FNPF numbers
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
This is no time for FNPF to make a mockery of themselves and the FNPF system with excuses that it cannot handle the urgency and the rush in numbers relevant to the influx in applications and demand from members to withdraw funds from their eligibility in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Every member has the right to ask them and our FNPF board the question as to how many natural disasters has our country gone through in the past 20 years. FNPF should, by now, be ever ready and they should stop making lame excuses but should just simply step down and make room for the many others who can and or are better qualified.
Cyclones and flooding have become a part of our country’s life every year from November to April and we Fijians have all come to accept it as a norm. But is FNPF ready to put in place stringent measures to ensure that members are well looked after and respected when they require assistance to a service they so rightly deserve specifically during a time such as this?
The 300,000 Fijian FNPF members deserve a five-star treatment and respect but should not be treated like second class citizens in their own country.
It would be proactive for FNPF to create a special disaster ready action team within whereby they are ready to instantly implement such strategies and policy post natural disaster asap, where they can serve the members’ best interests in a comfortable and humane atmosphere.
To witness members – young and old, push, shove and disrespectfully utter vulgar language in iTaukei and Hindi is deplorable in the long line they are subjected to the unbearable heat, rain, cold and thirst to be served.
It smacks of bad leadership qualities, is disrespectful and is discriminatory in nature from FNPF’s senior executives. This must stop. It is so wrong.
It is an inconvenience and a disservice not only to the members but to their respective employers also who do not expect their employees to use up the entire day being absent from their workplace, but are still being paid although unproductive just to fill up and submit a very simple FNPF Statutory Declaration form.
Friend taken away
Rahul Sharma, Ba
Many people have lost properties, belongings and even family members because of Cyclone Winston. I have lost a friend and his name was Osea Sivo Naisau – a victim of TC Winston.
I have known him for the past three years or so through this column. Whenever he used to write he would go to the Ba Town Council Library to research and draft letters. Then he would come to my office for the letter to be typed and emailed to the editor. Sivo used to call me “My Friend”. He was like a father figure to me.
He always has many stories of current affairs, sports and politics that he would share it with me.
On February 20, he came to me at about 10am for a letter to be typed. Following that I mentioned to him that the cyclone might hit us. He jokingly said that “My friend it will move further north”.
A week later when I read that he is no more my heart just cried out. I had never expected him to go away like this.
Rest in peace my friend and you will be in our hearts forever always.
Go, Fiji, go
Apenisa Nainoka, Nadi
Let’s see what this weekend will bring.
While many of us will be busy at work or doing other social obligations, I am going to do some house chores while waiting for the live coverage of the Vancouver 7s.
To all the Fijian sevens gladiators in Canada our hopes are with you. Toso Viti!
Relocation
Neelz Singh, Lami
Some villagers are willing to relocate after Cyclone Winston.
We urge future planners and authorities to implement and consult with villagers and people who are affected by environmental change and that they relocate now because it is the best time to rebuild.
We have seen the effect of climatic change – sea level rising and natural disasters getting bigger and stronger. Now is the time to act and help relocate villages as the nation begins rebuilding homes and lives.
Renting private buildings
Sukha Singh, Labasa
Could the Public Service Commission let us know the procedure on how to rent out your building to Government departments?
Does a building owner negotiate a deal before the building is constructed? I have just found out the social welfare department is about to move to a new building in Labasa.
May be the Minister could disclose why the need to move from the present location.
I have a suggestion to the Government why don’t you let the Public Works Department construct the buildings for Government whereby it will save money and create a lot of well paid employment.
Power of distribution
Joji O Toronibau, Tunuloa
Firstly, I thank the efforts and the endurance of occupation put in by the ration distributors and volunteer workers.
Last week there were stories and as we listen and read in the dailies that some places were issued less, some still waiting peharps, whilst some, a little too much that they ended up trading them or saw some form of barter system and many more. Now, the question is, is the village leader present and involved with Government officials to oversee that the distribution is right, fair and just?
Excessive power is pretty dangerous as, Lord Acton summarises it perfectly – “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” – they need to be checked.