holes.
Rape
Christopher Griffin, Perth
If the media is anything to go by on the prevalence of rape convictions in Fiji, would appear to be out of all proportion to the size of population and prison population in particular.
If there is such thing as a bona fide sociologist still around who is not part of Police or correctional services, could she or he therefore tell us how Fiji measures up in this matter with other countries around the world?
Otherwise we must be forgiven for thinking Fiji is in a rape league of its own.
And as the Commissioner of Police said recently, “speculating” on crime is unhelpful.
Yoga hype
Joan McGoon, Nadi
It is exciting to have yoga introduced into our school system.
While it is a Hindu philosophy, there are certain aspects of it that can be enjoyed by all, if they are given the freedom to participate in those areas with which they are comfortable with, without causing offense to both instructor and student.
While I was in high school, I was kicked out of an Asian self-defence class (together with my best friend) because we chose not to participate in the meditation bit out of respect for our religious backgrounds.
The instructor had kindly allowed us not to participate in this and we thoroughly enjoyed the class however, in a month, I think the instructor felt that we were not on the same page of ‘spirituality’ as him because of the meditation bit and asked us to leave even though we had paid for our classes and were quite disciplined in all the exercises and stances.
So, a question remains, who are the yoga classes for? Just the Hindus or can anyone take part? And, if anyone can participate, will they be given the freedom and space to participate in whatever areas they are comfortable with? I think that this will be the deciding factor for whether or not this latest hype will continue or not in our multi-cultural, religious and diverse society.
Road marshals
Narayan Reddy, Lautoka
I remember some time back that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) had recruited road marshals.
They had fancy ID cards and reflective clothing as well. Today, I saw some of them driving illegal cars and vans. I wonder what they were taught when they were road marshals.
Fantastic Fiji
Taitusi Sokiveta, Phoenix, Arizona
Many have heard of these group of islands in the South Pacific.
Of its famous Fiji Water in our local grocery stores, scuba divers paradise, world surfing competition, the movie Castaway starring Tom Hanks on a deserted island. That was Fiji, the movie that made Brooke Shields famous Blue Lagoon.
There is another side of Fiji that makes them famous; it’s the rugby game of sevens. Fiji has won the World Rugby Sevens Series back to back.
Winning that championship is like winning the Super Bowl world series, the Stanley Cup and national basketball championship.
To the Fijians the game is so big and famous to these group of islanders of a population of about 800,000 in the South Pacific that after religion, its Fiji rugby 7s.
This is the first time they are playing rugby 7s at the Rio Olympics in Brazil.
Fiji has never won a medal since the Olympic Games started.
For Fiji to win a medal at the Rio games would be like an endless celebration from here till kingdom come.
Grandparents will be telling their grandchildren about the win in all the villages throughout the country.
For the biggest sports magazine in the United States to publish Fiji’s medal presentation at the Rio Olympics would be of great honour and gratitude from all Fijians.
Roaring engines
Ronnie Chang, Nadi
From a greater distance, in the dead still of night, the unmistakable loud roar of motor vehicle engine and screeching tyres, make me believe that stretches of the Nadi Back Road are being used for “sprints” by certain uncaring enthusiastic drivers.
Not only such “show-off exercises” cause much disturbance of the peace, but are extremely dangerous to all motorists, pedestrians and by-standers alike.
Please note that the JetSet town of Nadi is a tourist town with an international airport and high-end touristy Denarau hotels that do not sleep 24/7 x 365. Work goes on day-in and night-out seven days a week.
Will the hard-working CEO of LTA and the Police Commissioner please investigate my serious concerns in this regard?
I hope I am proven wrong. About 4am yesterday, I clearly heard the sound of roaring motor vehicle/s engine/s “back-firing” and screeching of tyres…doing “wheely stunts.”
It may also pay for organisers of a certain race club held in Deuba, Pacific Harbour, to address this matter with their members from the West.
I am led to believe that their membership from the West has grown to unprecedented levels.
Thank you earnestly to all relevant authorities concerned.
Vinaka, Employment Minister
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Canada
The Minister of Employment and his team seems to be doing a very good job,. We are told that Fijians working in Australia and New Zealand under their respective seasonal work programmes are expected to surpass the one thousand mark.
It is also good to read that Fijians will also have an opportunity to work in the United States on farms in Hawaii and California by the year end and that they will also tap into the Canadian market.
Even though they have changed their recruitment criteria for seasonal workers, those registered with NEC and now find themselves outside the box, would not be too happy.
Fiji needs to be sending the best workers, those who are fit and used to working long hours in the sun as the performance of the first group of seasonal workers will open or shut the door for us.
To all Fijians looking forward to doing seasonal work, do not lose hope as the one thousand mark will jump to five thousand, when all the countries in the Minister of Employment’s radar opens up.
The original plan was for all seasonal workers to have a business plan and that the money saved from the seasonal work will be used as capital to start one’s own self supporting business.
I hope this is being followed through, making the whole seasonal work programme not just about the numbers working overseas but about having a new start, setting oneself up for life and an opportunity to be a blessing to others.